A NEW DISPENSATION
Nigeria has completed
its multiparty elections where an incumbent gracefully conceded defeat in an
election. It is unprecedented “first” of its kind in that Nation. In Uganda, such
a dream is far-fetched.
The road to 2016 is shaping
up with its characteristic uncertainties of inflation, insecurity, hostility,
and intolerance. The back-to-back assassinations of prominent figures taking
place in Uganda projects a gloomy future pre and post elections.
That aside, there is a crisis
of confidence in Uganda’s politics. For Ugandans to recover from the apathy
towards their politics, some hangers-on must be exposed and eliminated. These people aim to galvanize social and political
spaces from replenishment of ideas.
There are cynics in
this country who have amassed enormous amounts of wealth and will die protecting
it. Many are now hanging on to this regime for selfish reasons to protect and
secure their loot. However, we must assure them all that a change of regime
does not translate into a change in their fortune, especially for those who have
rightfully accumulated wealth.
Uganda is rife for a
new dawn of politics; the politics of unity within our diversity.
The old Parties and current
antics no longer have the capacity to propel us to a conjoined future. In fact,
they are holding us hostage and continue to drag this nation downwards and backwards.
FDC President, Gen. Mugisha Muntu recently stated
that the status quo measures progress from where we are coming from, not where
we are going, or where we should have been. This statement needs amplifying because Uganda
is in the NRM bus that has no headlights. It is only those behind the driving
wheel who are able to see their future, and the near future as such. In that
bus, the common future for all Ugandans is obscured, bleak!
However, what options
do we have with precariats?
The Ugandan opposition
groups, without Dr Col Besigye, are like disciplined pupils in a classroom. They
are constrained such that they have to obey draconian oppressive rules. In this
regard, you know a serious Opposition figure by the frequency of charges
against him/her tat are in court.
It is comprehensible
that going back and forth in court and jail are frustrating; affording a lawyer
is no ordinary feat for many; and feeding a family is hard task if the family’s
breadwinner is in and out of jail. Living in the Opposition is precarious, making
them “Precariats”, as coined by the American Linguist, Noam Chomski.
It is simply impossible
to dislodge President Museveni if you are the type of urban elite who wants a
luxurious life. Mr. Museveni has taken full control of the economy and the
resources of this country as his own.
His costly investment in public administration enables him to secure
control over Ugandans and their resources.
It implies that Mr.
Museveni has the power to dispense wealth, comfort, vanity, dignity, and a
peaceful existence to his unquestioning loyalists. The Uganda under President
Museveni is a theatre of revolutionists of different shades. There are those
who have and must protect what they have; and those who have nothing, but they
must protect those who have, to exist.
Depravity explains the
treachery, suspicion, distrust, and infighting within the Opposition ranks. It
is very simple analogy – when you administer depravity, it sets ground for infighting
due to scarcity of privileges and resources.
Such a pitiful
existence is despised by a society that valorizes corruption and insanity. For public
visibility, most opposition members have to appear on the fence. It is
revealing of lack of organizing ideology, and thus, a need for new dispensations.
By far, Dr. Besigye
deserves very positive appraisal for his courageous efforts at unsettling the
status quo. Reform Agenda forced Museveni to return Northern
Uganda on national agenda. Left to the vagaries of the status quo,
that place could have been obsolete by now.
Without a strong non-opportunistic coalition of patriots, Mueveni will treat 2016 general
election as a mere rite of passage. At
this rate, only Museveni can defeat Museveni. Period!
END
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