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OBOTE AND BUSOGA REGION
1960 - 2008
A Tribute to late Dr. Apollo Milton Obote
(Uganda's Former President) and Uganda Peoples Congress' Contributions to Socio-Economic Development of Busoga
By Dr. Frank Nabwiso
Former Member of Parliament for Kagoma County (2001-2006)
Member of FDC
8th November 2008
INTRODUCTION
I was one of the small boys at Busoga College Mwiri in 1955, who acted in William Shakespeare's most famous play "Julius Caesar". Since then, I have always remembered Mark Antony's speech:
"I come to bury Ceasar, not to praise him. The evil that men do liveth after them. But the good is oft interred with their bones. So let it be with Caesar."
This tribute will however not focus on the evils which are associated with Obote's two regimes as: Uganda's first Executive Prime Minister and Executive President (April 1962 ? January 1971) and President for the second time (December 1980 - July 1985).
In my opinion, it is no longer useful for our country to negatively harp on dead Presidents (Sir Edward Mutesa, Idi Amin, Yusuf Lule, Paulo Muwanga, Tito Okello Lutwa and Apollo Milton Obote). We should instead just focus on the good things each did for our country and continue to build on those foundations. This is why this tribute only concentrates on the positive contributions Obote made (through his UPC Governments) to Busoga. We would be heartless if we let his contributions be "interred with his bones!".
Obote's relationship with Busoga began at Busoga College Mwiri, where he spent three years, as a pupil from 1945 to 1947. At Mwiri, he ended up as a prefect in Willis House and did well in his studies before he joined Makerere. When I met Mwiri's greatest headmaster (Rev F.G Coates) in 1968 at Worthing, near Brighton in England, he disclosed to me that Obote's public speaking and debating skills in the English language were developed at Mwiri. By 1947, Obote was a great admirer of Mahtma Gandhi of India and John Milton, the author of "Paradise Lost". Rev. Coates was also proud that when Obote came into power in 1962, his Government modified Mwiri's motto "For God and Our Country" into Uganda's motto "For God and my Country".
Obote's and UPC's entry into Busoga politics began in 1960 when Obote's faction of the Uganda National Congress (UNC) and Uganda People's Union (UPU) merged into a new political party which they named Uganda People's Congress, with Obote as the first President and William Wilberforce Nadiope from Busoga as the first Vice President. By 1962, UPC had emerged into a nationalistic and Pan-Africanist party with the support of "Kabaka Yekka" ("King Alone" Party in Buganda).
THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE FIRST OBOTE GOVERNMENT
1962 - 1971.
Education:
- The Government turned Iganga and Wanyange Girls Junior Secondary Schools, Kiira College Butiki, Wairaka M.M School, and Jinja College into Government Secondary Schools and expanded their infrastructures and other facilities with USAID support.
- From 1963, the UPC started giving out scholarships which were initiated by the Afro-Asian Solidarity Committee. A number of young Basoga got such scholarships to study in Soviet Union and other Communist countries. Dr. John Bulamu (RIP), James Bakalinzaki (RIP), Patrick Isanga (RIP) and Mr. PJ Ndiko (former headmaster of Mwiri), were among those who benefited from this program.
- In 1964, the Government of Uganda took over the responsibility of paying tuition and residential accommodation fees for all students at Makerere. It also established a special scholarship scheme to support young Ugandans for overseas studies. As a result, many Basoga students from poor families got chance to study at Makerere and overseas. Professor Dan M. Mudoola (RIP) and I were among the lucky Basoga students who got Government postgraduate scholarships (in 1967) to study in UK universities.
- In 1968, the Government obtained land at Natwana, near Kaliro Town to build a large primary teacher training college, similar to those which were built at Kabale, Mubende and Unyama, with support from USAID. Kaliro Teacher's College was started in 1971 and Kamuli Teachers' College in 1982. In 1985, Kaliro Teachers' College became a National Teachers College and today, it is one of the university colleges attached to Busitema University.
