Recent Demonstrations in Kampala, Uganda

Who is to blame in the recent Kampala demonstrations?


Last weeek's demonstration which was supposedly meant to be peaceful turned violent in which one Indian Deval Rawal and two other Ugandans lost their lives, several injured and property lost in the process. The events that happened should be condemned in the srongest terms possible.

There is no way we can bury our heads and pretend that nothing wrong happened, considering the fact that the issue concerns matters of life and death. The other issue that we cannot escape is tha racist placards against the Indian community in uganda.

This was absolutely uncalled for and shows how some people still live in the past where racism was so wide spread. In this era, there is no one who should be discriminated against on the basis of his/her race, sex, education background or religious or political party affiliation and it is clearly stipulated in our constitution.

The Asians to whom these racist sentiments were directed to are even Ugandans. Most of them have lived in the country for as many as 20 years whereas, others are by nature of birth Ugandans.

But after what happened last week, then who takes up the blame for all this? The system we find ourselves in should be the one to take blame for this! Those who are in power hardly hear the cries of the people they represent. What matters to those in power is the satisfaction of their greedy interests at the expense of the people they serve.

The question of Mabira give away was opposed from it's very inception from all angles of the public ranging from the learned to the illiterate, young to the old, environmentalists and even the busineess community. If those in authority could hear the voices of the people ,then no single life could have been lost. But since those in power have they own desires at heart, the peoples pledges to spare our natural source fell on deaf ears.

The whole idea was in such a way that many Ugandans were provocated in the process. It all seemed that the President and his sycophants wanted to see the reaction of Ugandans by giving away the natural resource that so many treassure.

Much as the actions of the demonstrators may be condemned, these people can't take the blame entirely because resentment towards the Indian community in the past hasn't escalated considering the fact that one member of parliament is an Indian.

Many factors should be bound in mind to consider why the people reacted the way they did. First, is tension and frustration on behalf of Ugandans. Many Ugandans feel they are not participating as much as possible in the development of their economy.

Many feel Asians are favoured as investors to Ugandans. This therefore implies that many potential Ugandans are denied an opportunity to participate in business. Another factor why the demonstrators reacted the way they did could be due to loss of confidence in their leaders. Many Ugandans have lost confidence in the people they elect considering the fact that they can easily be bribed to even support the most uncommon policies like it happened when members of Parliament were bribed to lift the third term for President Museveni.

The people of Uganda in this case are disappointed with their leaders and no longer have trust in them. This means people react to unpopular policies by whatever means possible to achieve their aims and aspirations. There is a lot of tension and frustration on the part of Ugandans. Many people still believe that if the President had heed to the peoples' pleas not to give away Mabira forest, the lives of Deval Rawal and the other two Ugandans could have been saved.

After all that happened last week, the ''Big Question'' is how can the relationship between Ugandans and the Asian community be improved to prevent a repeat of last week's events more so the racist slogans directed towards the Asian community by a few elements?
We need a policy where selection for the beneficiaries of state iniatitive must be open and on merit; through a well established body and criteria. Many Ugandas have cried foul, in that foreign investors are more preferred to them.

All we desire is a policy to encourage and facilitate nationals to participate in the development of the economy and industrialisation. Ugandas should form partnerships among themselves and or with foreign investors.

A serious and genuine long term foreign investor will be most at home when he works in partnership with the local sorrounding environment. If the investor's project is not in conflict with the desires and aspirations of the community, then it will be taken on more vigorous. But if on the other hand, it is in conflict with the aspirations of the people, likewise it will be rejected vehemently like it has been the case with Mabira forest.

If only God could save Mabira, as we look forward to developing ''Our Dear Pearl of Africa.''