Over one million people died during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda and several scores have died in DR Congo, Central African Republic, West African states of Sierra Leon and Liberia, and Asian countries of Indonesia and Pakistan due to power struggles and ideological differences. People dying every other day in large masses like insects has made life so cheap, no more value for it, as some people rise to consecrate themselves as professional killers. In all killings, it was a few and handful fearless, insensitive but violent, and determined individuals who could find one or two pro-people views to spice up their egos -for the overall objective of justifying violence. They make going to a killing spree look like video gaming or movie acting and drama.

 

Just different moods, different ideas and the different scales at which people operate could cause conflict and violence since one party would want to make his or her views the best. Yet, it would be the diverse nature of people and things that could make life interesting -because of very many options to admire and adopt whenever current ones are felt boring. This would make diversity hardly a source of violence when there is respect for one another and diversity itself, tolerance until position of conflict is otherwise negotiated, co-existence without interferences until permitted, and nurturance of a sense of unity or brotherhood and sisterhood. Actually, these could be the principles to acquire and defend rather than harbor selfish interests. And competitions would be applicable to games and sports or any other set arrangement while cooperation as way of living with others.

 

However, violence is not the only human affliction: there are poverty, diseases, ignorance and natural calamities and as can be sub-divided to suit different areas suffered. If not managed, they could potentially threaten human existence unless man stands out to rediscover self-responsibility required of him over mother earth and fellow man. This like many past heroes (in its humane sense and meaning), could be the prestigious achievement everyone would work for. Yet if greed and selfish-led war breaks out, the situation could become too unbearable to handle. As a result, there would be all kinds of depressions, of course murders, and loss of human dignity. It would be a true sign that man has failed to take responsibility over fellow man and management of the environment. So if the leadership is insensitive and manifests failures, should the led be the same? If the led were the same then man, overall, would lose out completely -to possible extermination. It would therefore be foolish of man to act that way.

 

There could be help, perhaps, from elsewhere like the United Nations Organizations (UNO) whenever civil strife breaks out and that war and violence victims may anticipate for it. But such help need to always better come after exhausting immediate means to escape and survive violence. One common feature about such help, as one coming from the UNO, is that it could come after very many have been lost and property destroyed. Incidentally, it might not be similar to an incident involving their own (parent States of the UNO) as the panic to save 9/11 attack victims or to rescue countrymen from troubled areas anywhere in the world. In Rwanda , it took more patience than realistic for foreign intervention during the 1994 genocide. It would be upon this background that Africans must always rise up for one another and make all possible attempts to solve their own problems. It would perhaps be the same reason why one would not find Clintons fit for US presidency for acting as mere observers during Rwandan genocide. With Clintons in power it would be like a reincarnation of bad faith, insecure future for Africa , and revived memories of horror to derail healing processes. Their foreign policy, then, would always be a disgrace.

 

Men like Kibaki and Odinga have generated trouble for millions –including the 600 deaths, displaced (both internally and externally) and affected business community. Some of us, who have friends and relatives there, feel the pain. Yet, it has been just two people verses millions. Looking at the ratio, really, millions would have had a say and even taken responsive action against the two trouble causers. In fact, it would be these two, who millions of people would stand against.  Much as when two elephants fight, the grass suffers, it would be a terrible cost to bare losing several people to death at the expense of just two people. It would rather be cheaper if the two were sacrificed for millions than millions for the two. After all, one Jesus Christ did it for the whole world.

 

Kenya once known to be model for peace and stability, whose differences were for long kept at bay, was at the end of 2007 tainted to disrepute. The one man mistake had thrown the nation in another Somalia world, where people begin to identify only to their families, clans and tribes. And those who respected elders for their age, could now opt for a new scale to determine respect. The electorate could have thought that Kibaki, being old man of 70+ would be compelled by age-associated health problems to step down after his first term in office. But, as some people say, “power corrupts and does so absolutely”, he could have fallen prey. Since God was the first political head of Israel and later commissioned Moses to represent him on Earth, perhaps the same way, we must entrust responsibility to notable persons of God.

