Annex 1
Lt Gen Saleh writes: The New Vision, 2 November
2004
YESTERDAY Lt Gen Salim Saleh reacted to a New Vision
story quoting The Vanguard that he had written to the President
over the third term. Following is the statement given by his aide
to journalists yesterday:
1. Mr Museveni, exiting politics means surrendering
the field to all the old entrenched lobbies ie religious and tribe
clubs and the new power grabbed in the names of SEYAS, FDCs, UYD,
UPKSs, RPES etc.
2. What we need is a new radical but liberal
groupings that can concertise the relationship that has been struck
by NRM and the entrepreneurs primarily and empowerment within
the means possible of the masses through cooperative economics.
This will create a dynamic, open and tolerant society that has
African values.
3. African values are not compatible with
western liberal democracy and the so-called human rights and good
governance. Africans put more premiums on order, harmony, collective
welfare and authority. This is why we need capable ministers,
prescient legislations, a just and effective legal system and
little or no rhetoric on democracy, human rights and good governance.
4. While human rights may well be "Universal"
in nature, it is crucial to bear in mind the national and regional
peculiarities.
By fostering individualism, democracy will breed
chaos and conflict erodes faith in the authorities.
5. The unfinished struggle is the main reason
why I think Museveni is maybe interested in the third term business.
He will, I believe at an appropriate time, tell Ugandans the length
of the struggle, how much mileage have we covered and how long
is remaining. Then people will decide whether what he is telling
them is true or not. Hence the referendum on term limits.
6. A country needs more than freedom and
democracy. It needs other values, polices strategies and different
tactics for different situations. Hence even the constitution
is not static or dogmatic.
A country needs community. It has to have norms,
trust, coordinated action and not partialised acts. We need to
relate to each other beyond the confines of our personal concerns
and interests.
7. Without stronger communities, I don't
see how democracy and decentralisation can take place, trust and
ties at every level in society can enhance business and productivity.
8. I should not forget to comment on the
current catch word, "GOOD GOVERNANCE", for whom is this
good governance and for what? The phrase is vague and vaguely
understood.
Under our current situation, it often means
good for capitalist development. Mind you this good governance
is lacking in countries that are:
(a) Close to the equator.
(b) Ethno linguistically heterogeneous.
(c) Use socialist or French laws.
(d) Large numbers of Catholics or Muslims.
We should ask ourselves why these virtues lack
in areas that are characterised by the above mentioned trends.
9. In my opinion, we should sign a social
contract where citizens are expected to refrain from interfering
in political governance so long as the government can deliver
fast economic growth and rising prosperity. We should, however,
bear in mind that rebuilding a social system is not easy.
10. We must also take into consideration
the factor of globalisation. It is destructive, exploitative and
disruptive but unavoidable.
Somebody said that globalisation is like writing.
When writing first came/spread through the world, it was disruptive
as old skills of story telling became less valuable.
A new elite emerged and monopolised power and
till today, everything evolves around writing although half of
the world population does not know how to read and write.
Therefore globalisation like writing is an unavoidable
necessity. It can appear to be evil, cause suffering etc. So one
day globalisation will be treated like writing.
A powerful tool that can enhance quality of
life, which is harsh but unavoidable and unavailable.
CONCLUSION
Replacing the type of leadership may be harder
than overthrowing it. Anybody who overturns or diverts the direction
may destroy the entire foundation on which prosperity was beginning
to germinate from.
It is easier to displace than replace. I think
we should keep our eyes not ears on the ground at grassroot level
"Essanja" is slowly taking shape.
Alternatively we can experiment with the phenomenon
known as the "glazier effect".
C K Akandwanaho 88 Oriba—LL General (res)
SCSC—Kimaka.
Published on: Thursday 2 December 2004.
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