MUSEVENI IS ABUSING THE INSTITUTION OF NATIONAL HEROISM Uganda like any other state has its national heroes and heroines. These national heroes are both indigenous Ugandans and those who came from outside. The traditional rulers, christian missionaries who brought formal education and medical services, Arab traders who spread trade and Islam, colonial administrators, Indian migrants, World War Veterans, veterans of the struggle for independence, sportsmen and women, outstanding Ugandans who have excelled in different arenas, past Presidents, past Prime Ministers etc. It is important to recognise the role played by such individuals in shaping the nation. Historically, both Ugandans and foreigners have been recognised for their outstanding contribution. Such recognition took the form of naming some places, roads and streets after their names. Interestingly, because of the post independence divisive politics that have characterised Uganda such recognition has been dominated by former Colonial masters and missionaries. This is not to downplay the role they played in bringing about civilisation. However, when Museveni took over power 28 years ago, he embarked on the treacherous journey of rewriting Ugandas history so as to make it look as if Uganda started with his coming to power. He has been making efforts to erase the role played by other Ugandans before he took over power. In 1986 immediately after he took over power, he decreed that a Veterans Association be formed for those who has participated in his five years (1981- 1986) bush war. He further decreed that 9th June be the Heroes day - a date that coincides with the date in 1981 when he narrowly escaped capture by government troops from the compound of Adinan Mubiru Luttamaguzi in Luwero. Since then 9th June is commemorated each year as Heroes Day. In 2001 he moved parliament to enact a National Honours and Awards Act that stipulates 9th June as Heroes Day and defines an Awards Nomination Committee. The Awards Nomination Committee is under the Chairmanship of Prof Mondo Kagonyera, Gen. Elly Tumwiine, and External Security operative Businge Amooti among others. With his party leaning committee membership, Museveni has been recognising and awarding them awards to those he feels recognising. Museveni has also awarded himself the Independence Medal though he was still in primary school at the time of independence in 1962. He is now planning to be designated as the Father of the Nation. The awarding of medals for national heroism has been dominated by the soldiers he fought with in the bush war and the civilians that supported his bush war. He has deliberately not recognised those who have disagreed with him like Dr. Besigye and group. He also uses the award of medals to gratify his party cadres, lure fence sitters and blackmail families of some past national leaders. No doubt giving dedicated service to ones country is the clearest form of patriotism that deserve recognition. It has a role to play in preserving national unity and preserving its genuine history. For the sake of history, such recognition should not be confined to those who did good things (heroes and heroines) but should be extended to even those who made mistakes so that history is not lost. Such double edged recognition and history has the potential of improving on tourist attraction. That way, national reconciliation and healing will be guaranteed. Such recognitions can take two levels i.e National and regional where the state can recognise national heroes and different regions can also recognise their respective heroes. Unfortunately, this is not possible under Musevenis regime where he portrays Uganda as having been bort 28 years ago and refers to past leaders as swines. An example of recognition of past leaders as national heroes would take the form of:- 1. Entebbe Airport Sir Edward Muteesa International Airport 2. State House Dr. Milton Obote House 3. International Conference Center Iddi Amin International Conference Centre 4. Mulago National Refferal Hospital Dr. Milton Obote National Hospital 5. Army General Headquarters Gen Shaban Opolot General Headquarters 6. Parliament Building Dr. Paul Ssemogerere National Assembly 7. City/freedom Square Dr. Kiiza Besigye Freedom Square 8. Luzira Prison Museveni Maximum Prison 9. Army School of Infantry Gen. Owite Ojok School of Infantry 10. Ministry of Agric & Animal Husbandry John Babiiha Complex 11. Ministry of Education headquarters Brig. Barnabas Kili Towers 12. Murchison Falls National Park Kabalega National Park 13. Ministry of Justice Headquarters Ben Kiwanuka Justice Chambers 14. Jinja Bridge Shaban Nkutu Bridge 15. Karuma Bridge Gen Tito Okello 16. MUK Fuculty of Law Godfrey Binaisa Law School 17. Police Headquarters Erinayo Oryema Police Headquarters 18. Katonga Bridge Gen Saleh Bridge 19. Tororo Army Barracks Rait Omongin Barracks 20. Speakers Chambers Cuthbert Obwangor Chambers 21. Farmers House Paulo Mwanga Cooperatives House 22. Masaka Barracks Julius Oketta Barracks 23. A monument at Lukaya Col Gordon Sule 24. Soroti Flying School Col William Omaria Just to mention but a few. Different Ugandans have contributed in different ways towards the shaping and preservation of Uganda. With good intentions, a genuinely composed commission can unearth balanced roles played by distinguished men and women. At both national and regional level, heroes and heroines can be recognised for their different contributions in different fields i.e sports, health, education, religion, trade, entertainment, security, leadership etc. Even non governmental sectors should be encouraged to put in place a mechanism of recognising the contributions of different past players. Otherwise, leaving the fate of our history to be determined by Museveni and company had the danger of destroying it while promoting divisionism. INFORMATION IS POWER.
Posted on: Thu, 04 Dec 2014 15:50:59 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015