{UAH} FW: UNAALIST Honor Vice President Edward Ssekandi at UNAA@25

Shame on you Dr. Muniini Mulera, that you would be the one propagating for Sekandi, as keynote speaker. For the last eleven years in a row, Sekandi has been attending UNAA Conventions. Each year he is given a chance to greet the delegates. Indeed, In Denver, he did so before the the kenote speech was given by former NASA Flt. Commander, Mr. Arubaruho.

What is new that Sekandi, will bring to UNAA this year? Do we even realize that we are celebrating twenty five years? Where are the founders in all the aloted Saturday afternoon time? When has any convention ever been without high powered regime represntation anyway? 

What is going to be new in Dallas, with VP Sekandi's presence!?  UNAA being mortgaged to the highest bidder with this kind of endorsement? 

Very sad. Sad indeed! 

Kamugisha

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On Sun, Aug 18, 2013 1:25 PM CDT Muniini Mulera wrote:

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>VicePresident Edward Ssekandi at UNAA@25 in Dallas
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>Thenews that Mr. Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi, the Vice President of Uganda, will beattending UNAA@25 in Dallas, Texas has generated understandable debate.  There are some who have expressed theirdispleasure upon learning that the Ugandan Vice President will be an honoredguest at the Saturday Lunch.
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>Infact Mr. Ssekandi's presence at UNAA@25 will be a great honor to ourAssociation, for it will affirm our longstanding role as a non-partisan bridgethat joins Ugandans in the Diaspora and Ugandans at home. 
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>Thosewho are opposed to the presence or honoring of the Ugandan vice-presidentshould recall that it is just over a decade ago that we asserted our rights ofUgandan citizenship by fighting for dual citizenship. One of the keyachievements of UNAA, dual citizenship would never have been possible without apartnership with the Uganda Government of the day. 
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>Suchengagement with the government leaders was not an endorsement of the rulingparty, but recognition that the Ugandan State had a leadership that we had towork with in order to serve the interests of UNAA and the Ugandan Diaspora.
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>Likewise,Uganda, our country regardless of who is in power, offers us very manyopportunities for trade and investment, service and retirement.  It is in Uganda's interest to fully andrespectfully engage the Diaspora. It is in UNAA's interest to fully andrespectfully engage the Ugandan Government, regardless of the individual UNAAmembers' political leanings.
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>Justas there are many UNAA members who strongly oppose the NRM party, there aremany who support the NRM.  Just as thereare many who are monarchists, there are many who are anti-monarchists.
>Thatdoes not mean that UNAA must not host the leaders of Uganda's kingdoms.
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>OurAssociation is non-partisan. This does not mean that our Association must shunpoliticians.  Item (d) in the Preamble ofthe UNAA Constitution clearly describes one of our goals as being "to build partnerships with key stakeholders that willfacilitate the growth of cultural, philanthropic, economic and educationalinterests between the peoples of Uganda and North America."
>Howdo we do this by shunning those who hold the keys to the dual lock that we mustopen to enable mutual benefit for the people of Uganda and North America?
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>Indeedone wishes that Dallas had been graced by the presence of President Yoweri K.Museveni himself, for UNAA, the oldest and best known Ugandan organizationoutside our motherland, represents a very powerful development partner with theUgandan government, namely, Ugandans in the Diaspora.
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>Itis my hope that the organizers of UNAA@25 will allot Mr. Ssekandi ample time toaddress the delegates in his capacity as Vice President of our motherland.  It will not be enough for him to say "hello"and retire to a hearty lunch. 
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>Mr.Ssekandi, of course, will not be the first senior Ugandan politician to addressUNAA. Off the top of my head, I recall that the following have been specialguests, with ample time to speak, at UNAA conventions: Vice President SamsonKisekka (1993), Minister Basoga Nsadhu (1998), Prime Minister Paul Nsibambi(1999), President Yoweri K. Museveni (2000), Dr. Kizza Besigye (2001),President Yoweri K. Museveni (2004), Mrs. Janet Museveni (2009), FDC PresidentMaj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu (2012), DP President Norbert Mao (2012). 
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>Iam happy to note that UNAA@25 will have, among others, the following Ugandanpoliticians who have confirmed that they will attend and speak at theconvention: Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu, President of FDC; Mr. Norbert Mao,President of DP; Ms. Betty Kamya, President of UFA; Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda,Minister of Health; Mr. John M. Nasasira, Minister of Information Technology;Mr. Henry Banyenzaki, Minister of State for Economic Monitoring; and Ms.Rebecca Amuge Otengo, Minister of State for Northern Uganda.
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>Ihave always found the presence of such a cross-section of Ugandan leaders veryenjoyable and informative. It has always given me an opportunity to engage themboth publicly and privately on matters that I consider important. Some of ourconversations have been passionate. We have agreed on some issues and disagreedon others.  However, we have alwaysrespected one another and I have always come away enriched by their commentsand observations.
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>This year's Ugandan Government delegation willalso include Mr. John Byabagambi, Minister of State for Works;
>Mr. VincentMakumbi Nyanzi, Minister of State, Vice President's Office and Mr. Moses Byaruhanga,Senior Presidential Advisor, Politics and Mobilization. 
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>I understand thatthe Omukama of Bunyoro may also attend UNAA@25. What an honor and opportunitythat will be for us to engage the Omukama, not only because he represents asection of our people, but also presides over what may well be the mostlucrative investment destination over the next few decades!
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>I also know thatFDC President Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu will be holding a Town Hall Meeting inDallas (similar to ones planned for Boston, Minneapolis and Toronto) to engagein political dialogue with Ugandans. Surely if it is OK for the FDC leader tospeak to us, it must be OK for the Vice President of Uganda to do likewise.
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>I am aware thatthere is an honest difference of opinion on the question of invitingpoliticians to UNAA conventions. That debate is healthy and must continue.  However, until the Membership decides to banall politicians from our conventions, we must continue to do what Ugandans dowell, namely, hospitality and courtesy extended to visitors. That these visitorsare our brothers and sisters should encourage us to go the extra mile towelcome them in our midst and give them a most memorable reason for them toattend future UNAA conventions.
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>On a personalnote, it is not those I agree with that I want to hear from. It is always thoseI disagree with I like to engage in order to exchange ideas and visions.Perhaps I might help them change their views, attitudes and practices. However,I must always be willing to have my views changed as well.
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>I look forward toseeing you all in Dallas, and to receiving and honoring the Vice President ofUganda and his delegation.
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>Sincerely,
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>Dr. Muniini K.Mulera
>Chairman, UNAA Boardof Trustees
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