Posted to the web 5 February 2008



The Monitor (Kampala)
EDITORIAL

Kampala

With the political crisis in Kenya well into another month and with no apparent sign of abetting, pertinent lessons continue to be drawn from the debacle.

Unified by one common language, Swahili, Kenya had for decades remained an oasis of peace, unity and stability in a region beleaguered by civil strife and social disorder.

Inchi yetu Kenya hakuna matata (no problem in Kenya) virtually became the country's corporate label - attracting investments and tourists from around the globe.

Where then did all this ethnic antipathy come from all of a sudden, people have been asking. Well, somehow, the power brokers had taken Kenyans for granted and are now paying a heavy price for it.

"We can do whatever we wish with the election results after all Kenyans are peaceful and peace-loving people, they will do nothing," so they thought.

Never to take anyone for granted is a maxim many of us were taught from a young age, but sadly, the wisdom of it has been lost on some of our leaders.

Here in Uganda, for example, the highly controversial Land (Amendment) Bill 2007 is being tabled on the floor of Parliament today, amidst vehement opposition from a cross section of the population.

Well, the government is apparently throwing all caution to the wind to go ahead with the contentious Bill even after warnings from top religious leaders that it could be a recipe for disaster. Now, that is taking Ugandans for granted, which like the Kenyan experience has shown, could have dire consequences.

Still fresh in our minds is the Mabira crisis, which eventually led to the unfortunate death of several people. Again, a clear case of taking Ugandans for granted on the part of the government.

We feel that President Yoweri Museveni and his NRM government need not to be reminded that good governance is about respecting the feelings and aspirations of the people.

Let the various institutions of government be given space to do their work without undue interference. Let the people have the feeling that the government is there to serve their interests. Let the wishes and aspirations of the ruled be treated with utmost respect by those in leadership.

Anything short of this will be taking the citizens for granted, which will ultimately be at a price too high for Uganda to pay.