Your Excellency President Museveni and Mrs Museveni, Right Honourable Speaker, Honourable Members of Parliament, Ladies and GentlemenPrince Philip and I have many fond memories of our last visit together to Uganda. In the years since, your country has made considerable advances in spite of periods of adversity.
I expect that what has helped sustain modern Uganda is the attribute that was so evident in 1954, and again today, in the generous manner we have been welcomed: the great warmth and friendliness of its people. We are delighted to be here once more.
It gives me great pleasure to address this House today in recognition of the importance of parliamentary democracy to the Commonwealth as a whole. For Uganda, the deliberations and decisions of this House, together with your respect for the rule of law, have had and will continue to have an essential bearing on the country's success in addressing many serious challenges. The United Kingdom is actively committed to supporting Uganda's efforts to deepen its democracy.
Many in the United Kingdom have been moved by the plight of the people of northern Uganda who have been suffering from the devastating conflict there. The Ugandan Government's efforts to resolve this conflict peacefully are therefore especially welcome. Uganda's regional role is also widely appreciated.
In particular, the contribution made to peacekeeping operations in Somalia has been a tribute to the courage and professionalism of Uganda's armed forces.
I am also pleased that the educational and cultural ties between our two countries are now stronger than ever before. Through its collaborative school projects, the British Council is bringing together more than one million children across Africa and the United Kingdom.
Indeed, I very much look forward to visiting later this week one of the Ugandan schools participating in the 'Connecting Classrooms' programme which does so much to increase our knowledge and understanding of each other's societies among young people.
In the years since Prince Philip and I were last here, one change in particular has come to scar Uganda and, indeed, much of Africa. The scourge of HIV infection and AIDS has touched the lives of so many of Uganda's people. It is difficult sometimes, when the sorrow associated with this disease is so profound, to avoid a sense of despair.
And yet there are growing numbers of people and organisations whose work gives cause for real hope. Today I visited the Mildmay Centre which sets a remarkable example in the provision of care and relief for those who are ill as well as in educating people about how to protect themselves and their families.
The role of centres such as this, which the Government of Uganda has done so much to encourage, will be central to achieving our common aim of controlling this cruel disease.
The continued and enlightened support of all those in authority, including this House, will play an essential part in supporting these efforts.One hundred years ago, Sir Winston Churchill, who much later became my first Prime Minister, made a celebrated visit to Uganda which he was moved to describe as 'the Pearl of Africa'.
In common with other visitors to this country over the years, he had been struck by how Uganda has been truly gifted by nature. Sir Winston had visited Munyonyo, then just 'a jetty and a few sheds', where, most fittingly, the present British Prime Minister will join his fellow Commonwealth Heads of Government this weekend.
Whether the individual links are long-standing or more recent, the United Kingdom remains a committed friend of Uganda.
Prince Philip and I have reason to recall our own associations over the years with the greatest affection and extend to you all our good wishes for the years to come.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
The idiot’s guide to winning an election in Africa
The followng articel written by Nicholas Ssengoba appeared in the Daily Monitor, November 13, 2007
Pumbavu” the Kiswahili word for “foolish” could easily pass as Kenyan President, Emilio Mwai Kibaki’s favourite pejorative which causes laughter whenever he liberally uses it at rallies to ridicule and put down his opponents. Trouble is that, what the opinion polls are saying about Kibaki’s chances at the presidential election slated for December 27, 2007 is no laughing matter.
Kibaki risks falling into the enigmatic category of the great African wa pumbabavu; i.e the rare species of incumbent African leaders, who while in office organise elections, stand and lose to a (mere) challenger.
With the countless number of times The idiot’s guide to winning an African election, has been updated, a president would have to be irredeemably foolish to come second at the polls. Like the typical African man who has the daunting task of tasting the meat (and picking out the choicest pieces) before any member of the family, the president in Africa has the unenviable burden of hand-picking the Electoral Commission (EC) to “his satisfaction”.
The affluently facilitated EC quickly studies the complex theory regarding the relationship between the payer, the piper plus the tune, then goes about organising “a free and fair election” with gusto.
Miracles start to happen when cleaning the voters register. The dead come to life, while the living, especially where the incumbent is unpopular becomes the “living dead”.
Coming after this fashion later at the polls, the EC sends the wrong register to the right polling station or the ballot papers without the voters register or better still the ballot boxes without the ballot papers rendering the whole process a shambles.
Meanwhile, the president uses the massive funds he has amassed over the years (the ones that make the Mo Ibrahim prize unnecessary) to bait elements into defecting from his opponents camps. Several political parties thereafter emerge under the pretext that this reflects the “pluralism and maturity of a democracy”. In effect the president’s rival’s votes are scattered.
The campaign period is the best time to implement some “sensitive” aspects of the manifesto (remember it?) The incumbent breaks the bank and starts distributing “seed money” towards “self-help groups” on the eve of the election as his relentless effort towards “poverty alleviation” with the promise of better things to come if they vote for “continuity”.
Also he creates districts out of as many counties as possible purportedly to take services closer to the people, in fact creating jobs for hangers on.
Since leaders are chosen by God, the incumbent creates an alliance with churches, and “facilitates” them to preach a gospel that promotes his cause. The gullible flock is made to understand that their pastor had a vision whereby the Almighty promised miracles to those who vote the incumbent and curses to those who “waste” their votes.
