The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Mathias Mpuuga Nsamba, the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament has raised concerns about Uganda’s future, which he believes remains uncertain due to what he perceives as a lack of ‘true democracy’.
In a statement marking Uganda’s 61st independence anniversary, Mpuuga expresses disappointment with the journey of the nation since independence. He believes it reminds Ugandans of the significant shortcomings in their transition from colonial rule.
Mpuuga points to the aspirations of Uganda’s founding fathers for a nation where citizens would have complete control and better governance than what the colonialists left behind. However, he argued that Uganda has fallen short in three key areas.
One major concern is the removal of presidential term limits in the 1995 Constitution, favoring the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) government led by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. Mpuuga believes this has affected the country’s democratic principles.
He also highlighted issues related to resource allocation, stating that power often determines the distribution of national resources, leaving marginalized communities with inadequate access to education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
Furthermore, Mpuuga emphasized the need to decentralize power from the central government to the regions. He argued that the concentration of power within a small group could lead to disaster and that after 61 years of independence, mechanisms should be in place to address this issue.
This year’s Independence Day celebrations, themed “Sustaining a united and progressive nation: Taking charge of our future as a free nation,” are taking place in Kitgum District. However, Uganda still grapples with challenges such as corruption, human rights violations, nepotism, and sectarianism.
In a televised national address ahead of the celebrations, President Museveni called on Ugandans to prioritize economic and social prosperity over divisive politics based on identity and personal interests.
“…the NRM has been insisting that although our people belong to different tribes, religions, etc., they have similar needs and need access to broader markets for their products to ensure prosperity,” Museveni emphasized.
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