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Uganda votes: oil blessing, oil curse?
That old Africa oil chestnut is being discussed again: is it a blessing or a curse?
When it comes to Uganda, nobody really knows which way to bet yet and its people often shrug their shoulders when asked what impact it will have.
One reason for that, and a cause of concern for some, is the secrecy surrounding the deals the government has struck with the foreign firms in the country and a lack of transparency around much of the planning ahead of production next year.
The Pearl of Africa discovered oil reserves, now estimated by some to be 2.5 million barrel’s worth, in its Albertine rift basin near Democratic Republic of Congo in 2006.
I visited the shores of Lake Albert this week and found some locals had a vague hope things would improve for them when the oil starts pumping, while others said they would hate the oil companies if their lives did not change.
Elections on Feb. 18 will decide whether long-standing President Yoweri Museveni or his bitter rival Kizza Besigye will be the one to oversee the beginnings of a windfall that could haul the country into middle-income status. Foreign oil firms are watching closely — they have had their problems with the strong-headed Museveni but know little about Besigye.
Uganda votes: Fighting talk
Ugandans love to talk. And, unlike in some other African countries, few people are afraid to be heard talking politics. Cafes and bars in Kampala and elsewhere hum to the sound of politicians being loudly verbally skewered.
The politicos themselves are not much different. Rhetoric is being ratcheted up ahead of elections on February 18. And the opposition are not holding back.
Kizza Besigye, the only man with any chance of unseating 25-year President Yoweri Museveni, is leading the charge with predictions of Tunisia and Egypt-inspired public protests should his party, for the third time in a row, say an election has been rigged.
“In our case it’s even more likely that we can get chaos because remember, no leader of our country has ever handed over power peacefully to another leader,” he told Reuters in an interview when asked if Uganda could follow the examples set in North Africa.
“Every president of Uganda has been bombed out of office. As long as there is repression that is sustained for a long time, that pent up anger builds and at some point explodes.”
Uganda is, he has since said, a “ruthless dictatorship.”
Strong stuff, indeed.
What else is there for the word “DEMOCRACY” in Uganda what is seen today is a promise made by the President himself after winning the Feb elections “i will Crush them” he was quoted using a runyankole proverb “Enumi Eligasa empango eyanda kuffa” meaning a bull that wilders it tounge near an axe will only be requesting to be beheaded. My fellow youth it is the only time we have to live like free people.All live media broadcasts have been banned..the police doest seem to understand the law or even read the constitution but thank God the internet is here for us to use..I wish all my fellow Ugandans Luck in this struggle for freedom.
Uganda’s Museveni at 25: Still fit?
“Look at him!” the emcee at celebrations to mark 25 years in power for Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni shouts into a mic. “Look at him! He is very fit!”
The former rebel decked out in his usual – and fairly unique – floppy hat and suit combo ambles down a grass slope and waves cheerily to his supporters.
“Look!” she shouts again. “You can even see from the way he is walking!”
Moments later, a pick-up truck draws alongside the 66-year-old and he slowly clambers up onto the back to continue saluting the crowds.
“Oh…” she pauses for a moment before quickly gathering herself.
“He is in a car now!” she booms. “That is the modern way! He needs that vantage point to see you. He is a kind-hearted man who wants to see you!”
I don’t subscribe to the principle of a benevolent dictator because it runs contrary to all of the principles, upon which democracy was founded. I suppose this moral dilemma is made somewhat easier by the fact that Museveni’s track record isn’t perfect. In addition, simply because you liberate a country, it does not give you free reign for the following 25 years. This is a reoccurring sentiment across the continent (Paul Kagame in Rwanda, dos Santos in Angola, etc…). People tend to think: ‘well this is as good as democracy gets in Africa, so that’ll do’. Lets no settle for second best, Africa deserves better.
