Let Us All Fast!

By Peter Bishop



King Oyo (R) With President Yoweri Museveni. PPU Photo.

If you don’t know it as yet, then get it from me. The King of Toro did fast for a full week after being advised by President Museveni that it was good for trimming his buggy self. It was a first for a King in Uganda to declare a fast after being dared. You may think that King Oyo didn’t know about the benefits and ways of keeping healthy after studying from some of the best schools in the world.

I am sure he did, but what was wrong was failing to interpret the wise words from the old man with a hat. The message wasn’t really about fasting but respect. YK7 as the hipsters’ call him has been Uganda’s president for over 28 years. He restored the kingdoms in the 90’s and joined politics before most of us were born. If you still don’t understand what am writing about, just check the archives of the local daily newspapers.

So how could the King of Toro who by the way was educated using your taxes dare the hand that gave his kingdom a lease of life?  I can’t answer it. Did he want to show the country that he has finally grown or his advisers had just had a cup of the local brew? Did he forget the oil dollars from the East had dried up?

Let me advise this young King of Toro. You don’t dare a man who has manoeuvred the regional politics and succeeded. You probably don’t have the balls to do what he has done. But well, you are a King. So continue fasting. Make it an annual event. Ask your kinsmen to join you. Pray for your kingdom. Pray for your subjects that they may get out of abject poverty. Lead your subjects in doing income generating projects other than politicking. Champion the HIV/AIDS programs in your kingdom. Don’t forget to fast for your sister. 2014 wasn’t her year after the Duke duped her and both gave the tabloids a little manna from heaven.

What about the leadership of this country? I expect it to fast the whole year. Scratch that. Let it fast for the next 5 years. Am not kidding or fasting!! For the past 28 years, they have failed to trim off the burden that has prevented the Pearl of Africa from making huge strides in making life better for her citizens. So this time, they need to fast. Trim off that pot belly of corruption, poor service delivery, stock health centres with drugs, return missing lanes of roads, reduce government expenditure and as well retire and let the young blood that can fast take over and lead Uganda to a first world.

The list of things to fast for is very long. Dude sorry your highness, why not join us and we fast for this country? Don’t you love her like we do? Don’t forget to invite your mum and sister.