- In 1968, Makerere University established a Centre for Continuing Education which in turn established its first office in Jinja in 1969. I happily served as the first Resident Tutor and started coordinating continuing adult education programs (including distance education studies) throughout Busoga Region. This program enabled many Basoga to join the university, through mature age examinations.
Agriculture:
- From 1963, the UPC Government encouraged indigenous people to take over Asian-owned cotton ginneries in Busoga and other parts in Uganda. Gradually, Busoga Growers Cooperative Union (BGCU) inherited most of the said ginneries and established primary cooperative societies in every parish. Attempts to break the BGCU in 1966-7 were resisted by the Government and by 1970, BGCU had become the most viable channel for stimulating rural economic activities in Busoga.
- During the 1960s, the Government established Ikulwe Farm Institute (in what is now called Mayuge District) chiefly to train agricultural extension workers and farmers in Busoga. However, Ikulwe is now just a small agricultural research station with no direct relevance to farmers.
- Other important agricultural development programs which were started by the Government included Kiige Citrus Fruit and Kasolwe Livestock schemes in Kamuli District. These were initiated with technical and financial assistance from Israel. Furthermore, Kityerera Rice Citrus Scheme was started to encourage individual small scale farmers to promote fruit farming in Busoga
- In the late 1960s, Kibimba Rice scheme was established with the assistance of the Chinese Government. This scheme was a real grassroots project compared to Tororo Girls Secondary School and Busitema School of Mechanized Farming which were sponsored by USAID and the Soviet Government respectively. Rice-growing is now one of the major income-generating activities in Busoga.
- There were also attempts to promote meat, milk, butter and fish production, in addition to tractor hire and cooperative farming schemes in several parts of Busoga.
Community Development:
- The Government actively encouraged the building of community halls at each Sub - County (to be used as educational centers for teaching adult literacy and other survival skills) and establishment of fully fledged community training centers like Wairaka. The centers used to teach continuing learners through drama, role playing, cinema shows and radio and television programs. If these types of programs had not been abandoned during the Amin regime, they might have changed the course of history of Uganda i.e. gradually promoted the bottom-up approach to development instead of the top-to-bottom approach which has dominated Government-initiated socio-economic development programs for decades.
Health:
- The Government built two big hospitals in Iganga and Bugiri and numerous rural dispensaries. These medical facilities had adequate staff quarters, bedding and food for patients, free drugs and other health care services. In addition, the Government established a nurses' training school near Jinja Hospital.
Industrialization:
- The Government promoted Jinja as the chief industrial town in Uganda. Many industries were established by the private sector and many people in Busoga secured employment in those industries. Some factories created double shift systems which enabled many people to get jobs and work during day or at night.
Transport Infrastructure and Facilities:
- The Government created a double lane road from Jinja Municipality to Kakira and built a tarmac road from Iganga to Kaliro which has proved to be the most durable road in the country. The railway system remained effective and made it possible for people and goods to move by train, while affordable bus transport was available for the poor.
THE SECOND UPC GOVERNMENT (1980 - 85)
Education:
The Government established numerous Government-aided secondary schools including Busede College in Jinja District; Luzinga, Kisozi, Bugulumbya, Balawoli and Wesunire in Kamuli District; Kaliro and Budini in present Kaliro Dsitrict; Bunya S.S in present Mayuge District; Kigulu High, Nawansega, Kiyunga, Busiiro and Nkutu Memorial S.S in Iganga District. Six similar schools were also built in Bugiri District, including Bukooli College and Nalubale, Naminhyagwe and Lwangosia secondary schools.
Rehabilitation of Industries:
The Government encouraged the return of Asians so that they could rehabilitate their factories in various parts of Busoga. It also made efforts to rehabilitate all its parastatals in Jinja Municipality but not much was achieved because of the then prevailing unstable political environment.
Agriculture and Commerce:
The Government actively advocated for the revival of Busoga Growers Cooperative Union, with the support of Jinja, Iganga and Kamuli (JIK) Organization which had been established by Busoga UPC leaders. Additionally, the Government encouraged Uganda Commercial Bank and the Cooperative Bank to open branches in small towns in Busoga, to promote agriculture and commerce in rural areas.
