Reflections: Stolen History.

By Kwiringira B Ruhamya Fred

Analyst, Apostle, Patriot

What is Uganda's Problem?

Since our great nation's independence in 1962, six decades later, we have failed to come to the prophecy of Winston Churchill, the greatest Prime Minister of Great Britain, our former colonizers. Winston Churchill was mesmerized by the beauty, potential, riches, and serenity of our kingdoms, nations that later became Uganda. Winston captured the awesome land in poetic language, concluding, "This is Pearl of Africa." This was in 1908. A century later, we are still walking in dust, and we cannot touch the sky.

What happened? Who is responsible? Is it the colonialists, political parties, kingdoms, kings, tribes, nationalities, land, bad politics? It is a myriad of factors but mainly bad politics and bad politicians or empty leaders.

Our history has been stolen. Most of our minerals are gone for a century. Forests destroyed, wetlands, national parks. Who is responsible? Can we reclaim our hope, promises, and vision?

Uganda, the Pearl of Africa. It can be a reality. It will take visionary leadership, lean government, combat looting, stealing, and corruption.

The promises at Independence in 1962 on Kololo grounds have not been met. Why, who is responsible? Gen. Museveni, some of his colleagues will blame Dr. Milton Obote and UPC government. Obote used to blame Kabaka Edward Freddie Mutesa, Buganda Kingdom. It was bad politics. Gen. Museveni Tibuhaburwa K. Yoweri, on other good days, will blame Gen. Amin, the Imperialists. He usually despises kings for Africa being colonized, the later leadership failures. He rarely tells the truth. We must interrogate his blame of other leaders and previous regimes.

The stolen history can be rewritten and reclaimed. Uganda can be Pearl of Africa.

Kabaka Mutesa, an intelligent, handsome man, charismatic, skilled, athletic, with Kabaka Yeka party, Buganda Kingdom got reins of Power, became a President. Historians have ably described the wrong marriage of Kabaka Yeka and UPC. It was bound to break. It did, with regrettable consequences. It is stolen history. The hopes and promises of Independence were lost. Obote took over in 1966, abolished Kingdoms, Kabaka Mutesa went to exile, where he was poisoned by Dr. Obote and UPC criminal agents. At 39 years, the powerful, loved Kabaka Mutesa was killed. The Baganda never forgave Obote, yet he married a beautiful, amiable Miria Kalule Obote who luckily still lives today. Kabaka Mutesa wrote a book, The Desecration of My Kingdom. Gen. Amin Dada, who destroyed the palace, later overthrew Obote. In the few years the Kabaka ruled, the country was progressing. It ended abruptly.

It is stolen history.

Dr. Milton Obote, a seasoned politician, bright, an orator, social, ruled for 5 years. In 1971, the Army Commander Gen. Amin Dada, whom he used to destroy Lubiri, kill some Baganda, Kabaka's military, and security, paid Obote in his currency. Fools repeat mistakes of history and blame history. Uganda was set on a destructive political journey. Obote, a celebrated politician, was confident that he would manipulate systems, the Army, and rule for years. It was never to be. He miscalculated. The relations between Obote and Buganda never healed from the killing of the King and the destruction of Buganda's glory. Grace Ibingira, a Prince of Bahinda clan from Ankole, was an influential Secretary General of UPC. The Minister for Justice had worked with his friend Kabaka Mutesa to overthrow Obote. It failed. Ibingira S. Grace was imprisoned with the other five ministers by Dr. Obote and UPC Government in Luzira Prison until Amin took over and released them. Ibingira was a brilliant lawyer, courageous, ambitious politician. It is a suspected part of the template Gen. Museveni used to fight, overthrow governments, and now rule for 40 years was designed, though by Ibingira. He was an elephant. Gen. Museveni is a good student who steals ideas and knowledge to his advantage. It was stolen history.

Dr. Milton Obote made a contribution in the 5 years he was a president from 1966 to 1971. The evil Obote and UPC did was to feed tribalism, bad politics, divisions, and military introduction in politics. He paid a price twice by the Army, overthrowing him. Obote believed he was clever to use Army, security to his advantage. It ended in the legacy of ashes. It is stolen history.

The military coup of Gen. Amin Dada was welcomed by Baganda. They hated Obote and hence thought Amin would be good and they work together.

