{UAH} Uganda @ 51

Fellow citizens and friends,

51 years ago today, visionary leaders of Uganda ensured the country became free from colonial rule and, with it ended the direct control of the country by the British empire.

Those leaders immediately embarked on nation building which included national unity, investments in education, health, infrastructure, agriculture, industry, culture and, name it.

Just a year later (1963), the country became a Republic, ensuring total control of its destiny hence, the creation of the titular office of the president (replacing the Governor General, an appointee of the British monarch).

By the beginning of the regime of murder and terror in 1971, Uganda railway line had been extended from Soroti to Packwach and every district had at least one functioning and, fully equipped modern hospital, a competitive high school, technical institutions, functioning roads, Jinja as the national industrial hub decent roads across the country, a national Peoples bank among many, employment for all graduates guaranteed regardless of their 'nationalities', free post secondary education for all including aliens and 'refugees', national telecommunication, the largest coffee processing plant in Africa and the second largest in the world (at Bugolobi), an organized national housing corporation (Bugolobi, Nakawa, Bukoto, Makerere etc), decent bus transport (including in rural Nagongera) - routinely and on time, Makerere University as the Havard of Afrika and, the least goes on.......

Fast forward today? The jury is out.

To those Founding Parents I say thank you.  To others on the train particularly those in the know, please examine your conscience. To the YOUTH of today, pity that most of you were born 27 years ago or later and for that, who can blame you for not knowing anything else. 

My plea as I take my seat to reflect further, just believe in better. Uganda is possible.

Ochieno

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