 

It could not be imagined seeing innocent people suffer, maimed, massacred and moreover unarmed women and children at the hands of satanic people, sort of aliens, lacking a sense of humanism and like beyond humans -whose actions were evil (like devil agents). If the two leaders really had concern for the suffering Kenyans, it would not be difficult for them to restrain their fans from satanic acts. It would have been a matter of stationing themselves at places of violence and campaigning against alien outlook of some of their followers as solutions are sought. And a day or two, would be enough to see calm prevail. This is, understandably, the same approach that Museveni so often used when dealing with Kony rebels. Perhaps, Museveni too could have lent a ‘leaf” to them but chose only to congratulate Kibaki regardless of circumstances amidst which he came to power. The question then is: should Kenyans continue to be led by any of the two (Kibaki or Odinga). If an eye for an eye was bad, God believably would be happy with war on architects of evil and their followers. It would not be different from his own war he has fought with the master-devil for thousands of years.

 

Kenyan friends sent me messages about how unsafe they were after being besieged by violence. I got reminded about asking some of them to remain and work in Uganda which looked like a joke, but now proves me right to them. They said even buying air time was hard, as they could only save something for a “beep” and at most, send a message. Apart form asking them to remain indoors until sanity returns, I found no tangible assistance to extend. It required supernatural powers to help innocent people out of the devilish areas to safety, as them. But if 30 people could be followed up to church and killed, then you wonder where the supernatural powers could come from and how reliable they could be at that time. The other option was to appeal to his neighboring leaders -one of whom had sent congratulatory message to Kibaki -and in any case, he would have sympathized with him as a member of the incumbents, then the other was an idea of seeking possible help from influential African leaders like Gadaffi whose is known for mediating roles, and one from the unreliable UN who only intervene after scores have died.

 

But in general, all incumbents share same lives like; fear to lose power to opposition and sufferance from opposition pressure. The best action they could take is of course, to congratulate each other, among other things. It would be to their knowledge that any successes or failures could potentially bring similar sense of affairs, as they might have happened in a neighboring country, to their home countries. How would it then be an incumbent from else where to mediate and what would be the expectations?  Could future conflicts entertain such criteria? Most likely, they would ask opposition to shelve themselves in favor of the incumbent. This alone, would have problems in future democratic practices. They would simply lose vitality in preference for war-culture to change guards since no peaceful means –neither democratic nor resignation to show moral sense, would be available while any foreign intervention could be in favor of political “robbers”. In summary of this, solution would best come from the affected people themselves rather than incumbents masquerading as peace-makers. The UNO, too, is another organ that nations would hardly rely on yet if just one of persons from founder nations got hijacked or killed, there would be panic. Even when you sit to watch CNN, BBC and SKY NEWS, at most, it is pretty things which make headlines. They take their small things very seriously compared to the seemingly bigger African issues.

 

In trying to use democracy as a means to empower people and build confidence in whatever leadership that comes in, the repercussions were not good for Kenya . It could be said that the electorate were taken for fools after realizing fraudulent intentions of the incumbent. And one would also say that if perhaps there were no such things as democratic elections in Kenya as was in Iraq , there would be stability. Democracy, which would have been used as a source of stability and to extend country’s reputation for the same regard, only conspired against Kenyans. Everybody could note that before elections, everything was fine in Kenya , and had a peaceful Christmas while the post-election events only ushered in chaos. What then could be the essence of general elections -especially when organizers under the incumbent continue to mastermind political “robberies”, waste peoples’ time who queue for hours to vote, give people false hope and make senseless of the need to exercise the power to vote? What a waste of time and a disrespect of the masses, this time by one person (the incumbent)! Amusingly, many elections are rigged but with minimal cases that are directly noticeable by the eye or well interpreted directly rather than indirectly by someone distant. The familiar rigging has been the strategy of disabling political parties and their activities, whose engineering begins several years back. Kibaki was probably a poor thief, a learner with no experience yet bold to carry out such acts in broad day light, and a poor Christian -who could not repent and abdicate. It seems the kinds of Pinochet and Surhato (former Chilean and Indonesian leaders, respectively) keep reproducing and sustaining themselves so that at retirement their poor health could foil justice. But can there be justice anyway at such a time where injustice is best interpreted as justice? Can the courts be trusted? Can’t it be wastage of time trusting Kenyan courts? Don’t the Kenyan courts harbor the likes of Kivuites? It is, really, a serious matter for Kenyans in particular and Africans in general.

