{UAH} SWEET WORDS COME EASY: TV DEBATE, “WHAT IS IN IT FOR US”?

As the moment of truth closes in, with the TV party leaders debate only hours to go and the general election only days ahead, a stoop to check the horizon is desirable.

I am talking "WHAT IS IN IT FOR US"? There is this thing about putting the vote where the mouth is.

Before I finally went to Gulu last year, people had been pesting me with all sorts of superlatives about developments in Gulu. Some went as far as saying, oh Laduma when you come to Gulu, you won't even recognize it…..Gulu  has developed…..Gulu is very dynamic blah blah blah…osv…and the rest of the nonsenses.

When I got to Gulu, I didn't see any of those. It was a frustration, to put it mildly. Yes the population has ten doubled. So, naturally there are a lot many houses (though without any remarkable urban planning). And there are a few hotels getting their livelihood from periodic UN, NGOs and Government projects.

THE BODA-BODAS (often without helmet and protective shoes and clothing), THE NOISE AND UNBEARABLE DUST are unrivaled negative development. 

Of course the bodas who have replaced the bicycles of our early days barely earn enough for a days meal. It is pathetic and very frustrating seeing them yawning on their bikes by the road sides.

What to do, so is it when there are no places of any worthwhile employment opportunities? I did not see any factory….., no industry…Even Pece Stadium ( a source for cultural thrills and raptures)is gone.

The only development worth noting is the subsequent government investments on basic infrastructure developments inform of road constructions and rural electrification. 

Yes, now we have some of those basic infrastructures so our demand or our mouth is changed. OUR PRIORITY IS NOW ELEVATED TO A DIFFERENT NIVÅ.

OF OUR POLITICIANS, WE NOW DEMAND TO KNOW HOW BEST TO USE THOSE BASIC INFRASTRUCTURES TO AMONG OTHERS:

1) CREATE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

 2) ELEVATE THE CULTURE

3) TO MINIMIZE GENDER TENSIONS

4) EMBARK ON QUALITATIVE INVESTMENTS ON THE AVAILABLE / EXISTING SCHOOLS , HOSPITALS AND COMMUNITY SERVICES.

When I was there, I managed to walk all the major streets in town and even went as far as Lukwiyakare St Mary's Lacor. I parked my car in town and just wanted to study the people. I even went to the market and chatted with the ladies there several times (on the same mission and each time, ended buying what I did not intend to but, just to support them. They appreciated it very much. They knew I was just there to talk to them).

I realized, the female gender bore / bear more than their share of the family burden. THERE IS A LOT TO BE DONE THERE!!!

BUT, A THORUGHFARE OF RESPECTIVE PARTY MANIFESTO EXIBIT ONLY EXERCISE IN EUROPEAN CULTURE TERMINOLOGIES THAT BARELY HAS ANY BEARING ON AFRICAN COUNTRIES.

I HEAR…."EMPOWER WOMEN…., GENDER EQUALITY…..blah.., blah…, blah…osv!! Alltså, nothing responsive to uganda's reality, so to say.

My observation indicates that the gate way to "empowering "the female gender or gender equality (to use those sweet void slogans) GO THROUGH UPLIFTING THE MEN!!! It goes through culture elevation to change the MEN. The government should invest on changing the male situations in order to achieve gender equality.

One concrete such is to get the men to a better attitude level so they can participate more in the family duties. Again one concrete such:

Our mothers and sisters don't have to go to the markets, come home and cook food, go fetch water and do the laundries

WHAT CAN RESPECTIVE POLITICIANS / POLITICAL PARTIES DO TO HALTER THAT SITUATION?????

And I don't mean sweet European culture words or academic terminologies that come easy. We request concrete proposal with illustrated examples!!!!!

MY PERSONAL APPROACH TO THIS EFFECT IS TO BUILD  AT EVERY MAJOR TRADING CENTERS WHAT WE CALL "FOLKETSHUS"((perhaps that equates community centers?!?!)). Now that we have rural electrification schemes underway, a local version in Uganda would perhaps take form of COMMUNITY / PUBLIC LAUNDRY CENTERS.

This would relieve the women of the burden as the men could win over their attitude and take over the duty of washing clothes at the centers.

Noc'la gaumoy Jabukwot

Tfn:+46736906771

 

"WE FORM THE CULTURE THAT FORMS US"….noc'la gaumoy.