“But who is Celia Sánchez?” President John F. Kennedy was said to have asked when her name surfaced in several CIA reports. Little is known about Celia outside of Cuba, but she’s one of the most influential figures in the Cuban Revolution, and every year around this time, Cuba remembers her “the most native flower of the Cuban Revolution,” as she was lovingly known. On this May 9, Celia, the first woman to join the Cuban Revolution in the late 1950s with a rifle in her arms, would have turned 104 years old having been born on May 9, 1920.
Celia was born into a family of nine siblings and grew up in the sugar town of Media Luna, in the tropical east of Cuba, known as Oriente. Her mother died when she was young, and she was close to her father, Dr. Manuel Sanchez Silveira. He was a cultured man and committed to the liberal Orthodox Party. Celia Sanchez learned about politics from him, and as his assistant, she saw the effect of extreme poverty on his patients.
Her work with her dad made her famous across the region, and her local contacts would be invaluable later when she was assigned by Fidel Castro to organise the landing of the yacht Granma, which was carrying a group of guerrillas including Fidel Castro, Raúl Castro, Camilo Cienfuegos, and Ernesto Che Guevara from Mexico. After its disastrous landing on December 2, 1956, Commandante Celia Sánchez was very critical to the rebels’ survival. Ceilia quickly organised the clandestine network of farmers that provided food and supplies to the guerrillas.
Known for her intelligence, courage, and leadership skills, she became a key strategist and confidante to El Commandante Fidel Castro, playing a crucial role in the planning and execution of the revolutionary movement that ultimately led to the overthrow of the Batista regime in 1959.
Those who knew her say Celia’s most outstanding characteristic was her kindness. Her humble clothing and the decision to drive around in a small jeep without an escort made it difficult to envision her as a heroine of the Republic of Cuba and one of the key figures of the Cuban Revolution.
Sánchez’s dedication to the revolutionary cause extended far beyond the battlefield. She was instrumental in the establishment of social programmes aimed at improving the lives of ordinary Cubans, including initiatives in healthcare, education, and women’s rights. Her vision for a more just and equitable society helped lay the foundation for the building of a new Cuba based on principles of social justice and equality.
One of Sánchez’s most enduring legacies is her role in preserving the environment and promoting sustainable development in Cuba. As the founder of the Cuban National Botanical Garden and a passionate advocate for conservation, she worked tirelessly to protect Cuba’s natural resources and promote sustainable agriculture practices. Her commitment to environmental stewardship continues to influence Cuba’s approach to conservation and sustainable development to this day.
“To say Celia is to say Cuba, Homeland, Revolution, and Fidel. Women like Celia are not only honoured by talking about them, but by being like them, as Fidel urged,” the late Dr. Armando Hart once said.
Commandante Celia Sánchez is one of those Cuban revolutionaries that I admire most, and the current ambassador of Cuba to Uganda, Her Exellency Tania Pérez, always reminds me of her in her character and commitment to service. With time, I have come to learn that’s the Cuban spirit.
As Uganda commemorates the National Resistance Army (NRA) Liberation Day, we reflect on the remarkable journey the nation has undertaken since the successful revolution and the profound impact it has had on the country’s development. The 26th of January stands as a testament to the bravery and resilience of the NRA revolutionaries who dedicated their lives to liberating Uganda from oppression and laying the foundation for a brighter future.
The triumph of the NRA revolution marked a pivotal moment in Uganda’s history, heralding the dawn of a new era characterized by hope, unity, and progress. The revolutionaries’ unwavering commitment to the cause of freedom and justice paved the way for transformative changes that have reshaped the fabric of Ugandan society.
Since the NRA’s triumph, Uganda has undergone a remarkable transformation, experiencing advancements in various sectors, including governance, infrastructure, education, and healthcare. The nation’s economy has witnessed sustained growth, and efforts to promote social inclusion and economic empowerment have yielded tangible benefits for the populace. The NRA’s vision of a prosperous and equitable Uganda has inspired policies and initiatives aimed at uplifting the lives of all citizens.
On this auspicious occasion, it is imperative to express our profound appreciation for the sacrifices made by the NRA revolutionaries and the enduring legacy of their struggle. Their courage and determination have laid the groundwork for a more inclusive and democratic Uganda, where the voices of the people are heard and their rights are upheld with a keen focus on national development.
