{UAH} Where on earth have Uganda’s opposition leaders vanished?
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1:17 AM |
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When both Democratic Party and Uganda Peoples Congress parties appeared to change their leaders, there was excitement and anticipation in the country.
When the Forum for Democratic Change followed suit, the same sentiments were expressed. As for Gen Mugisha Muntu, even leaders and soldiers jubilated.
What on earth has happened to Norbert Mao, Olara Otunnu and Mugisha Muntu? Are they still living in Uganda? We know where Ken Lukyamuzi and Betty Kamya are. They are still crying.
Opposition leaders all over the world seize opportunities to shout loudest and shine during great national debates and crises. Many Ugandans believe that our opposition party leaders go into hiding when these events, including catastrophic ones, occur.
The UPC leader chose not to vote in the last general elections. This was extremely unfortunate for someone who dreams of becoming a leader of Uganda one day. Where were these leaders and what did they say during the siege of the High Court by the Black Mambas?
What effective roles did opposition leaders play when the NRM party unconstitutionally amended the Constitution to gag traditional rulers and cultural leaders from speaking? Has any Ugandan heard Opposition leaders protesting the NRM party's expulsion of four MPs?
In reality, the most effective opposition against corruption, abuse of office and misgovernance in Uganda has been led by civil society organisations, the media and newspaper columnists and journalists.
Newspaper columnists such as Alan Tacca, Garry Loughran, Tee Ngugi, Ofwono Opondo, Peter Mwesiga, Murinini Mulera, Justice Patrick Tabaro, Hon Semuju, Harold Acemah and others have had considerable impact on the enlightenment of the issue.
Religious leaders have generally and strangely remained either silent or actively compliant. The exceptions have been such as the late and much lamented Bishops Festo Kivengere, Janan Luwum and currently, Bishop of Kampala Charles Lwanga and retired Bishop Zak Niringiye.
Monitor Publications, Red Paper, the Observer and The Independent stand out as publications that have consistently and bravely exposed corruption, abuse of office and misgovernace in this country.
The Foundation for Human Rights Initiative, FIDA, Accord and Corde, the Anti- Corruption League and other public spirited and led organisation for democracy, the rule of law, Human Rights and constitutionalism have strongly come out to defend the rights of Ugandans and the need for better governance.
The well known opposition party leaders do as little as they are usually found dining and wining with the people who misrule or help misrule Uganda. They attend the same political and social functions where they feel more at home than with the wretched of the earth, they were elected to defend.
Many Ugandan opposition leaders are showered with money and gifts in exchange for their silence or the philosophy of go easy on the rulers.
Those opposition leaders who have been lucky to make it to Parliament except very few, find it much more comfortable and easier to corroborate with the governments of the day.
This is perhaps understandable because in Parliament they are paid colossal sums of money in salaries and allowances. The average pay for a Member of Parliament is a staggering Shs25,000,000 a month. Which MP would wish to criticise or have the Executive removed when it is the goose that lays the golden egg.
Consequently, Uganda does not have any serious critique of the government from the formally recognised opposition groups. They have all been cowed into silence by bribery, cowardice and gripping fear.
In a developing country like Uganda where the majority of the population have had no adequate education, the masses should be led by the elite and the intellectuals. However, with a few exceptions such as Professors Joe Oloka Onyango, M. Mamdani, Jean Barya and Rev. Prof. Byaruhanga, the elite and the academia like most MPs have preferred money and comfort.
Organisations such as the professional bodies, church leagues and technical groups prefer to be silent and prosperous than indulge in the liberation of this country from the Yoke of authoritarianism and misrule.
Justice Kanyeihamba is a retired
Supreme Court Judge. gwkany@yahoo.com
--
H.OGWAPITI
-----------------------------------------------------
"To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public."
---Theodore Roosevelt
When the Forum for Democratic Change followed suit, the same sentiments were expressed. As for Gen Mugisha Muntu, even leaders and soldiers jubilated.
What on earth has happened to Norbert Mao, Olara Otunnu and Mugisha Muntu? Are they still living in Uganda? We know where Ken Lukyamuzi and Betty Kamya are. They are still crying.
Opposition leaders all over the world seize opportunities to shout loudest and shine during great national debates and crises. Many Ugandans believe that our opposition party leaders go into hiding when these events, including catastrophic ones, occur.
The UPC leader chose not to vote in the last general elections. This was extremely unfortunate for someone who dreams of becoming a leader of Uganda one day. Where were these leaders and what did they say during the siege of the High Court by the Black Mambas?
What effective roles did opposition leaders play when the NRM party unconstitutionally amended the Constitution to gag traditional rulers and cultural leaders from speaking? Has any Ugandan heard Opposition leaders protesting the NRM party's expulsion of four MPs?
In reality, the most effective opposition against corruption, abuse of office and misgovernance in Uganda has been led by civil society organisations, the media and newspaper columnists and journalists.
Newspaper columnists such as Alan Tacca, Garry Loughran, Tee Ngugi, Ofwono Opondo, Peter Mwesiga, Murinini Mulera, Justice Patrick Tabaro, Hon Semuju, Harold Acemah and others have had considerable impact on the enlightenment of the issue.
Religious leaders have generally and strangely remained either silent or actively compliant. The exceptions have been such as the late and much lamented Bishops Festo Kivengere, Janan Luwum and currently, Bishop of Kampala Charles Lwanga and retired Bishop Zak Niringiye.
Monitor Publications, Red Paper, the Observer and The Independent stand out as publications that have consistently and bravely exposed corruption, abuse of office and misgovernace in this country.
The Foundation for Human Rights Initiative, FIDA, Accord and Corde, the Anti- Corruption League and other public spirited and led organisation for democracy, the rule of law, Human Rights and constitutionalism have strongly come out to defend the rights of Ugandans and the need for better governance.
The well known opposition party leaders do as little as they are usually found dining and wining with the people who misrule or help misrule Uganda. They attend the same political and social functions where they feel more at home than with the wretched of the earth, they were elected to defend.
Many Ugandan opposition leaders are showered with money and gifts in exchange for their silence or the philosophy of go easy on the rulers.
Those opposition leaders who have been lucky to make it to Parliament except very few, find it much more comfortable and easier to corroborate with the governments of the day.
This is perhaps understandable because in Parliament they are paid colossal sums of money in salaries and allowances. The average pay for a Member of Parliament is a staggering Shs25,000,000 a month. Which MP would wish to criticise or have the Executive removed when it is the goose that lays the golden egg.
Consequently, Uganda does not have any serious critique of the government from the formally recognised opposition groups. They have all been cowed into silence by bribery, cowardice and gripping fear.
In a developing country like Uganda where the majority of the population have had no adequate education, the masses should be led by the elite and the intellectuals. However, with a few exceptions such as Professors Joe Oloka Onyango, M. Mamdani, Jean Barya and Rev. Prof. Byaruhanga, the elite and the academia like most MPs have preferred money and comfort.
Organisations such as the professional bodies, church leagues and technical groups prefer to be silent and prosperous than indulge in the liberation of this country from the Yoke of authoritarianism and misrule.
Justice Kanyeihamba is a retired
Supreme Court Judge. gwkany@yahoo.com
--
H.OGWAPITI
-----------------------------------------------------
"To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public."
---Theodore Roosevelt
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