Ugandan election Year is here; its been here anyway for a while, but Covid-19 managed to hide it some.
As a country
we have come from far, really far, and yet we still
have some pretty good way to go as well before we arrive at the
first reasonable station. Our suitors are back once again, telling us sweet
nothings (pun intended), and the
cycle re-starts again. I hope not this time round!
Ugandans have
been famous for wishing things away. What’s been said about wishes
is "if all wishes were horses, then
beggars would ride!" But are they! It's really time to switch gears to
accountable polling. It is time we chose the leaders that will bring about the
change we need. Some have pleaded election malpractices,
I say that is all because we let it happen. One former president of the republic
whilst advising boxers that were about to compete, when they complained of
cheating referees, simply gave them one piece of advice “knock them out; just score knockouts and we see how the cheating will
happen!” Let all Ugandans of adult suffrage make it a point to go to the
polls, this time with their brains in the right place rather than the pockets
and let’s watch what will happen.
It has been said as well that we get the leaders
we deserve. So, the other day I watched a clip of an Honourable Member
of Parliament (not sure if they are honourable after this) being interviewed as to
why he sponsored a relatively unpopular bill in Parliament; his response
shocked me. In a rather casual and utterly stupid moment he responded something
like "you know these things; once I
pocketed my price I moved on. My goods are right now for the highest bidder!"
Yes indeed, it has been that way for a while; not only for that legislator but
for the voting folks in the country too. We are absolutely
responsible for putting such Muppets into the house.
It is amazing
how much we can do with our apparently "insignificant" votes. This time round we must place them to
good use for the sake of value. How do I mean? Assess the candidates for
ability to deliver value, assess capabilities and competencies, assess prior
performance experience (it does not only have to have been in the political
space). Assess their trust worthiness, their integrity, their commitment, their
patriotism. We must decide never again to send useless people into any position
of responsibility in dear country again. We must decide to become masters of
our destiny too. It has been a while, whilst we let our tails wag the dog;
story must change now.
A lot can be
achieved with the right leaders elected into office for our communities and our
country. Part of patriotism is each one of us getting out of our comfort zones
and dealing with status quo where it is not delivering. Each one of us must
exercise their civic duty of choosing your leaders. We lose our moral right to
complain when we sit back as others make our key decisions for us; that CANNOT happen ever again! Have we not suffered enough with non-performance
in political offices and public service? Have we not paid enough for that? Have
our pockets not bled enough for services paid for using our taxes but never
delivered? Aren't we tired of incompetence taking the reigns of society and
leading us into temptation and ultimately evil?
We can make a
change. In the words of the late Michael Jackson:
" ...I'm starting with the man in the mirror
I'm asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you want to make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself, and then make a
change..."
We should educate as many voters as possible.
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