In the background, the police and the army expeditiously “enforce law and order” to ensure the polls take place in a “peaceful environment” devoid of “intimidated voters”. They devotedly disperse the opponent’s crowd, jailing and canning “troublesome” fellows. The press is made to “visit” the police from time to time for “consultations” on stories that are considered “biased” against the incumbent.
Elsewhere, the incumbent exploits his position and uses all state facilities for his campaign. He freely gets all the time on state radio and television which have the widest coverage, under the guise of a countrywide tour to sensitise citizen on “developmental matters”. The opponents with their meager finances are left to buy expensive airtime from private radio and television stations.
Since in Africa we are not so good at counting, as it is abominable to count our children, wives and cows, the EC understandably finds trouble adding up the votes even with the help of computers and signed tally sheets.
Added, some subversive election officials who “hate” the sitting president credit him with some of his opponents’ votes to “punish” him with the “unpleasant” task of running “his” backward country and taking all the insults by the press.
By this time, the cadre judges appointed before hand, will be ready to deliver those “it was theft, but not theft enough” judgments in case any misguided opponent goes to the courts seeking justice.
And because the African State is perennially a “young democracy” stuck at the “learning stage”, the result will be accepted and life will go on. And if all this works out well Kibaki, lift those term limits. Politics isn’t a school nor are politicians school boys to be limited by “terms”. Then you may rule for life, thereafter.
It is never too late in Africa. Kibaki, look at the happy neighbour on the western side of your house; you could learn a trick or two.
Leave State House Nairobi unceremoniously like a chicken thief, after only five years is not an option. It is very uncomfortable for an elder to sit among the wa pumbavu!
nicholassengoba@yahoo.com
Pumbavu” the Kiswahili word for “foolish” could easily pass as Kenyan President, Emilio Mwai Kibaki’s favourite pejorative which causes laughter whenever he liberally uses it at rallies to ridicule and put down his opponents. Trouble is that, what the opinion polls are saying about Kibaki’s chances at the presidential election slated for December 27, 2007 is no laughing matter.
Kibaki risks falling into the enigmatic category of the great African wa pumbabavu; i.e the rare species of incumbent African leaders, who while in office organise elections, stand and lose to a (mere) challenger.
With the countless number of times The idiot’s guide to winning an African election, has been updated, a president would have to be irredeemably foolish to come second at the polls. Like the typical African man who has the daunting task of tasting the meat (and picking out the choicest pieces) before any member of the family, the president in Africa has the unenviable burden of hand-picking the Electoral Commission (EC) to “his satisfaction”.
The affluently facilitated EC quickly studies the complex theory regarding the relationship between the payer, the piper plus the tune, then goes about organising “a free and fair election” with gusto.
Miracles start to happen when cleaning the voters register. The dead come to life, while the living, especially where the incumbent is unpopular becomes the “living dead”.
Coming after this fashion later at the polls, the EC sends the wrong register to the right polling station or the ballot papers without the voters register or better still the ballot boxes without the ballot papers rendering the whole process a shambles.
Meanwhile, the president uses the massive funds he has amassed over the years (the ones that make the Mo Ibrahim prize unnecessary) to bait elements into defecting from his opponents camps. Several political parties thereafter emerge under the pretext that this reflects the “pluralism and maturity of a democracy”. In effect the president’s rival’s votes are scattered.
The campaign period is the best time to implement some “sensitive” aspects of the manifesto (remember it?) The incumbent breaks the bank and starts distributing “seed money” towards “self-help groups” on the eve of the election as his relentless effort towards “poverty alleviation” with the promise of better things to come if they vote for “continuity”.
Also he creates districts out of as many counties as possible purportedly to take services closer to the people, in fact creating jobs for hangers on.
Since leaders are chosen by God, the incumbent creates an alliance with churches, and “facilitates” them to preach a gospel that promotes his cause. The gullible flock is made to understand that their pastor had a vision whereby the Almighty promised miracles to those who vote the incumbent and curses to those who “waste” their votes.
In the background, the police and the army expeditiously “enforce law and order” to ensure the polls take place in a “peaceful environment” devoid of “intimidated voters”. They devotedly disperse the opponent’s crowd, jailing and canning “troublesome” fellows. The press is made to “visit” the police from time to time for “consultations” on stories that are considered “biased” against the incumbent.
Elsewhere, the incumbent exploits his position and uses all state facilities for his campaign. He freely gets all the time on state radio and television which have the widest coverage, under the guise of a countrywide tour to sensitise citizen on “developmental matters”. The opponents with their meager finances are left to buy expensive airtime from private radio and television stations.
Since in Africa we are not so good at counting, as it is abominable to count our children, wives and cows, the EC understandably finds trouble adding up the votes even with the help of computers and signed tally sheets.
Added, some subversive election officials who “hate” the sitting president credit him with some of his opponents’ votes to “punish” him with the “unpleasant” task of running “his” backward country and taking all the insults by the press.
By this time, the cadre judges appointed before hand, will be ready to deliver those “it was theft, but not theft enough” judgments in case any misguided opponent goes to the courts seeking justice.
And because the African State is perennially a “young democracy” stuck at the “learning stage”, the result will be accepted and life will go on. And if all this works out well Kibaki, lift those term limits. Politics isn’t a school nor are politicians school boys to be limited by “terms”. Then you may rule for life, thereafter.
It is never too late in Africa. Kibaki, look at the happy neighbour on the western side of your house; you could learn a trick or two.
Leave State House Nairobi unceremoniously like a chicken thief, after only five years is not an option. It is very uncomfortable for an elder to sit among the wa pumbavu!
nicholassengoba@yahoo.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)