Socio-Political Dimension of Uganda

If you've never been to a place, you make assumptions of that place. I do it too. For some people like those who have never left the US, they may assume that government systems everywhere must be somewhat just, or at least the answer to justice. So far those of you who haven't been to Uganda (or maybe you have and just haven't looked into the Ugandan "powers that be"), I'll attempt to summarize the social/political world. Please note that I think Uganda is in no worse condition than the US haha....Also, I don't know everything about this so it may be difficult to summarize.

His Excellency Yoweri Museveni, head of the Nation Resistance Movement (NRM) gained presidential office after violently campaigning that leaders were always in power for too long. That was in 1986.

Since then, almost everything Museveni has done in office has followed this pattern of hypocrisy. Many argue that there has never been a fair election since he has been in power, and many have little faith that there will be. In Africa as a whole, leaders are commonly replaced only through violent rebellion. The throne is gained and held by the sword.

Most of the money, including the massive amount of foreign aid, which comes into the government, feeds Museveni's stomach. He eats happily and pockets what he can, leaving little cash for his developing nation. This type of theft is referred to as "corruption" or sometimes "embezzlement."

The leftover money, after he and his officials have dined well, goes to various government programs, few of which actually help the nation. For example, NAADS (a program used to create model farms around the country) gets more financial assistance than the departments of education and transportation combined. In NAADS, money is given to well-to-do community members. I have seen lots of NAADS property, but I have never seen a model garden which was any better than surrounding neighbors. In fact, I have seen many gardens which are failing. NAADS has largely been a failure across the nation.

I also mentioned the department of education. Under Museveni, "Universal Primary Education" and "Universal Secondary Education" have been established. Teachers are paid $100/month. Only teachers of poor quality and training are given these positions (the good ones can get better salaries from private schools). At least, this type of schooling is available at no expense for poor families. But after completing UPE, a student can rarely write a sentence of English or do double-digit math. Teachers often skip school and go out drinking. Others show up after 10 AM instead of at 7:30. Most students are just passed, even if they fail.

Many families scrape by and manage to put their kids through private schools, which are indeed the better and favored schools. But these schools are often insufficient as well. When completing school, as Silver puts it, "A student could write a book about Napoleon," but that same student knows little to nothing about his nation's own history, let alone African history. Education is still Eurocentric. Subjects studied are often impractical.

Museveni, as I understand, has also gone great lengths to ensure that no one, even at the university level, is able to study Political Science. It would be a threat to his power.

Museveni's NRM has hid behind lies for ages. We saw him speak in Kapchorwa. He himself spoke on anti-corruption, good agriculture, economic development, etc etc etc.

People who speak out against Museveni are often quietly disposed, whether that means imprisonment or death. Nevertheless, I have rarely met an individual who spoke highly of the president. He is only semi-popular in his home area in the west. He used to be popular in the central/capital region, but he is now losing popularity among the Baganda, the biggest tribe in Uganda. He is highly unpopular in the east and in the north (where he once sent army/policemen to rape and kill and just claimed that it was the LRA who did it).

Speaking of policemen, not only are the often the moral problem of communities, but they are accomodated poorly. They too, earn $100/month and are given horrible facilities for living. Children to policemen have the worst moral character in the country. One may ask, what is the incentive? Corruption. As a policeman, you have the power to force people to bribe you. Pull someone over for "speeding" and threaten them with jail unless you are given a few thousand shillings. More money is made from corruption than the actual salary. Such things even happen in courts, where the judge can be paid as little as $20 to side with one party during a trial. Museveni also sends spies into areas in which he is not popular (many).

In such a downward spiral, one may say, "The country should just resist the government and make improvements. After all, the majority of people agree that Museveni should no longer be in power." While this may be true, Uganda lacks unity and solidarity. The political parties opposing Museveni rarely have a solid platform other than "we want Museveni out." In districts with universities, non-NRM political leaders are starting to get voted into office. But as a nation, even as regions, unity has trouble existing. There is still tribalism in the east. Even in the north where both Langi and Acholi have suffered in recent years, the two tribes have poor relations (some guy killed another guy and then some other guy took revenge and now more guys are bitterly involved). Some people support traditional structures of gov't with the tribal Kabaka/king ruling his people. Others support a certain presidential candidate.

Recently, the US passed a bill in which it will partner with Uganda to "chase Kony." Joseph Kony and the LRA have brought much suffering to northern Uganda. But the attacks in recent years have been in DRC, CAR, and Sudan, not Uganda. So essentially, the US is giving money to Uganda's central government to chase a guy who isn't there anymore (I don't mean to cheapen the suffering of Ugandans by saying this). Moreover, the face of Kony keeps changing, and some people are doubting whether he's even a real person or just a fictional illustration of the LRA. I don't doubt that Museveni will eat this funding for dinner anyway. (On this note, Meg said that she recently saw US troops in Kitgum. A mentally troubled person approached one of them talking and a family soldier was asking this person whether "the voices go away.")

Successful resistance movements, at least nonviolent ones, have always been mass movements. I don't have faith that much will change unless the common people of Uganda overcome tribalism and differences. The Church of Uganda can no longer blindly support all authority. There will have to be a unified struggle for progress to be made. Ugandans are comfortable talking in the private homes about how bad Museveni is, but they are often not comfortable in uniting to overthrow him (let alone overthrow him peacefully).

Uganda is just one of many countries operating under a false democracy. But we can no longer accept (I am paraphrasing NT Wright), that western-style democracy is the answer to overcoming evil anyway. After all, isn't it often the minority who suffer? And isn't, in fact, half of the world's injustice somehow attributed to western-style democracy?

Another question we have to ask is if government is ever the answer at all? Many Ugandans seem to say it is not. In the words of Suzan's dad, "Those people in Kampala are not a government. I am a government. Me and my neighbor, we are a government." People, not ambiguous and impermanent systems, must take authority.

Ok, I hope I've shed some light on at least something for everyone. And to my Ugandan friends, please correct me if I have made any mistakes.