DO WE DESERVE THESE LEADERS REALLY?

 It is said that people will often get the leaders they deserve. Election time in Uganda is around the corner. In fact literally we have 2 months to go to the ballot! Looking at the candidates that are presenting themselves, the pot is mostly disturbing.

Watching the second U.S presidential debate between Trump and Biden one can't help thinking of when we shall get there as a nation. Something Trump said resonates with my perspective to Politics; in criticism of Biden he made reference of him as "these Politician's" considering himself an outsider. When Trump campaigned the first time I remember telling some friends that he would lead the U.S like some corporate institution and not like any common politician. Those that expected political correctness rather than work soon found themselves outside the arena where the action was; as spectators! Trump has totally challenged the political landscape in the U.S and his opponents are always blind sided to his moves as they have tried to view him in the mould of a politician. They still don’t get it; He is not! he is a leader and change agent. Trying to see Trump as a politician creates serious fog and you will soon have him flanking you and before you know it overrunning your outposts.

This brings me to dear Country. I watch with angst the caliber of politician that the Ugandan populace has allowed into this arena. Many of these men and women have nothing to show in terms of personal achievement and competency. And yet, we thoughtlessly elect them to office expecting them to bring about change. I don't believe one's achievement ought to be in the field of politics for them to make a great political leader. In fact I think it is important the one proves themselves in other spheres before they present themselves for elective office. That is the only way we shall break the leadership Jinx of Uganda.

You find men and women whose only objective is to get into the office to "eat", running for these positions, and the electorate voting them in. Issues-based politics is still a long ways off as these types will oppose someone for the sake of opposing them, even when their opponent is proposing solutions that take the nation forward.

I have a few thoughts on my mind on this; almost none of us would ever give our precious house construction project from hard earned income to a builder that is not tried and tested; but we almost always do that when it comes to the politicians we elect. No wonder we are where we are and yet we keep mourning about why we make little to no progress as a nation in many things. How many of us would sign off on the disclaimer form and go under the operating knife of a surgeon that has never been proven? Yet we do that all the time with these leaders whom we choose and elect. How many of us whilst you are undertaking a major agricultural investment would accept advice from an agricultural extension worker that has unproven competency, and take them on to manage a multi-million-shilling project where we are investing our hard-earned money? Yet we do that all the time with the politicians we choose without weighing them and their competency and abilities as leaders. Remember, it doesn't matter the sphere; what matters is that someone has proven that they are an achiever.

Is it any surprise therefore that we are getting a raw deal with the short end of the stick being served to us? Mourning about it won't change the situation but doing something about it will. The competent people no longer want to run for these offices because it has sadly become an arena of unrealistic expectations which are now placed on it. It is about money politics; just take a look at what is going on right now. The voter buying is on a totally different level lately that even within the parties themselves there is no more democracy (mostly). Turn on any political discussion and the shouting matches will turn you off, with the panelists shouting at each other and almost no substance being discussed. The one that outshouts the other is the hero of the day. There is many uninformed people talking authoritatively about what they know nothing about. The lying is all over the place; one only has to listen carefully, and you will pick it up being presented as an authority. Sadly, the good people opt out as this is too muddy and unnecessarily expensive on all fronts, money and otherwise.

This problem won't fix itself. We have to fix it by taking action. Let's say no to incompetent politicians and yes to leaders. No to talkers that have nothing to show for it, and yes to achievers that can show something they have done. No to liars that confuse the population with small "cheeses" on their "mouse traps". No to un-invested men and women that present themselves for elective office to lead other men and women that have heavily invested in themselves and in their communities. It is one bad apple that will spoil the barrel, and yet we have far too many of them right now fighting to jump in. Let us get rid of them.

We must raise this standard so high that if anyone wants to run for any elective office in Uganda, they must prove that they have paid the price in proven personal achievement and in good social standing as well. 

It is time to make the change!