Gen. Amin Dada, although semi-literate, was naturally cunning, clever, and gifted. Given his poor background, his lack of education, yet he ruled Uganda for 8 years with absolute power, which makes him a giant in Uganda, Africa's history. Some revere Amin as a Genius. It is debatable. Amin was a dictator. No apologies. Gen. Amin was a Kakwa. It is believed his roots are in Congo. Amin and Museveni are said to have Banyarwanda blood, believed to be foreigners who, out of sheer luck, ambition, and bravery, became presidents at different times. Historians and scholars will reveal the truth.

Gen. Amin was a giant, trained soldier, strong, energetic, boxer, swimmer, and rally driver. He was a lifts. Amin was unable to get education. Amin did a few classes in primary. He was naturally bright and gifted. Amin was extremely brave and daring. It explains his missions, operations, rise in military, and Army to become the Army Commander. Gen. Amin had the support and blessings of Britain and Israel. He ruled Uganda for 8 years under the military regime. During his time, many people were killed, around 300,000. They were killed by Gen. Amin, his soldiers.

The rest were killed by rebels and bandits who were in Tanzania with Obote, Oyite Ojok, and Museveni. On top of Amin and his military killings, the exiles would kill to make Amin and his regime unpopular. Some died during the war of 1972, which was poorly planned by exiles of UPC, Obote, Okellos, Maj. Gen. Oyite Ojok, the Musevenis. In later years, Gen. Museveni blamed, and vice versa. They had no capacity to overthrow Gen. Amin; his military was still intact and strong. Amin and his government had very good intelligence and skilled staff, including Banyarwanda. There were some achievements during Amin's reign. The economy weakened, mainly due to insecurity, the expulsion of Asians, the poor image internationally, and the indiscipline of the Army. The negative effects of Amin's rule remained for years until today. It is stolen history.

However, we should not fall into Gen. Museveni's trap of blaming everything on past leaders, Obote, and Amin. Gen. Museveni was of Obote and Amin. He worked with them until he developed the wild ambition to become a president. To his credit, which he achieved at a high cost of lives and property. It is stolen history.

The lost years of 1971 to 1981 were a decade of turmoil, insecurity, and bloodshed. Many people ended in exile, leading to brain drain. Many Ugandans ended in London, America, South Africa, Kenya. Some feared and became citizens of those countries. Some returned in 1982 during Obote II, UPC regime. Others in 1986 during NRA/NRM Museveni's reign.

The Amin military regime was overthrown by Ugandan exiles in Tanzania, Zambia, and other countries. It is mainly possible due to Tanzania's force and Mzee Nyerere K. Julius. Museveni's Fronasa and Obote exiles were not strong enough to remove Amin and his government.

It is stolen history.

The Obote II UPC regime was engaged in war with Museveni and NRA Luwero triangle war. It took lives of 500,000 Ugandans. Are there any lessons? During the 1980, DP won elections. The powerful Muwanga Paul, a chairman of military commission, took over elections mandate, altered results, and announced Obote and UPC as victors. Museveni was vice to Muwanga. Museveni, who wanted power, mobilized his comrades and started war. It took five years. Obote was, as usual, overthrown by the Army. Gen. Okello Lutwa became a president. Even if Lutwa had not overthrown, the forces of NRA under Museveni were closing in; it would take over Obote, UPC government in a few years. It accelerated the success of Museveni and his NRA rebel Army. If Maj. Gen. Oyite Ojok had not died, the war would have taken more years. Oyite Ojok was highly skilled and capable General. He was killed by the vice President Paul Muwanga, who was a Minister for Defence and vice president. Gen. Oyite Ojok was feared to want to overthrow government. Muwanga had ambitions of becoming a president. When Lutwa and Bazilio took over, Muwanga was influential. He was also in talks with rebels through Katabarwa, who died mysteriously. Muwanga later was imprisoned by Museveni in Luzira, released, and died shortly. Muwanga was a tough, rich Muganda, powerful, intelligent, and unreliable. Museveni and Muwanga had shaky relations. These undependable traits were costly to our politics. It is stolen history.