Recruitment of Basoga into the Police Department in Uganda:
In response to the policy of the second Obote Government to recruit well educated people into the Police Department, a good number of young men and women from Busoga joined police and some of them have climbed to high posts in the Department. Before that, few highly educated Basoga were interested in the police career.
CONCLUDING REMARKS
This tribute obviously gives just a sketchy picture of what the UPC Governments under Obote initiated and promoted in Busoga in 13 years and 7 months (April 1962 - January 1971) and December 1980 - July 1985). There is therefore need for detailed research, especially on how each of the above mentioned socio-economic development project activities impacted on the lives of the people of Busoga. It is only when that research has been done that it will be possible to appreciate Obote and his UPC better.
MAY HIS SOUL LIVE IN ETERNAL PEACE
Comments:
12 Nov 2008
1.
Well done Dr. Frank. Now compare with the 22 years of destruction and loot for personal gain (NRM).
13 Nov 2008
2.
I personally never liked Obote but I challenge any Museveni's supporter tell us what he has done?
Please don't talk about free education because children can't even read! No medicine in hospitals or better some of it expiring when people are dying due to lack of it. Roads which are being funded by foreign bodies taking years to be completed or never, building another dam next to one already there which has resulted in less flow of water hence less power being produced and blaming natural factors. The government is there to plan not react. etc etc etc.
3. Its the UPCs in NRM who are bad?!
RIBUTE TO OBOTE: COMMENT NO.2
Coment no.2 challenges us to point out the good things Museveni has done for the country and I will mention one which is a strong pillar to any other.
REMOVAL OF ROADBLOCKS!
Those who we in school during Obote's second term would not wish to recall the roadblocks manned by the notorious Obote soldiers and the militia akin to interahamwe's of Rwanda. The stealing, the lootings, rapes, etc... But now the pro-people army is professionalised, well displined and with a vision for the happier Uganda.
We can may be crticize Muzee Museveni for his open philosophy which saw into offices those guys who belonged to UPC and thus used to stealing public goods and monies. If he had restricted the management to proper cadres of NRA/M, till those guys learnt lessons on how issues and things are managed, then we would be having enough electricity, medicine, bread and butter for our UPE/USE children at breakfast, etc...
In the coming term of office from 2010, I would encourage HE Museveni to restrict appointments to pure cadres and kick off those people of UPC who keep turnishing his good intentions with evil deeds. Stick to people like Kajura, Otafiire, and the like. This will attract back the good boys as the Ruzindana's Mushega's, and sympathies from the Muntu's. I tell you Besigye too will make a good turn for there will no longer be a need as things will be back to normalcy.
MAFUTI, HOIMA.
4.
Dear RK
This is to comment on the letter by Mafuti in Hoima. The cadres are the first class thieves!
Who stole the Global Fund money that was meant for medicines or drugs -- are they not cadres?
Who is selling public assets -- are they not cadres? I can mention many more but this is to let Mafuti know that what he is talking about is a heap of rubbish!
Roadblocks were an attempt to control insecurity which was being caused by the same NRA/M. In some cases it was NRA/M themselves putting up roadblocks. I am sure Mafuti was himself involved in this but he is missing the bread. He is saying this so that he can get a chance of winning some bread.
Museveni and the so-called 'cadres' should understand that in Law "he who has nothing sells nothing". At the end of their term all what they have sold will go back to their proper owners. An example of this is that the Asian expelled by Amin came back and claimed their properties. I know the NRM will not last for ever.
Name with held.
Thanks RK London.
5.
This is in reply to Mafuti of Hoima's comments.
You state that M7's most notable achievement was the removal of roadblocks, something that was such a common feature during the Obote II regime.
I will say that today, because M7's other earlier achievements are now turning into failures (his govt, for example, has proved to be the most corrupt in Uganda's turbulent history), the issue of security seems to be the only thing that M7 likes reminding Ugandans about.
The issue of security is now his one last card. M7 in fact is telling Ugandans that anyone else in power apart from him will mean a return to instability, to civil war. He is scaring Ugandans into voting for him come 2011.
