PRESENTATION
BY HON DR. MIRIA KOBURUNGA MATEMBE
ON
THE ROLE OF THE YOUTH IN NATIONAL TRANSFORMATION
AT
MAKERERE UNIVERSITY- PUBLIC DIALOGUE
(I)
THE
STATUS OF UGANDA TODAY:
Uganda has never
witnessed peaceful handover of power since independence and has only changed
leaders using violence. This characterizes our country as a nation of using
violence as a means for regime change.
What’s
the problem?
In 1986, President
Museveni described Africa’s problem as that of Leaders who stay in power for
long. Recently while in Kenya, He said that over staying in power for long has
made Him an Expert on governance issues.
“Why the change of heart…..of goal
posts…” So what should the young people believe in?
The current politics
and policies focus on “For God and My Stomach”- they are characterized by
greed, patronage, materialism, selfishness, etc.
When we complain
about the status quo, the common response is that “at least we can talk and go
back home unlike during the Idi Amin and Obote Governments. These Governments
were bad; have we now reached this level of agreeing that all our Governments
since independence are bad and should be compared as “bad, worse, worst?”
There is growing
resentment, anger bitterness, etc towards people from the western part of
Uganda. Whenever things go wrong, the westerners are treated differently. Case
in point is the Bassajjabalaba saga where Cabinet decided that Prof Makubuya
and Hon Syda Bumba should resign but Governor Mutebile should be saved!
The good leaders are
denied from taking part in the governance of this country and now the
government is full of bad leaders
Our national vision
was substituted with the individual vision and subsequently; the language
changes from “we do” to “I do”
The current Leaders
are pre occupied with how to stay in power and what strategies to use in order
to sustain themselves in power.
All the above have
created a sense of hopelessness among Ugandans.
(II)
THE ROLE OF THEYOUTH IN NATIONAL TRANSFORMATION:
Young or old, we all have a role to
play in transforming Uganda.
Just like women, the young people have
‘powerlessness’. However there is hope that these two marginalised groups can
come together and use their advantage of ‘numbers’ to transform Uganda. These
two groups should also join hands to make their masses bigger and stronger
toward changing the nation.
We need to refocus our plan, open our eyes
and understand things happening around, get know the right and the wrong. We
need to have faith in God in order to transform our nation in the right manner.
We have abandoned God and our
country and that is why we are going astray. We should always refer to the motto
of our nation ‘For God and My Country’ in order to move forward. Countries that
have moved on ahead practice Godly values and principles.
We should realise the power we all have to
change the Nation just like Moses discovered the power of his stick to liberate
the Israelites from the Egyptians.
Transformation is not changing but
radically turning situations around in order to change everything; the institutions,
ideologies, processes and much more.
WHY ARE
PEOPLE NOT RISING UP TO FIGHT AGAINST THE POOR UGANDAN SITUATION?
People fear and do not care
hence we have to liberate Ugandans of fear and indifference.
(III) WHAT KIND OF
UGANDA DO WE WANT?
·
A country
back on the road to constitutional governance and democracy;
·
Ugandans
feeling a sense of belonging, security and peace;
·
A country
where each person’s views are respected and tolerated;
·
Where
citizens enjoy their rights and exercise free political processes for example,
citizens understanding the meaning of elections and holding their values while
electing;
·
A country
free of corruption and those who are corrupt being punished;
·
A Uganda
where everyone will be valued and respected;
·
A country
where leadership and integrity is cherished;
·
A country
where everyone benefits and not the minority.
Each of us
has got a role to play. We do not need to go to the bush but we can play our
roles where we are using our intellectual strengths. ‘The end justifies the
means’ therefore, if we do not do this, the use of violence will keep repeating
itself hence a perfect reason to find other fighting means.
THE YOUTH
MUST RISE UP AND SERVE A PURPOSE IN THEIR OWN GENERATION-HOW WILL THEY DO THAT?
The youth should not let themselves be
despised. ‘When you think like a
grasshopper, you will become a grasshopper’. The Youth are very powerful and
they should be aware of their great strength.
The youth should always refer to the word
of God because it is very empowering.
The youth should remove the habit of
Ugandans being hunters that is, they are ready to kill and sell their own
resources at a cheap price for ‘meat’ that does not last for
long instead of preserving their resources for the future and using
them to develop the Nation.
Ugandans should ask for assistance in
matters they do not understand before they make the wrong choices.
The challenge
is, are we restless enough to throw off the yokes of our brothers off our necks
so that we can be free, redeem ourselves and our land.
Lastly I end with the quote from Bible about ESAU -who sold his birth
right to his brother Jacob in exchange of a plate of soup because he was
hungry. His desire to satisfy his hunger made him fore go his inherited
treasure. Let’s not focus on immediate gains – needs; let’s target the bigger
picture.
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