 

Could life presidency or its equivalent be an option? After all, it has been a success in Britain under the Queen and Libya under Gadhafi.  Could dictatorship be another option -since pre-election Kenya or pre-democratic Iraq had stability? It must be noted that the introduction of democracy and its practice in Iraq too did more harm than good. Is it rather political fraud the problem? Should incumbents first step down and become commoners like any presidential candidate until all votes are counted and president determined accordingly, with one of the Bishops or renown pastor as transitional head of state? Can we really eliminate political fraud? Should all affected governments high the Hague (International Justice Offices) to manage election? Should holy men of God take over the sensitive positions that are testaments to life or death? But there has been incidents were spiritual leaders have been compromised, participated in politics but with anti-people and pro-dictatorial lines of faith, supported repressive regimes and campaigned for them under the pretext of God’s anointment of the supported. What shall we do? Shall we just resort to prayer? But prayer too must be accompanied with both faith and actions. Perhaps, an example of action here would be for the electorate to determine performance records of Church leaders as a basis for political entrustment.

 

In a news report on Kenyan elections by Butagira and Othieno, (January 3^rd 2008, Daily Monitor page1), it was shocking to read Election Chairperson’s (Kivuite) interview saying he did not know who had won elections though accepted being in custody of the valid ballot papers that could give factual results. The first question that flashed my mind, was how became Chairman of the Electoral Commission of Kenya with abject lack of management ethics and morality principles? Interestingly, however, was showing a contrast between so-called president-elect and possible but different account of what records under his custody had. Maybe as quick resolutions, such ballots would be retrieved and counted immediately. Why then, wouldn’t he order for a re-count of ballots rather than look on as the country sinks into violence? The poor man could have been promised heaven and earth whilst forgetting that he was making history that would badly affect whoever uses his name leadership-wise in the eyes of Kenyan society. But it seems to be the general problem in Africa -where the unfit are given responsibly or made fit on the basis of kinship, friendship, sensationalism and success at private business firm or individual self. If Kivuite was a “successful” private business dealer, he would be motivated by profits from any appointment deal. And in all operations, he would lack the critical sense of social responsibility required of him by the position of office held.

 

Having given all that the following would be very important to address; 1) the need to re-organize new elections as soon as possible under strict, watchful eye of the international community whilst having election officers obtained from reputable members of clergy -with equal numbers of election agents from either sides, 2) the need for an independent electoral commissions whose positions are advertised rather than appointed, that are screened by an all-parties’ committee and inheritable by future presidential candidates or as agreed in the contract, 3) the need to have presidents step down before elections and become commoners like any other presidential candidate, 4)  the need to have a stronger African Union that is free from cliques of African leaders because these only support status quo of the repressive regimes, 5) seeking justice for the maimed in which the two presidential candidates must be brought to book and/or at least agree to compensate those who lost property and their loved ones, 6) instituting venting centers like ekimeezas (round-table discussions and debates) across Kenya and with media attention to them, 7) erecting a frontier for genuine peace, unity and brotherhood with branches at all levels and everywhere to preach co-existence, morality and mutual respect -as we continue evolve new reliable UNO values and its parent nations as well as for African Union (AU).

 

 

Jacob Waiswa, waiswajacobo@yahoo.co.uk
Kampala

 

The writer is a situation health analyst with interest in human behavior.

 

Four years ago I highlighted how self-induced but self-destroying actions by Kabaka (King of Buganda) Sir Edward Mutesa II dictated his fate and that of federo.  But one, Buwule moved fast to castigate it. Perhaps it was because his law firm partner was a Mengo minister or a good Muganda who needed more federo than any other Ugandan.

 

In 1966, law enforcements were sent to Lubiri after information was received about possible troop mobilization to evict UPC government from Kampala . And just towards the end of 2007, Museveni simply restrained himself from taking actions against cold warring Mengo.

 

Museveni said he would not intervene forcefully though understandably had such temptations. This perhaps could postpone the Lubiri attack to another time after applying chameleon strategy but towards the same goal. 

 

Remember UPC government on Mengo’s foul games of intrigue, bad faith and unconstitutionalism had faced similar dissatisfaction. It was like president Museveni trying to overthrow his own government. Anyway, he often does it through re-shuffles and real power belongs to him.

 

But when you read any book about Uganda ’s political history, such element as Kabaka’s mischief would not be found. And if it were raised at any discussion, debate or conference, everyone would beg to see your back as you walk out of the room or hall. At high school I interjected my former African Nationalism teacher (Sendiwala); he too felt offended and constantly denied me chances to explain.

