{UAH} BY A SUCKER: Your Mail - Museveni, Mandela Are Comparable

Your Mail - Museveni, Mandela Are Comparable

18 DECEMBER 2013

OPINION

Mr. Ofwono Opondo, the executive director of the Uganda Media Centre in a recent column appealed to the public not to compare President Museveni with Nelson Mandela. He said since the demise of Mandela, there have been local but misplaced voices of political vultures asking President Museveni to emulate Mandela.

I doubt whether Opondo's statement is the government position, but if it is, then it is quite absurd. Many President Museveni supporters, including this writer, find the comparison quite normal simply because for any leader to be compared to the giant of history Mzee Nelson Mandela is a great privilege and distinct pleasure quite gratifying.

Secondly, President Museveni did tremendous work and sacrifices in the liberation of South Africa and this was manifested by the close ties between the two leaders and countries. Perhaps the core manifestation of the tenacity of these brotherhood ties was Nelson Mandela visiting Uganda soon after his release from prison in 1990.

It is true that leaders are shaped by circumstances they find themselves in and therefore apartheid-infested South Africa produced a Mandela that was different from a Museveni who successfully fought and inherited a failed state and broken society like Uganda.

However, all leaders of whatever shape, mind about their legacies. It is, therefore, absolutely essential to note that Mandela spent 27 years in jail and five years in power. On the other hand, President Museveni spent five years in the bush and now 27 years in power. Therefore, one should not be ostracized for comparing the two leaders. I beg to rest my case, over to you Mr Opondo.

George W. Ntambaazi,

Kampala.

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Gwokto La'Kitgum

"Even a small dog can piss on a tall Building", Jim Hightower