The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Museveni, speaking at the 55th Independence Day anniversary celebrations held at Bushenyi Municipal Grounds in South Western Uganda, noted that instead of taking time to address the reasons why Africa was colonized, such as divisions, disunity and selfishness, among Africa’s traditional leaders and chiefs, many post colonial leaders on the continent took to promoting bankrupt politics such, as sectarianism, based on religion and ethnicity.
The celebrations were attended by First Lady, Janet Museveni, Vice President, Edward Ssekandi, the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga, Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda and a number of senior and security officials, among others.
Museveni said that independence from the imperialists should be a significant opportunity towards self-determination and socio–economic transformation of Africa.
“We must use this occasion to remind ourselves that gaining independence from the colonialists, was not an end in itself but a means of returning Africa to the path of progress and transformation that is internally determined and driven,” he said.
Museveni said the NRM government has spared no effort in creating an environment that facilitates socio-economic transformation of the individual and the households and rewards hard work. He noted that while many people have taken advantage of the environment to transform their households, the transformation would have been even faster if both the people in the Public Service and the Private Sector were more serious.
“Many people in Uganda behave like a foolish, hired shepherd who does not pay attention to livestock under their care yet looking after these livestock well is their source of a livelihood and actually survival,” he said.
He criticized leaders and politicians who, in pursuit of cheap popularity, have abandoned the responsibility of guiding Ugandans to prosperity. He revealed that during his tours around the country, he has often seen young men seated in trading centers playing omweso and matatu.
He, therefore, called upon MPs, LC5 Chairpersons, RDCs and CAOs as well as other civic and community leaders to shun the pursuit of cheap popularity and promote the ethics of hard work and raise the ideological consciousness of Ugandans.
“Without doing so, the peasants will remain in subsistence agriculture where 68% of the homesteads still were by the time of the last census,” he emphasized.
On democracy, Museveni warned against intolerance and violations against the right of freedom of expression among people with different ideas.
“Democracy is about the harmonious coexistence of contending views. A democrat is, therefore, a person who disagrees with a view but at the same time, defends the right of someone to express the view he or she does not agree with,” he said.
He warned that intolerance would be resisted in the strongest terms possible and that nobody would be allowed to undermine the security and democracy, which was bought with blood of patriots.
“I would like to conclude by saying that Uganda’s independence and democracy was bought with blood of our patriots. Therefore, nobody will be allowed to undermine it. I also wish to assure all Ugandans that the NRM Government will continue to maintain peace and stability in Uganda,” he said.
SPEECH BY PRESIDENT YOWERI KAGUTA MUSEVENI ON THE OCCASION TO MARK UGANDA`S 55th INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY by The Independent Magazine on Scribd
