KYAMBOGO UNIVERSITY PUBLIC DIALOGUE
Theme: The role of the youth in National Transformation
Kyambogo Students Centre
4th April 2012
The Guest Speaker, Hon Maj Rtd Okwiri Rabwoni, while addressing Kyambogo students today stated that throughout our history, the youth have been at the centre of transformation. The pre-colonial history had Kabakas Mwanga and Kabelega fighting for their kingdoms and people; Dr. Obote, Musasizi and other young people fought for Uganda's Independence and the young people overthrew Idi Amin and Obote II regimes while fighting against dictatorship and gross abuse of human rights.
The big question that arises now is why are we still talking about transformation now???? what are the key challenges??
Today's governance is characterised by a breakdown of institutions; abuse of the trustship duty by government; Land grabbing; corruption; lack of economic justice; dehumanisation, unemployment; barefooted people and the jiggers epidemic in the 21st century, among others.
Its important to note that if a government does not pay attention to its people, then foreigners will automatically occupy the vaccum. Classical examples to explain this scenario is the Cuba and the Libya revolutions. Both Gaddafi and Fidel Castro claimed to be revolutionary leaders but because the Cuban government takes care of its people, USA has failed for decades to overthrow the Cuban revolution. But in Libya, because the "revolution" did not pay attention to its people, the USA swept it out in a few months.
Rabwoni possed the big question to the young people to choose either to maintain the current status in Uganda and remain as perpetual beggers or transform their country and put it on the path for political and economic revival; fit for a 21st century democratic country.
What kind of mind shift should the young people have in order to transform this nation? Why have countries like Malaysia and Singapore developed and Uganda is still struggling with Jiggers?
The time has come for the youth to take their country seriously and conquer their fear in order to take the necessary steps and deliver the much needed transformation.
FOR GOD AND MY COUNTRY.
We ugandans are led by regimes which lack vision and at the same time our leaders are not transparent,Corruption is the order of the day in uganda; government funds are in the hands of the few.So how can you expect us to develop to march such countries.
ReplyDelete