It was a little wonder that the NRM government
spent walloping billions of taxpayer’s money in promoting patriotism among the
youths in Uganda. It is true that most Ugandans are feeling a sense of dire fatigue
of living under this despotic and repressive regime. The youths continue to
carry the scars of broken system that offers them much of dwindling hope than a
prospect for brighter future.
Ugandans today have to endure a life in which
the very systems that should otherwise liberate them from backwardness,
continues to vault out of place to serve it’s very opposite purpose. The
justice system stands against justice, the Police oppose civil liberties and
banking system expropriates from the economy. Ugandans live in a country where
the Police incentivize anarchy and chaos; the army disrupts the peace and the
government is the key stumbling block against the interests of its citizens
from obtaining basic and fundamental social services. In Uganda, the corrupt
are the heroes and honesty is treated with utter travesty.
For the youths, the education system is a trap
that offers them the same old recipe of knowledge that helps to their dysfunction.
The system is against the indigenous cultures, traditions and society, and that
which strives for mis-educating the youths. Given this forlorn of predicaments,
the young people feel as though they are outside the shades of this Country.
The basis of Patriotism talk is inherent in the
provision of the 1995 Constitution which stipulates the duties of Ugandan
citizens as “The exercise and enjoyment
of rights and freedoms is inseparable from the performance of duties and
obligations; and, accordingly, it shall be the duty of every citizen to be
patriotic and loyal to Uganda and to promote its well-being”. And the NRM, on
its website, described Patriotism as “love for Uganda and its people, as well
as the readiness to sacrifice for them.”
It is true that Ugandans
must love their country and their fellow citizens and must strive to protect
the image and products of Uganda. Such feat could be easily attained if the rulers
believed in that principle. Ugandans believe that it was sheer mockery for the
government to launch such a wasteful and expensive venture, well knowing that
money alone and club membership in schools will not procure patriotism.
The young people want to
feel the physical presence of the hands of government, in improved education
and sports facilities, in security for their parents at work and in their
homes, a just system that supports democracy and the flourishing of justice
system. They want to stand shoulder-by-shoulder with a civil police force and
take pride in victorious military that defends the liberty of every citizen indiscriminately
and consolidates the territorial integrity of Uganda. In these very formal and
noble frontiers, the regime has failed. As such, it is the Ugandan government
that has served the very opposite for which it forged a social contract with
the people of Uganda and thus, the mutual exclusivity of the interests.
But what really is
Patriotism, is it merely the love for a country or merely sentimentalism being
fronted to justify a budget? Many authors and scholars have pronounced
themselves on this subject of patriotism. Most captivating is the work of Paul
Gilbert in a book “The Philosophy of Nationalism.” In that book, Paul Gilbert eloquently
contrasts Nationalism and Patriotism. Nationalism, he argues, is the belief
about the proper object of patriotism, namely, one’s nation (p.5). Accordingly,
Patriotism is merely a sentiment that is given rise to by nationalism.
Patriotism is love, the passion that one directs towards their country and
nationalism is a core set of beliefs, reason for which one adheres to his
country. Gilbert refuses to equate Nationalism with Patriotism and clearly
illustrates that the latter is the products of the former – Patriotism is the
manifestation of Nationalism.
This subject is imperative and
although this may not be an exhaustive treatment of it, this piece serves to
elicit debate on the causes of the erosion of loyalty to our country. It may
create an alternative and viable lens through which the continued destruction
of our country can be assessed. The significance of this debate belies the very
notion that Ugandans feel a continuous sense of being deprived of their
citizenship. The opportunity to perform their constitutional role as citizens
of Uganda is limited under repression because of the narcissistic personalities
in government.
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