{UAH} Pojim/WBK: Why is everyone going into politics? - People & Power

http://www.monitor.co.ug/Magazines/PeoplePower/Why-is-everyone-going-into-politics/-/689844/2946334/-/ukivjkz/-/index.html

Why is everyone going into politics?

NRM chairperson and presidential flag bearer Yoweri Museveni (with hat) addresses his supporters in Kampala after he was nominated on Tuesday. The recent NRM primaries saw a number of new faces in politics. PHOTO BY FAISWAL KASIRYE  

Something unusual is happening in the country. Comedians, musicians, 20-year olds, preachers, radio deejays, among others, are increasingly getting interested and running for political office.

Civil servants, once acclaimed as highly trained, disciplined and honest, are resigning their jobs queuing up for political offices. Doctors, teachers, journalists, engineers, the mid-level educated and others alike, many are quitting their professions for politics.

The uncharacteristic group has even gone to the extent of beating incumbents, or contenders with big political muscles. Just last month, Daniel Kazibwe, popularly known as Ragga Dee, a renowned artiste, trounced Mohammed Kasule and former minister Captain Francis Babu for the Kampala mayoral race in the NRM primaries.

Three years ago, Proscovia Alengot, then 19, was voted MP for Usuk County in Katakwi District. Innocent, young and naïve, she was thrust to Parliament to ably represent the views of 12, 600 people, a position she has declined to defend in the 2016 election.

The matter of fact is that Uganda's politics has changed face enormously. Anyone can bounce into political office, ministerial or ambassadorial positions as long as you play your cards well.

The qualifications are low with MPs, for example, required to have a Senior Six certificate as minimum requirement. Other qualifications like professionalism, track record and reputation seem to matter less to voters nowadays.

A degree, Master's or a PhD itself does not guarantee excellence when elected into office. But politicians require wide range of skills to research, examine, analyse and articulate their views.

How did we get here?
The trend is not only in politics. Once upon a time, there used to be missionaries devoted to preaching and extending the good news beyond borders. They as well built schools and hospitals, some of which still stand today, focused on social justice and economic development.

Now, missionary work is a job and of the foulest injustices spring from places of worship. The list of things that have changed strangely for funny is too long.

However, for politics, a lot leaves to be desired, perhaps because it has made earning a low hanging fruit.

Dr Juma Okuku, a lecturer of political economy at Makerere University, says politics changing face explains Uganda's biggest catastrophe, the institutional decay.

"But that is only a manifestation of the bigger crisis—the failed system. An MP goes to Parliament and the first thing they do is give him a vehicle of Shs106 million, yet a public university is struggling to pay a PhD holder who passes on knowledge a monthly salary of Shs1.5 million. What do you expect?" he says.

The over commercialisation of politics, Dr Okuku adds, is what defines this trend.

"But while money in politics is a global thing, in Uganda the system is beyond repair. The only way out is to dismantle it (in this case remove NRM), restructure the State and perhaps start a new setting with some standards," he says.

In the just concluded NRM primaries, which bordered on anarchy in some areas, the party's electoral commission, led by Dr Tanga Odoi, a former Makerere University don, struggled to close out political residues from the contest on the basis of education and past records, but the result was still widespread chaos.

Dr Odoi told this newspaper during the process that the problem is just indiscipline of candidates. "Everyone wants to win. No one thinks of losing," he said.

The NRM primaries are said to have attracted a record 10,000 aspirants. Other parties like FDC and DP are in the process of preparing and holding, respectively, their primaries.

'Days of the statesmen'
The 1950s and 60s are usually credited as the days of the genuine statesmen in Uganda and elsewhere on the continent — politicians who had ideas and ambitions, men and women who put interests of their countries first, men of great oratory skills, experience and proven reputation.

In Ghana, for example, Kwame Nkrumah is still idolised to date. Former prime minister Milton Obote is also to some extent still praised in Uganda.

But as soon as most countries got independence, something else started taking shape—military coups, assassinations, onset of dictators, exiling of political opponents and wars, which in some countries it did shape their political fortunes or misfortunes.

At independence in 1962, with Obote as prime minister and Kabaka Muteesa II as president, Uganda's Cabinet had only 17 ministers and 11 parliamentary secretaries (equivalent of ministers of State).

The entire Parliament, in fact, had about 82 members, according to retired career diplomat and politician Harold Acemah. 
"Leadership at local level was equally as very lean, functional and efficient," he says.

"The list of their achievements are not disputed anywhere. But [NRM] with their expanded system have little to show. Young brilliant professionals instead of getting to work for what they are trained to do are scrambling to join politics because their professions don't pay."

Doctors, he argues, even those who don't join politics are preoccupied with other problems or looking for windows of opportunities for money, not service delivery. So are teachers, police officers, university lecturers and the large majority in today's public service.

"Back then you would be even scolded for quitting civil service for elective politics. Now it is the reverse. Dedicate your time to service delivery and risk eating grass as your pension because someone connected took off with pensioners' money," Mr Acemah, who served once as deputy head of Uganda's mission in Brussels, says.

