{UAH} Peoples' determination is required in Uganda

On the English program of Radio Munansi we have discussed peoples' self-determination. Simply it means that the people, not leaders, should determine how they want to be governed. Their leaders or outside forces should not play a facilitating role.

In his "The Moral Standing of States" essay Michael Walzer explained the relationship between intervention and respect for self-determination of the community. "If a government ceases to meet the people's… demands [as in Uganda], the people [including Ugandans] are free to rebel, or not to rebel. In some cases, some people may be loyal to leaders, think success is unlikely, or simply be accustomed to autocratic style of rule [some Ugandans fit well in here]. But they retain the right to rebel, no matter how draconian their overlords may be [and we see Ugandans begin to flex their muscles albeit slowly]. When a foreign state intervenes, it violates the people ability to organize its own historical path [as has happened in Uganda since 1971] and to develop its own … destiny". Sitaraman adds "Similarly, progressive pragmatists believe that the constitutional design or economic policies of foreign countries need not look exactly like those of the west in order to produce effective and legitimate institutions. People should choose how to govern themselves"(Ganesh Sitaraman in The American Interest May/June 2014).

As readers are aware, UDU since its founding in Los Angeles in July 2011 has tried to develop its development path on its own. The National Recovery Plan is wholly home-grown with few comments from some development partners, designed by Ugandans and is being implemented through civic education conducted by Ugandans.

UDU believes very strongly that development is basically generated from within not without. NRM has failed in large part because it has relied too much on foreign inputs mostly for experimental purposes. This path must be changed, relying on development partners only in those areas that Uganda may not have expertise and experience. But if conditions in Uganda are favorable, we should be able to attract our well educated and experienced citizens to reconstruct their country for present and future generations, with minimum outside help.

Eric Kashambuzi         

 

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