As we celebrate this significant day, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to supporting the revolution and advancing the principles that have guided the NRA since its inception as we journey towards a brighter future for Uganda. Pan-Africanism stands as a cornerstone of our national identity, and we recognize the interconnectedness of our destinies with those of our African brothers and sisters. We are committed to fostering strong ties with our fellow African nations, promoting solidarity, and working together towards a brighter future for the entire continent.
It is incumbent upon us to uphold the values of unity, peace, and progress that form the bedrock of the NRA’s vision for the nation. By standing in solidarity with the ideals of the revolution, we can contribute to the continued advancement of Uganda and the realization of its full potential.
Furthermore, we recognize the importance of preserving the historical significance of the NRA liberation and educating future generations about the struggles and triumphs that have shaped the nation. By imparting knowledge about the NRA revolution, we can instill a sense of pride and responsibility in the youth, empowering them to become stewards of Uganda’s progress and guardians of its hard-won freedoms.
As we commemorate NRA Liberation Day, let us honor the indomitable spirit of the revolutionaries and recommit ourselves to upholding their legacy. Together, let us strive to build a Uganda where opportunity abounds, justice prevails, and prosperity is shared by all. The journey toward a brighter future continues, and with our steadfast support, the ideals of the NRA revolution will endure as guiding beacons, illuminating the path toward a better tomorrow for Uganda and its people. Happy NRA Liberation Day to all Ugandans, a luta continua vitória é certa.
Recently, America announced the removal of Uganda from the list of countries benefiting from AGOA. This has generated panic and mixed reactions from a section of our society, especially the elites. America has attributed this action to concerns regarding human rights violations, especially the recently passed LGBTQ law, as the reason for this cancellation. This is laughable considering America and its allies have been in the spotlight over human rights abuses. Currently, America is sponsoring Israel’s war in Gaza, which many have come out to criticise as a genocide where hundreds of kids and civilians have been killed and schools, hospitals, and refugee camps have been attacked.
Some states in America today have never recognised same-sex marriages, and others have enacted laws against homosexuality. Many of the USA’s allies in the Middle East have similar laws against the LGBTQ community, but the USA continues to trade with them. On October 2, 2018, Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi dissident journalist, was killed by agents of the Saudi government at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. As the whole world was mourning and calling on the USA to hold its ally to account, the Trump administration approved two nuclear technology transfers to Saudi Arabia.
For years now, Julian Assange, an Australian editor, publisher, and activist who founded WikiLeaks in 2006, which leaked footage showing the USA’s war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan and other criminal acts of the American government, is currently being held at Belmarsh, a high-security prison in the UK, on the basis of a US extradition request. The America that is doing all this with its allies can’t be the same, claiming to be concerned about the human rights in Uganda and, most importantly, being against the law enacted by our democratically elected leaders and having the support of the majority of the citizens.
It’s also fundamentally wrong for America or anyone else to assume or create the impression that by trading with Uganda, America is doing us a favour or that this is an act of charity or aid, while this trade brings more benefits to the USA. Back in 2000, AGOA was intended to bring growth and opportunities to Africa, but what we have had from the USA is a trade agreement that has given the USA preferential access to Africa’s valuable commodities, such as oil and other minerals. That’s why the extractive industry contributes 90% of America’s trade with Africa, and the companies that extract these minerals for export to America are American companies that export raw minerals, taking away revenue and employment opportunities for our people.
America has also been using AGOA as a negotiation tool to bully African countries that benefit from this agreement into bowing to America’s interests. In 2015 before the renewal of the agreement America refused to renew South Africa’s agreement because South Africa had blocked America’s chicken products from accessing their market in a move to protect their farmers. South Africa also accused American producers of dumping substandard chicken products on their market. After America insisting it will not renew the AGOA agreement with South Africa, the South African leadership had to withdraw the ban on American chicken products and they were given the AGOA trade agreement.
However much our trade with America is important, it shouldn’t come at the cost of undermining our sovereign integrity and national interests. Trade should be based on mutual benefit and respect. It’s also important as they make those arrogant demands and directives to remind them that there are only 50 Ugandan companies that have been benefiting from AGOA, and with time, Uganda has built a very big market for our products both in the region and abroad with reliable and respectful genuine partners.
