The Stability of Uganda medium term and long term very much depends on the civil engagement between dissenting voices and those running the State.
Even more critical is the internal debate between those who are running the state — and internal debate within opposition itself.
All of this (foregoing) lead to an outcome of resilient peace and development anchored on law, logic, community, justice and common ground.
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There is a beyond creeping and mounting anti debate culture within the polity of Uganda. How do you measure the temperature of the Country or the global polity if debate goes underground?
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni sometime back publicly acknowledged and praised the robust pushback debate that the late Bank of Uganda Governor Prof Mutebile Emmanuel and late Permanet Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury Muhakanizi Keith gave him and its role in helping deliver a decisive ground for Uganda’s macroeconomic stability which is a very good culture.
Even more, President Museveni campaigned hard and looking at returns from local elective positions, @NRMOnline punched in a convincing mandate and it’s a moment to embrace victory with humility and win every last remaining vote for the future.
Talking almost politically, if for example the opposition in Uganda had a minimum program of debate leading mutual and logical action, it would have backed their strong incumbents and fielded their best as joint candidates in all constituencies in the just concluded elections.
I am sure, if this were to happen, their numbers would have increased to rebalance power in Uganda’s legislature and other contours and this didn’t happen because dissenting groups (call it opposition) want/wanted particularistic power and not the “change” they sing. Particularistic power means they wanted power they can exclusively control.
From the days of Student Study Groups in the 1960’s, FRONASA/UPM/NRA/M put debate and intellectual ferment at the center of strategic and tactical operations.
This shouldn’t be allowed to fade into this era of global hard power Headboyed by USA President Donald Trump because hard power can only deliver turbulent peace.
Soft power delivers resilient peace. It’s possible to disagree and hug — for the common good. For common humanity. May the smoke of unfettered debate leap skyward. Let’s have resilient peace — and not turbulent peace.
The writer is a farmer in Nyeibingo Parish in Rukungiri District.