 

Unilateralism towards hiding certain important truths is affecting not only development but also contributing to self-imposed academic and intellectual ignorance. What would then be other Ugandans’ fates -who only follow what is heard?

 

But the most important aspect amidst such a condition as one faced by academics and intellectuals that would always rule, is the fact that they have the existing truth with a longer lifespan than them. When added to NRMs divide and rule mechanics over years, the condition became so big that young generation to come would find justifiable sense in it.

 

In 2004, I had written that history was repeating itself but Buwule neurotically reacted. Yet when current trends are critically observed, a lot would be found similar to 1966 events in Uganda . The other day Museveni said he would meet the Kabaka while in 1966 Obote simply sent out an army unit first to monitor the situation in Mengo.

 

But it would be important to note that before moving monitoring army unit to Lubiri, assassination attempts had been made on Obote and hardcore baganda loyalists were implicated. This important assertion too was by-passed by authors of political history and renowned political analysts.

 

Unfortunately as it must be stated, the unit was met with sporadic fire. The Kabaka and his men were already set to fight a war beyond government estimation. Actually, the Kabaka won round one of the fight. But even when more troops were sent in, it was like a draw, as Kabaka state-of-art weaponry could not be matched.

 

If Buganda was not a state within state or perhaps had supply routes to import and replace worn-out weapons, the government could have lost the fight. The rumor then was about the Kabaka having an electric gun donated by the Queen, which could only be inactivated by switching off Owen falls power plant that government reportedly did.

 

For Museveni, it has all started by a promise to have a meeting with the Kabaka. Since the second coming of the Queen of England, Mengo’s actions have been non-violent like refusal to attend the ceremony and making the Lukiiko (the Buganda Parliament) purely charged with handling Mengo affairs or cold war with NRM government.

 

Before 1966 crisis, the Lukiiko had all powers and dictated events in Buganda . And on the part of Kabaka, he was like car board but with real activity taking place in the engine (Lukiiko). The Lukiiko was actually Kabaka’s brains or mind, and if so, then Kabaka and the Lukiiko were one.

 

In his article, “No sir, UPC Flunked the Federo Qn” published in The Monitor (2004), F. K. Buwule was the category of persons who hide the truth and make periodical rituals against altering its hidden state. But for how long would this happen?

 

If UPC flunked the federo question then Kabaka and Mengo, too, are to blame since they were part of government. The otherwise would be Kabaka’s or rather Lukiiko’s stubborn nature and pride emanating from Buganda’s advantages over the rest of Uganda .

 

With almost if not a better army than for the central government, provision of the location for the capital city, advantage of being a center for trade with all routes; African and foreign headed to it, being most civilized at that time, sufficiency in food production and perhaps having provided a first lady for the nation could potentially make Mengo proud and under extreme circumstances, arrogant. Also notable in recent times, is it having beautiful ladies who many non-baganda go out to “grab”. Hope they save some for the Baganda men.  

 

If there were a question (s) presented as to why would there be a crisis or what is the reason for the current fuss (from federo demanding to land protection), only the weight of the answers for then and now would differ but the “label” could be the same. And this would be nothing else but the search for the power equilibrium.

 

If Mengo could only control the economy by controlling the basic factor of production (land), they would most definitely have power. This has materialized at the time when the NRM government too is nursing the same motive though according to Mike Mukula, it spoilt it by making the programme one-sided to suit only the westerners, and is acting like land-looters rather than negotiators. And with the introduction of the position of an Executive Director to run Kampala City , such motives would be felt even more.

 

So Mengo government and NRM government standstill is a scenario where like poles are repelling. And to government, it is like an ambush faced on its way to causing injustice against certain members of its society. It would be an interesting drama for those who will live to watch whether there are government secret plans about to be revealed by Mengo or just Buganda wanting to rediscover their glorious times in the history of the monarchy. 

 

Towards 1966, there was a question of who the man was. Was it Kabaka Mutesa II or Obote and UPC? And the answer was simply the 1966 crisis. Kabaka and Mengo being the landlord to government of Uganda felt he was the man rather than just a ceremonial fellow. The Kabakaship had driven him to think that being King of Buganda could automatically qualify him to the Kingship of Uganda.

 

On the other hand, Obote being as executive person as the proposed executive director for Kampala felt constitutionally more powerful than the ceremonial president as could be likened to the proposed ceremonial Mayor of Kampala City. This made the answer to the question more visible. The difference between the circumstances then and now is that towards 1966, Kabaka was the aggressor and government as the shock-absorber while now; both are up for it and making understudy for each other.

