Mbabazi Vs Museweri
The rift between President Museveni and the
Kinkizi West MP, Hon Amama Mbabazi should not excite the youths going to the
NRMO Delegates’ Conference. The groups that identify as poor/jobless NRM youths,
jobless brotherhood etc should instead hold both Mr. Museveni and Mbabazi accountable
for the policies that have diminished opportunities for youths.
These youths know that Mbabazi has been the
engine of the system that has alienated them from socio-economic development of
this country. If I were a youth, I would shed no tear for Mr. Mbabazi and vote
against the NRMO come 2016. In fact, I would dry firewood to roast Mr. Mbabazi,
socially and politically to allow him understand the experiences of being
marginalized in one’s own country.
Not that I have a “thing” against Hon.
Mbabazi, but I have witnessed him evolve through the system, building it into this
insensible monster that now rules with impunity and doles out billions of
shillings to educate Sudanese, Burundians, and Rwandese youths when our youths lack
the requisite skills to access gainful employment. If Mr. Mbabazi gets consumed
by this system, it would only teach others of his likes to design political
graves for others while taking into consideration that they may require one for
themselves at some point. The African soil is red for reasons; it is notorious
for consuming those who subvert nature!
In 2005, I wrote an article about how
certain elements within the NRM were digging their own graves by entrenching
tyranny in Uganda. People like Hon. Mbabazi, Gen Tinyefuza, Maj. Mutale Kakooza,
Brig. Mayombo, Gen. Kayihura etc, were legitimizing and consolidating the oligarchic
cabal without forethought. Today, none of them is proud of the product of their
handy-work. For them, it is too late to undo the damage, so they turn to the
youths that they have marginalized and immobilized with fear. Youths should not
accept to die in the causes of these evil men. Let them carry their own crosses
to crucify themselves. Other zealots within the system may learn from such
experiences.
Once upon a time there was the “Yellow Girls”
phenomenon. These cheered on as dead bodies of youthful demonstrators piled on
the streets of Kampala. Fortunately, most of these people do not see eye to eye
with the President anymore. Some of them are not exactly as yellow, maybe cream
or even crimson by now!
The youths should learn from how the
composition of the NRM is changing very rapidly. What is constant is that the
youths always received the short end of the stick. Some misguided youths
actively negotiate for such a fate!
Although the National Youth Council (NYC)
exists, it is not very inclusive given its limited budget and scope. Uganda
today has almost 78% of its population comprising of youths, this is about 27
million young people between the ages of 15 – 30 years. This easily overwhelms the NYC. In addition, the
education system has proven inadequate in instilling and honing skills in the
youth to generate critical thinkers and innovators. This is why NRM is stuck
with “poor” helpless youths who are demanding for employment, instead of
creating jobs and innovating. This problem goes beyond Mr. Mbabazi and his rivals;
it is the collective policy problems of the NRMO regime as a whole. The youths
should hold all of them accountable.
I could be wrong, but clearly what is
endearing these youths to Mr. Mbabazi is the myth that the former PM is “loaded”!
People believe that JPAM has stashed
away billions of shillings in Israel and China. But when the youths come to
debunk this myth, they will discard Mr. Mbabazi from their agenda.
This is where Mr. Museveni says that the
youths are a misguided missile. In fact, they should be holding the NRM accountable
for their gloomy prospects to fruitful and rewarding life. It is worthless to
support feuding leaders when they should be pushed out. I contend that NRM
policies as a whole should be targeted for a complete overhaul.
END
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