But just in case they don't get what he's trying to say, he warns Ugandans that he's going NOWHERE. If he loses the elections, then he will return to the bush.
M7 loves to highlight the differences between his regime & those of the Amins, Obotes. I can see that the more he does that, the more similar his regime seems to be with the others.
One other thing, Mafuti: you wrote that 'in the coming term of office from 2010 (I assume you meant 2011), I would encourage HE Museveni to restrict appointments to pure cadres etc...' You are obviously taking it for granted that he will win these coming elections, losing being out of the question, fullstop.
Do you know something we don't?
6.
Its the UPCs in NRM who are bad?!
Comment Number 4 by Mufti of Hoima.
Mufti, please take another look. Don't you think it was Museveni and his NRA who were causing insecurity and making the road blocks necessary? Notice that immediately they came to power the insecurity stopped.
Mudokolo, Tororo
7.
Dear RK,
This comment is to rubbish the assertions by Mafuti, the Hoima cadre.
I would like to challenge Mafuti to do research before committing himself to a handful of shames. He (Mafuti) should have understood why roadblocks are mounted. In those days, the so-called roadblocks were meant to provide security for the people of Uganda, and may be he (Mafuti) was the only character who didn't need this, or he was not yet born. Today, security is still paramount but is meant for some fortunate few. I cite two examples here to bring comrade Mafuti out of ignorance.
Firstly, those who travel along Kampala-Gulu road can bare with me that roadblocks exist at Karuma. These are meant to check those travelling from Northerm Uganda and not the other way round, so that safety is assured for the 'few.' Secondly, every Ugandan is embarrassed by the security deployed during the president's rallies. These manpower, Mafuti should have realised, is supposed to be used at roadblocks to provide security for the entire nation. Unfortunately, these and other episodes please Mafuti.
Lastly, my advise to the NRM cadres is to disown Mafuti for being publicly segregative on the media. For instance, he reccomends the likes of Kajura, Otafiire, and the like, for the national cake. Hon. ministers, do not let this man use your names for his selfish gains.
Mafuti, if Hoima and probably you are currently happy, and lack the capacity to distinguish good and bad, I wish you well. But, as the author of Obote's Busoga achievements has put, let's give credits where the concerned deserve.
For God and my country, Uganda.
Ugandan student, studying abroad.
8.
To Mafuti from Hoima. I'm sure you are not from Hoima because Hoima is very undeveloped, filthy and it looks like a trading centre not a town. What has NRM govt done regarding infrastructure? destruction, destruction, destruction! If you so care as you put it, why don't you consider putting some of these questions to your beloved man M7 and the lot! The people of Hoima leave in shacks not fit for human habitation, what have NRM/you done about it? I say this with the experience, I been to Hoima even deep in villages, no difference. Conpared to Gulu where there has been destruction up to now it is still 100% better than Hoima Town. What has NRM done to improve the lifes of the people of Hioma? It sound to me like you are one of them who claim funds in the name of development and line your pockets with tax payers monies.
9.
Dr Nabwiso,thanks for your message but mind you , we came to dominate and loot. we have managed to destroy all industries in Jinja in the name of private investors. We steal the money by the help of some Ugandans and use the very money at our disposal and fake the investment and after few years your factories at Jinja are no more don't you remember what salim saleh did in jinja with Tiptop , Nytil , Chllington all these are now in Rwanda. our plan is to make you guys in east and north so poor to the exetent that you can not compete.
All sholarships to abroad education belong to us i mean westerner
and those who loyal to us
By T emutsi.
10. 17 Nov 2008
Dr Nabwiso,
Well done and we know our country's history even if Museveni and NRM want to distort it they will never ever succeed. I have comfort in the saying "everything has an end and whether Museveni wants to rule forever, HE WILL ONE DAY LEAVE THE SCENE AND WHAT A RELIEF OF SIGH UGANDANS WILL TAKE THEN.
We will remain committed to our country not to an individual who came in disguise to liberate us but infact he liberated himself financially and indebted us and made Ugandans total destitutes . Museveni you will answer in Hague and in hell, those are your 2Hs.
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