"Politics currently is employment and business in real sense," he says. "But the whole system is commercial one—too much talking, less action, getting rich quickly, stealing, name it. It is no longer about service, which explains why it is attractive to most."

There have always been constant public cries about these breed of politicians, especially in Parliament.

Kadongo kamu singer Mathias Walukaga, often known for music and lyrics that speak to society, in his 2013 song Parliament Yaffe (our parliament) sings about the sense of betrayal and disappointment Ugandans have with MPs; some debate issues they don't understand, put focus on trivial issues and completely forget they were voted to represent views of the voters. 
He says Parliament and other assemblies should become like courts of law. If you are not an expert on anything, you have no business on the floor discussing anything.

Politics of populism yielding low quality
The number of districts has also been increasing gradually over the years. Uganda had 33 districts in 1986 when the NRM assumed power, 112 by 2010 and they will soon reach 137 after Parliament recently approved the creation of 25 more districts, 19 municipalities and six cities, a package which was presented as demand driven.

This means the number of MPs is going to increase from the current 386, as well as the lower political administrative structures—meaning more politicians. The Constitution deliberately or not allows for this status quo.

Article 63, for example, states that: "Uganda shall be divided into as many constituencies for the purpose of election of Members of Parliament as Parliament may prescribe; and each constituency shall be represented by one Member of Parliament." For every constituency there is an MP, a Woman MP, a Local Council led by an LC5 and down to the lower units.
Article 78 on the composition of Parliament, which is the second arm of government, says it shall be made up of members directly elected to represent constituencies. These, in Article 79, shall have power to make laws and protect the Constitution and promote the democratic governance.

On their qualifications, Article 80 stipulates that anyone is good to become MP if they are citizens, registered voters, and completed a minimum formal education of Advanced Level standard or its equivalent. Article 178 delves into details of the local government entities and their political authorities known as local councils.

Mr Acemah says it was a deliberate attempt to create a bigger government, adding that its quality has to gradually decline. "The problem is also that only one man in government has a vision so the rest are just onlookers so he does as he pleases," he says.

Who is a politician?
The uncharacteristic groups pulling out gloves to join political battles also mean something.

Ragga Dee trounced Mr Sematimba and Captain Francis Babu in a way understandable that perhaps the latter are simply old wine. 
Comedian Kato Lubwama, who also moonlights as a DJ on CBS radio, is gearing up for a spirited fight using the Democratic DP ticket against Mr Ken Lukyamuzi in Rubaga South. The latter is the only MP for the Conservative Party (CP) for which he also doubles as president.

Musician Judith Babirye sailed through the NRM primaries for the Buikwe Woman MP seat, while her counterpart Godfrey Lutaaya is eyeing the Kakuto County seat. Comedians Robert Mugabe, aka Kakyebezi, is in the lead for the Mbarara mayoral race and Patrick Idringi 'Salvado' is still not yet decided, but is said to be eyeing the Nakawa Division seat in Kampala.

Is politics about money, fame, power or service delivery?

Former French army general and president of the Fifth Republic Charles de Gaulle is quoted in the memoirs of former British prime minister Clement Atlee to have once proclaimed that: "Politics is too serious a matter to be left to the politicians."

In an interview with Sunday Monitor, Mr Kazibwe "Ragga Dee" reinforced this notion, saying he was inspired to join politics to primarily serve the people of Kampala.

"I'm famous enough, I have enough money at least, I have travelled the world during the course of my music career, so I am not looking for anything else other than serving the people," Kazibwe says.

He also admits that there is a great problem with the quality of leaders people vote to represent them. 
"They come giving all the colourful speeches, but immediately change when they get to where they can get access to money. I grew up in the ghettos of Kampala, so I know the problems and how you can tackle them in an all-inclusive way," he says.

"A leader must have experience, either as professional or having directly lived in or impacted in any situation that his people want them to address. Experience does not come alone with a university degree."

In his argument, that is why politics is sometimes defined as a struggle for power in order to put certain political, ideological and social ideas into practice. But the debate on who is a politician other than the basics of great public speaking skills is yet to be concluded.

Retired politician Henry Kyemba says politics in the ideal sense should be about commitment and dedication to serve. 
"That has greatly changed nowadays. People vote into office elements that are outright merchants, which explain why our societies don't change. These elements even mortgage political offices before they assume them, it's a pity," he says.

In our times, he adds, you had to be of a proven record and with some kind of experience in something on which you could build to build society.

"Now, because people were desperate for change, they will vote a musician because they don't have a choice or are tired of dull political faces," Kyemba says.

Several NRM top shots once believed to be untouchable were last month trounced by lesser known or relatively young faces, an indication that either people are tired, or it is a manifestation of the population demographics.

Preliminary results from last year's national headcount indicate that the younger (0-14 year old) are the biggest group at 48.1 per cent followed by 25-64 year age group at 25.1 per cent and 15-24 year group at 21.5 per cent. 

Could this be the reason for the changing face of politics, or is it something bigger?

Why is everyone going into politics? - People & Power

http://www.monitor.co.ug/Magazines/PeoplePower/Why-is-everyone-going-into-politics/-/689844/2946334/-/ukivjkz/-/index.html

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