A New Thinking Needed In Uganda.

By Arthur M. M. Katabalwa

I have been quietly watching The Presidential campaigns this year with increasing bemusement. The candidates are trying to “out do” each other with promises to the electorate should they be voted into power. If one looks at all these promises, and should we wishfully think that they will be fulfilled, I doubt the country can afford them. The day after the election Uganda will be utopian, with all our problems solved. Many roads will be paved and all those cattle that were stolen from the Iteso will be returned (wonder where all these cows are at the moment).

President Museveni addresses a campaign rally.

The election of 2016 pivot hugely on the aspirations of the youth. There constant engagement helps make the relationship between colleges, universities, businesses and the government truly people-centered. In the long-term, this is possibly the best investment we can make if we are to see a future prosperous country where the youth are engaged in a constructive way. I am a great believer in the difference they can make to the fate of our country.

In Africa like in Europe, demographics matter hugely – though with different situations of course. On the African continent, around 65% of the total population is under the age of 35. Undeniably, this is human wealth of unrivaled potential. It also however, comes with its own sets of challenges – especially when it comes to ensuring that there are enough opportunities for all. As a country, we need all the energy to ensure their basic needs: food, housing, and health care, the list is endless. Of course living standards between Europe and Africa are different but we are facing huge young unemployment here in Uganda as well as growing poverty and the risks and inequalities that come with it.

In Uganda the youth group is becoming larger and one can only imagine the associated problems if we do not embrace a new way of thinking of what problems that face us. We must learn to be more innovative and think of new ways of creating value within what we produce the skills that we put out and in the way we plan for the future. We must develop ways and means where the development that we have for our country is not only short term, but make sure that our children and grandchildren are not saddled by the mistakes we are making now.

The economy is now doing better, but creating more work opportunities for young people, should be one of Uganda's highest priorities. Growth will not be sufficient. The greatest mistake that we are making is leaving a whole generation of our youth adrift. What are we doing paying youths platitudes on political platforms when we are not giving them real solutions for the real problems that they are facing?

That's why we need take measures with direct impact, for instance ensuring that young people that remain unemployed for months after leaving school have access to further training, education or a job offer. A job means so much in life and for society as a whole.

Innovation needs creativity – and therefore innovation means young people too. Which is why it is so important to encourage entrepreneurial skills – at all stages in life, but above all in education, because students who have experienced an innovative learning environment are much more likely to use this innovation capital in their future endeavors. Promoting entrepreneurship in young people should be high on the agenda in discussions at countrywide level. 

Frank Gashumba of Sisimuka Uganda argues that rather than promise hoes for the peasants of Uganda, The President in his quest for another term in office should create a situation where people can afford those hoes. That is the new thinking we need now.

Africa and European leaders are together looking at how to make our continents more prosperous and peaceful for their citizens. There is talk about how to stimulate growth that is sustainable, inclusive and which creates jobs. There is also the need to address many other issues that are of great concern for society as a whole; good governance, democracy, rule of law and the respect of human rights– without which there can be no truly fair or lasting economic growth. We need a society without fear, a free society, and a bigger society of hope.

Now, the great task of building a nation is never done.  Here in Uganda, five decades since our independence, we’re still working to perfect our country.  Across Uganda and the rest of Africa there’s no denying the daily hardships that are faced by so many -- the struggle to feed our children, to find work, to survive another day.  And too often, that’s the Africa that the world sees.
  
Let us present a different vision, a vision of Uganda on the move -- a country that has ended old conflicts, a socially mobile group of people looking beyond what used to divide us along ethnic and religious lines. We want a Uganda that’s modernizing and creating opportunities in agribusiness, prosperity, political progress; a country that’s pursuing a broadband revolution that could transform the daily lives of future generations.

Ours is a country that can do great things. We find ourselves at a moment of extraordinary promise.  Today’s challenges may lack some of the drama of 20th century liberation and economic struggles, but they ultimately may be even more meaningful, for it will be up to us, Ugandans, people full of talent and imagination, to build Uganda for the next 50 years.

The future belongs to us. Many are owners of business, creating employment for our people. We must develop a new thinking where we are working to create jobs and opportunity. We must develop a new thinking where the government will works with us, promoting the trade and investment on which growth depends. No one should have to pay a bribe to get a job or to get government to provide basic services.  So as part of our development strategy, we must start emphasizing transparency, accountability, and a strong civil society; the kind of reform that can help unleash transformational change.  Our country's future also belongs to those who take charge of that kind of transparency and are serious about anti-corruption measures. 

The time is coming when we will have a better interest in new innovative ideas in corporate management and governance. The time is coming when we will develop new goals and devise how we can partner more effectively to help reach them.  The time is coming when this will be the beginning of a new partnership and create networks that will promote opportunities for years to come. The time is coming when we Ugandans will redefine our relationship with government. The time is coming when we will decide to have a smaller government that is focused on reform and one which we can afford.

Together we are the heirs of the independence generation.  Because of their sacrifice, we were born in an independent Uganda. And just as the achievements of the last 50 years inspire us, the work we do today will inspire future generations. For us to inspire those future generations we need a new kind of thinking; a new kind of politics in Uganda. One which is independent of that politics that has been borne out of the struggle for independence, against extremism, against sectarianism and against colonialism. We need a new dawn to realign our country to the realities of this century. We are not divorcing ourselves from our past. No. But past should not define who we are. As we have been inspired by what our fathers did so that we are free, let us create a new thinking and inspire those following us that we had the fortitude to start thinking differently and doing things differently.

This is a new generation and our time is now else we will be the generation that missed out on impacting on Uganda. Ours will not be a struggle with guns and strikes and death. It is a new mind set. We must refocus on our communities, on our children, on the youth, the students, on the disadvantaged in our society; long term planning. We must look at creating future societies that can look after their own who may be on hard times. We don’t have that now but why not create that for our children?

Each of us is a leader in their own way.  The future is what we make it.  And so if we keep dreaming and keep working and keep learning and don’t give up, then I'm confident that we and the rest of Uganda will be better for it.

mwenky99@gmail.com