In 1985, there were Peace Talks in Nairobi, Kenya, which has been called peace jokes. Gen. Museveni wanted to be president. Sharing power, peace talks was buying time. The NRA had also sacrificed, 5 years in the bush, now strong on two fronts in Luwero and Rwenzori mountains under the heroic, charismatic Gen. Rwigyema Giisa Fred, who became Army and State Minister for Defence in Uganda. Rwigyema, in 1990, left for his home Rwanda, as the leader, Commander, Chairman of RPA, RPF. He was killed on the second day. Who killed Rwigyema? It is stolen history.

Museveni, NRA wanted power, were strong, and hence wanted to take over. It was a matter of time. The talks collapsed. We acknowledge the role of Kenya, Mzee Arap Moi, in the peace talks. It was stolen history.

Gen. Museveni, NRA/NRM took power in January 1986. It was a long journey of wars, bloodshed, and sacrifices. It destroyed 500,000 lives, property, families. Who killed the 500,000? Obote and UPC blame Museveni, bandits, and NRA rebels. Museveni blames UPC government, Obote, and his new, the Rwakasisis. The celebrated, ruthless Gen. Sejusa David says war is not holy communion. In war, both sides kill. It is war. Rebels killed and government killed. William Pike, in his classic book, says the NRA/NRM war was a Revolution.

Gen. Museveni and NRA/NRM with their ideologies and blueprint 10-point program promised Ugandans a Fundamental Change. Has there been a fundamental change? There are remarkable achievements in many areas, including security, economy, education, Agriculture, Military. Is it a fundamental change? It is debatable. There are significant positive changes and development.

If the 10-point program had been fulfilled, executed, and implemented to the letter, Uganda would be like Singapore, Botswana, South Korea. What has failed is industrial looting, stealing, endemic corruption, and failed leadership. Who is responsible for the failures? Is it a fundamental change? What is Uganda's problem? It is stolen history.

The challenges in the last 40 years, where so much has been achieved in economic growth with no equality, are Gen. Museveni's overstay in power, mafia influence, endemic corruption, self-aggrandizement, dysfunctional Parliament. It is betrayal of the Revolution. It is stolen history.

The nations, Winston Churchill envisioned in 1908, the Pearl of Africa, the leaders of Independence, hopes of 1962, the various regimes of Kabaka Mutesa, Dr. Obote, Gen. Amin, Prof. Lule, Mzee Binaisa, the Military Commission, Obote II, UPC, Gen. Okello Lutwa, the Mighty Gen. Museveni and continuing? Which way Uganda?

Who is responsible for stolen history? Is it the kingdoms, the imperialists, colonialists, politicians, presidents, Gen. Museveni? It is a combination of factors. Can we reclaim our history and determine the future? What can be recovered. We should take new routes and directions. Some nations have achieved the impossible. Fundamental change and Revolution. It is stolen history.

The Country, Uganda, the Pearl of Africa, 49 million Ugandans, 56 tribes, nations can define a new path, shared vision. We can elect good, visionary leaders. Gen. Museveni, NRM have made monumental contribution. We thank them. The sacrifices were high. Many young youth died. We have skulls, graves in Luwero, the effects of war in Northern Uganda, Eastern Uganda. We should resolve it again. We can have a lean government of Parliament that works, competent cabinet. After Gen. Museveni, who is old, the country can take new directions. Gen. Museveni, Mzee Kasaija, PR recruits like Mwenda Andrew says the economy has grown. We are middle class. World Bank, experts, and top economists dismiss the self-praises of regime merchants. Who benefits from the great economy with 70 percent youth unemployment, 300,000 homeless people in towns, 16 million Ugandans living in abject poverty. Who benefits from the growth and expansion? Can we have equality, justice, and shared progress in Uganda? It is stolen history.

We have an appointment with the future. Ugandans, keep working hard, love the country, promote unity and peace. The future is paved in gold.

Uganda, the Pearl of Africa. Our heritage and motherland. Our sacred inheritance. The 50 years lost after Independence due to insecurity, wars have passed. Never again. The resources stolen by colonialists for 70 years. Never again. Let us utilize our resources, benefit from oil, minerals, coffee rich soils. Stop stealing 10 trillion per year. Reduce the 100 trillion debt burden. Who benefits? Stolen future. We are better than this.

What is Uganda's Problem?

It is partly failed leadership, plunder, looting, stealing, and blame game. It is stolen history.

Be the change. Claim the future.

For God and My Country.