The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | President Yoweri Museveni will at 7pm on Sunday deliver his much awaited 2018 new year address. Museveni will focus on the gains of 2017 and lay out plans for 2018 – live on all national radio and TV stations.
Exactly a year ago, Museveni assured the nation that “Uganda has been at peace for the first time in 500 years. Uganda will remain at peace. Nobody has the capacity to disturb this, however hard they might try,” he said in his 2017 New Year message on December 31, 2016, ” adding that “Therefore, my dear Ugandans, I confdently tell you that the future is bright.”
Security and investment were also key in his December 31, 2015 New year 2016 message. READ BOTTOM.
PRESIDENT Museveni’s NEW YEAR MESSAGE, 2017 by The Independent Magazine on Scribd
2016 Beginning of Year Speech by The Independent Magazine on Scribd
Response to President Yoweri Museveni’s New Year’s address to the nation
Now that President M7 has spoken the language of the Bible will he remove the presidential robe and become a clergyman? Why would anyone accuse the religious leaders of arrogance simply because they have spoken out on matters that affect Uganda’s political future? Why should anyone condescend so low to think that Archbishop Lwanga and others are craving for the seats in Uganda Parliament! Must we keep silent simply because we do not occupy political offices in the country? Have the political offices become so important so much that influential Church leaders must never comment on the behaviours of politicians? Is the Church not serving the same people that politicians are serving?
For a long time, I have watched with surprise each time our president has attacked the church leaders for speaking out on matters affecting our nation! These attacks have been propagated by some government functionaries with great impunity and yet you find these same people going to Churches for certain functions that are dear to them. In fact, these negative utterances directed to the church leaders reveal the perennial fears that the government harbours towards the Church in general.
Supposing the Church leaders and other theologians said to our politicians that they should not comment on religious matters since it is not their operational area, would anyone take them seriously? Not at all! No one has a monopoly on religion and certainly not politics. Human beings are political in nature and in the same way, they are hopelessly religious. Therefore, it is high time that Mr. Museveni and his government stop peddling these utterances that the religious leaders are not supposed to say anything about politics. The Church operates within nations that have created States and governments. A deeper understanding of anthropology will lead to an understanding the truism that while States and governments are creatures of human wants, religion is not. The church is the conscious of people. Religion plays a very important role in the lives any people. People can live without governments but cannot live without a religion that answers their existential and afterlife questions. There is no social contract between God and MAN. But there is a social contract between the governed and the governors whereby the governed at any time may set aside the governors if they cease to serve the purpose for which they were put in place. In whatever situation, the church remains the source of inspiration for the people as they seek for an ideal good life in a country given to them by their creator. In this regard, let be understood that Church does not need government, but the government needs the Church because the Church offers to the masses what Government cannot offer.
Therefore, seek to know, ask and you will know. Don’t undermine the role of the Church in society and I mean real Churches. Look around and see what the Catholic, the Anglican and the Adventist Churches have done in society and learn to respect and seek guidance from good leaders in an effort to build a peaceful society. Don’t fight the Church. We have a message that if properly delivered to the masses, anything can happen.
Let us remember, all Ugandans (including religious leaders )have the right to determine how they should be governed. They also have obligations to the nation of Uganda. In fact, the Church in Uganda has given Mr. Museveni a blank Cheque for three decades. Thanks to what Mr. Museveni referred to in his speech as neglect of what “they ought to have done” which is nothing else but ‘the prophetic mission of the Church”. This challenge should awaken the Church in Uganda to start preaching liberation theology because our country is not yet liberated from the tyranny of the greedy leaders which include the executive, the parliament and others levels of government.
His Excellence ought to know that, we Ugandans appreciate all his contributions to nation building in the process of serving himself as he indicated some time back. However, his sacrifices do not give him right to override the wishes of us all. The 317 MPs that supported Magyezi bill served their selfish interests, not his and certainly not ours. All Ugandans can see through the tinted glass of the whole process that brought about this amendment. It is not only the clergy that can see this. Please desist from attacking the clergy over this matter. By the way, had the clergy executed the church’s prophetic mission, Mr. Museveni would have retired long ago. Stop listening to only your praise singers such as Opondo. And remember some of the clergymen you are referring to derogatorily as ‘elements’ are much more schooled than your NRM cadres, they are much able to engage your people in constructive debates on governance and they possess ecclesiastical power that is far more lethal than your state machinery. Of course, any clergyman worthy the name must exercise his power in the light of our master Jesus who lived among men as one who serves. There is much to learn from his servant-leadership style.
You talk about your sacrifice and yet, you know that nobody has ever fought a bloody war for any other reason other than seeking for power and money. The only person in history who placed his life on the line for others is Jesus Christ. Not you, not any other. You fought for good life, money and power and that is why you still cling to power because you don’t think you have had enough of it.
I marvel at how you keep on talking of safeguarding the Africans from an impending imperialism! No one else is coming to colonize Africa apart from the one who is already colonizing us. Every country on our continent is grappling with their specific challenges. You are the president of Uganda. Did Ugandans vote you to be a saviour for Africa or East Africa? For example, do you really think Botswana needs you? Does the Future of South Africa depend on you? Mr. President, Ugandans voted you into power to serve their national interests. We do not care about the interests of our neighbours before our interests are served. Countries do not have friends but interests. Countries relate to others for trade and collective security. The duty of your government is to ensure the security of our borders, the allocation of our resources equitably and the provision of Justice.
Therefore, before you tell us about East African community, we want to see service delivery, we want to see an executive that respects the independence of Judiciary and parliament. We want to see an orderly country where the police is not a hub of criminals, we want to see motorists respecting zebra crossing, we want to see investigations of murders and assassinations concluded. We want to see a functioning healthcare sector. We do not want to see the Kifeesi terrorizing our people with impunity. Only then can you tell us about East African community. Some countries in this community have failed to provide acceptable governance where human rights are respected, others have failed to open up political space, and they think they will hide in the so-called East African federation. Mr. President, you know very well, there will never be a politically integrated East Africa. Why do you want us to waste our energies on a hopeless venture? Can you show us any region in Africa or even in Europe where Political integration of sovereign nations has succeeded? Nowhere.
The president accused the clergy of arrogance, but I find it ironic. Had you been less arrogant, you would not have accepted and supported the ill-conceived and illegally processed Magezi bill. You know it is immoral that the MPs could unthinkingly extend their life in parliament for two years! And here you are praising these MPs who are even afraid of meeting their electors! Can’t you see you could be too arrogant to accept the voice of reason? Listening to the voice of the minority is a rare wisdom. Pontius Pilate did not have the wisdom and the courage to listen to the voice of minority (his wife), and he ended up crucifying an innocent man. To listen to the voice of the minority requires an ability to stand against the pressure of the majority. It calls for a stand on a moral ground. Arrogance can be treacherous. It can lead one to ignore the norms that direct dominant states in international relations and one ends up fighting institutions such as THE ICC at his own peril.
I am sure you are a bright president who knows international politics, you better not fight such institutions. Be at the forefront of protecting the constitution on which you took an oath. Humble yourself and live in peace. EAC is not worth your life. We Ugandans plead with you not to lead us into temptations of beginning to distrust you. You are a father to millions of young Ugandans, and a brother to millions. Please maintain your honorable position.
Having said this, I thank our president for the way he has in most cases conducted himself. He does not fear debates like some other presidents. He is indeed an intellectual and civil and whether I am mistaken on his civility let us watch as see.
Kayumba David
Brussels, Belgium