Dear President Museveni, this isn’t the first or the last time I touch base with you through this media. Today I’ll go straight to the point. You’re recently quoted as saying that “Africa shouldn’t allow those novices to disturb our peace.” You are dead right. Also, we’d not allow killjoys and dictators that’ve been in power for a long time to keep in hijacking our peace. We need to be fair to ourselves and others on this matter and others. Who needs strong personal armies that rulers and political warlords use like their private estates?
You said those taking power are novices. Are you serious? Who were you when you took power? Had you’d any experience of running even a village? Was Milton Obote a doyen when he brought independence to Uganda? What about Julius Nyerere, your mentor and creator not to mention the iconic Patrice Lumumba who yanked power from Belgians in Congo among many young Turks of the 60s who liberated Africa?
In trying to show that you know Africa’s problem, you’re quoted as saying that “what is happening now is going to take us back because civilian leaders fail to build strong armies.” Really? Does Africa really need strong armies that corrupt and dictatorial rulers use to hush and lord it over the people? Do you think that’s a viable solution while it is more a problem than the one, we’re currently facing from coup d’états?
Now, let me differ with you. Actually, Africa needs true democracy and justice that revolves around strong institutions among others. Africa needs accountability for everybody including rulers, their families, friends, and other eaters but not only for the earthlings that rulers bulldoze and pauperise as they deem fit. Africa needs adept and creative leaders who lead but not rule. It needs those who are in office to serve the people but not themselves and their families as you once said that you’re nobody’s servant except your family.
Mr. President, do you know that those ‘strong armies’ strongmen use to rob Africa are the biggest problem since they protect and preserve corrupt regimes that offer some disgruntled and greedy soldiers a pretext to snatch powers and replicate the same? Africa needs people’s Armies that protect the people but not the rulers and their party makers. Do you know how expensive and economic unviable it has been for Africa to keep the do-nothing armies whose job is to intimidate and terrorise the citizens whenever they become fed up with their corrupt and inept rulers? Methinks that Africa needs leaders and persons with probity but not crooks who have turned their countries into their El Dorado if not terra nullius? Do you know that the biggest problem for Africa now is its long-time rulers who have run out of roads and ideas that only use armies and bribes to remain in power illegally? Do you know that Africa’s existential problem is its leaders who refused to disband their statehouses and unite Africa?
Creating strong armies will make matters worse since they’ll become stronger than their makers and take power from them. Strong armies will do what the Pakistan army has always done, lord it over politicians and citizens. Strong armies will need huge budgets to maintain them. Strong armies aren’t a solution instead strong democratic institution are. If you want to clearly grasp what I mean here, consider western countries. Their successes lie in their strong democratic institutions but not their armies. Africa needs strong governments that can build strong economies that can support citizens and deny the armies the pretexts of grabbing power as have been the cases in almost all countries whose governments were toppled. Sir, Africa needs governments that can fight and thwart socioeconomic insecurity many African suffer. It needs the governments and leaders who don’t abuse their offices, countries and resources.
In sum, space doesn’t allow. There are many more solutions to Africa’s current political and economic problems than strong armies. Africa doesn’t need strong armies since it is at war with itself. Therefore, the armies it needs is the armies of educated people, people with job, people with hope and people with good leadership and strong democratic institutions such as strong parliaments and strong judiciaries among others but not strong armies. That is the solution and the most naked truth Sir.
You said those taking power are novices. Are you serious? Who were you when you took power? Had you’d any experience of running even a village? Was Milton Obote a doyen when he brought independence to Uganda? What about Julius Nyerere, your mentor and creator not to mention the iconic Patrice Lumumba who yanked power from Belgians in Congo among many young Turks of the 60s who liberated Africa?
In trying to show that you know Africa’s problem, you’re quoted as saying that “what is happening now is going to take us back because civilian leaders fail to build strong armies.” Really? Does Africa really need strong armies that corrupt and dictatorial rulers use to hush and lord it over the people? Do you think that’s a viable solution while it is more a problem than the one, we’re currently facing from coup d’états?
Now, let me differ with you. Actually, Africa needs true democracy and justice that revolves around strong institutions among others. Africa needs accountability for everybody including rulers, their families, friends, and other eaters but not only for the earthlings that rulers bulldoze and pauperise as they deem fit. Africa needs adept and creative leaders who lead but not rule. It needs those who are in office to serve the people but not themselves and their families as you once said that you’re nobody’s servant except your family.
Mr. President, do you know that those ‘strong armies’ strongmen use to rob Africa are the biggest problem since they protect and preserve corrupt regimes that offer some disgruntled and greedy soldiers a pretext to snatch powers and replicate the same? Africa needs people’s Armies that protect the people but not the rulers and their party makers. Do you know how expensive and economic unviable it has been for Africa to keep the do-nothing armies whose job is to intimidate and terrorise the citizens whenever they become fed up with their corrupt and inept rulers? Methinks that Africa needs leaders and persons with probity but not crooks who have turned their countries into their El Dorado if not terra nullius? Do you know that the biggest problem for Africa now is its long-time rulers who have run out of roads and ideas that only use armies and bribes to remain in power illegally? Do you know that Africa’s existential problem is its leaders who refused to disband their statehouses and unite Africa?
Creating strong armies will make matters worse since they’ll become stronger than their makers and take power from them. Strong armies will do what the Pakistan army has always done, lord it over politicians and citizens. Strong armies will need huge budgets to maintain them. Strong armies aren’t a solution instead strong democratic institution are. If you want to clearly grasp what I mean here, consider western countries. Their successes lie in their strong democratic institutions but not their armies. Africa needs strong governments that can build strong economies that can support citizens and deny the armies the pretexts of grabbing power as have been the cases in almost all countries whose governments were toppled. Sir, Africa needs governments that can fight and thwart socioeconomic insecurity many African suffer. It needs the governments and leaders who don’t abuse their offices, countries and resources.
In sum, space doesn’t allow. There are many more solutions to Africa’s current political and economic problems than strong armies. Africa doesn’t need strong armies since it is at war with itself. Therefore, the armies it needs is the armies of educated people, people with job, people with hope and people with good leadership and strong democratic institutions such as strong parliaments and strong judiciaries among others but not strong armies. That is the solution and the most naked truth Sir.
Source: African Executive Magazine today.
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