 

The government with well-educated Baganda subjects has proved ready for the task. There could be a prolonged cold war between NRM dynasty in the making (constitutionally provided) and the established Buganda monarch (by cultural right and constitutional provision) as the Kabaka too holds on the NRM negative educated baganda to counteract.

 

But Mengo is never on the sidelines. It keeps changing according to circumstances through reorganizing its Lukiiko and cabinet. However, as the saying goes, “power belongs to one owns the gunpowder,” It leaves us with a question: can Buganda match this as they are known to? 

 

The current government responses seem to agree to a justification of the Lubiri attack in 1966. Although the scale of the actions could vary, the significance could be the same. This would then prove to everyone that Museveni is a true disciple of Obote and a child of UPC. But as it is always the case, politics can divide families, divorce couples and create enemies.

 

NRM government talked a lot of things against UPC most of which are beginning to be overturned by events to justifiable Obote and UPC shrewd positions. Fortunately or unfortunately, it could turn out to be disadvantageous to NRM as it might phase them out as liars who simply wanted to gain from Ugandans, politically.

 

If NRM previous actions were looked at closely, self-defeatist elements would be found. Much as such elements gave them longer duration in power, they would be left with no more protection in the near future and their political fall could be a permanent demise as similar as for Wasswa Ziritwawula.

 

Circumstances had forced out the monarch to leave behind one leader who would not just be for Buganda but for Uganda . But since Museveni wanted longer embracement of his rule, he let it in.  It could be like a rotta system that UEB employs to manage electricity problems. If Obote and UPC faced it then, this time round should be Museveni and NRM.

 

But there should be one aspect to take into consideration; no ruler –be it in the colonial times or post-colonial period has won the war over land, the source of Kabaka’s “political” power. The interesting bit is that: If anyone won, it would be a matter of time for him to lose politically as they (Mengo government) reinstate themselves. 

 

Will Museveni win it? Surely, picking up a war on whatever represents the roots of people –be it cultural or spiritual could be a hard war to win (another useless venture) which not even the best nuclear weapons would lead to success. Kony may have been defeated after over 20 years but the roots of people or of life, as forests, cultural rights and natural rights could not even force the last man surrender.

 

The NRM government could have a serious headache dealing with the standoff. Perhaps it would be time to give tribute to Obote and UPC for managing country’s affairs, as it should have done. NRM government could regret for having not let Obote’s whole social and political structure in place so as to only improve on them like it has done on the economic ones.

 

Using attempts like denying Kabaka a love-for-power instinct could only fall on a bare rock. The trait is embedded in everyone and no one has custody of it alone. It would be like trying to manage people not only politically by also scientifically through monitoring every minute of their mental processes and in every person. Is that viable?

 

The land and federo issues are therefore, critical and sensitive. Debate about them must be opened, encouraged and sustained at all levels. And non-organizations with programmes in civic education must be funded to support the project not only during elections campaigns but also throughout the five-year term of office. It is in that process that people would be informed to make informed decisions and actions –to eventually, as may be guided, lead into regional referenda in free and fair election processes. And at that time government must chose to accept peoples’ verdicts without manipulating any.  

 

Jacob Waiswa,
Kampala

The writer is situation-health analyst with interest in human behavior

 

Meaningless sensationalism is Arsenal FC’s problem. By the time they remember the game’s main objective, it is could have become too late. Sometimes they begin to think things as goals will come on a silver plate, as if they are the only ones targeting the trophy, just play and play like goals will come any how, they lose much needed ambition in every other game and assume things will always work in their favor rather than in others (opponents) regardless of how they play and stardom syndrome/complex problems may have began to crop in as in the 2005/6 team. Arsenal FC must style-up. It should be game results to give them a better sense of who they are rather than media speeches and self-concept. If it were by showbiz, the galacticos would be still reigning in Real Madrid or Barca would be the best team by far now. Any loss or draw would be sad for the team and fans as it would build pressure of them. Yet, there would not be a king of such pressure when some points ahead Otherwise basing Arsenal team of excellent results in every other game should be the main judge and more so at the end of the season. Meaningless sensationalism must thus be discouraged and stopped when the team still has a chance to win premiership. This would however require not less than 100%, be humble and have respect for any opponents during encounters. W.J. waiswajacobo@yahoo.co.uk