Take an example: in 2022, Uganda’s total exports were $5.47 billion, but goods exported under AGOA were worth just 10.6 million. Under the wise leadership of President Museveni, Uganda has taken deliberate measures to diversify our trade relations, join different trade blocs, and build good diplomatic relationships with many trade partners, some of whom are members of AGOA. Therefore, while the exclusion from AGOA is a notable event, it won’t have much impact on our economy as Uganda has many reliable partners that will fill in that gap.
It is important that these Western nations revise their historical perspective of Africa, dating back to the colonial era when the continent was primarily seen as a source of valuable minerals and agricultural products for the benefit of foreign industries and development. Instead, we should strive for trade agreements that promote technology transfer, skill development, and the establishment of American industries within Africa. These Western countries should also increase their investment in infrastructure development projects, including roads, electricity generation, schools, and hospitals, which are critical for production and development.
The government’s commitment now should be to foster our local industrial sector so that it can create market for local farmers and producing competitive goods in terms of price and quality for the international market. To fellow compatriots who share these concerns, our focus should be on value addition and providing our farmers with the necessary information to produce high-quality products.
In the words of Graça Machel, “Africa’s story has often been told by others, but it is time for us to take the pen and write our own narrative. We are the protagonists, the heroes, and the authors of our own destiny.”
The importance and need for Africans to tell the African story cannot be overstated. For far too long, the narrative of Africa has been shaped and controlled by outsiders, often in a negative and stereotypical way. This has led to a distorted view of the continent, one that is often associated with poverty, disease, and conflict.
By telling our own story, Africans can reclaim their narrative and provide a more accurate and nuanced portrayal of their continent. In the past few years, Africa has produced many writers and actors who have made tremendous efforts and achieved success in telling the African story. Telling the African story is essential for promoting cultural understanding, celebrating diversity, inspiring pride, preserving history, and empowering voices. It is a crucial step towards a more accurate and balanced portrayal of Africa and its people.
Using her social media handles (Instagram and Twitter), Mrs. Karugire Natasha Museveni recently announced that in July she will be releasing Those From Among You, which is another effort by Africans to tell our own stories. Those From Among You is a docu-series that follows Uganda’s history, from traditional societies to the time of colonialism, the tumultuous periods after Independence, and up until the modern day. The series chronicles the rise of the National Resistance Army/Movement led by Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, as told by different participants, comrades, observers, and historians. The series will contain never-before-seen archive footage that presents a compelling account of Uganda’s journey thus far.
Mrs. Natasha Museveni Karugire is not new to these Pan-African efforts; she’s a remarkable individual who has made significant efforts to tell the African story. Through her work as a filmmaker, a writer, and a fashion designer, she has endeavoured to tell the African story and help young generations take pride in their heritage and identity. In 2018, she directed a biopic of Uganda’s Bush War called 27 Guns. In this movie, Mrs. Karugire Natasha Museveni, who was the writer and director, gave viewers a deep understanding of Uganda’s journey of liberation and the sacrifices made by NRA revolutionaries to liberate the country.
In 2020, Mrs. Karugire Natasha Museveni published an autobiography titled What’s in a Name: Kainembabazi, in which she gives readers a peek into her life and her account of Ugandan history. In this book, Mrs. Natasha talks about the need for Africans to tell their stories. She talks about an incident in 2016 while writing the script of the 27 Guns, when she went to a British lady who was part of the film industry for advice.
On page 144-145 she writes; In October of 2016, I was in England for a few days. The Script I had been writing was almost complete. I met a British lady, who was part of the film industry, whom I had met a few years earlier in Kampala. I asked for advice on the best way to go about making a film, especially one based on true events and on living legends. She said she did not think it was a story worth telling. I asked about the film “The last king of Scotland” about Idi Amin, a film made by a British production company. I asked what, in her view, made one story worth telling, over another. She explained that with the latter, the advantage is that it was told through the eyes of a fictional Scottish doctor, whereas the story I had written was all about the Africans who had fought and, with the Lord as their help, won a hard war, assisted, in part, by fellow Africans. I countered again by saying the Bush war was similar, in modern history, to the Cuban revolution, led by Fidel Castro and his lieutenants, like Che Guevera. To which she responded, “No offence, but your father is no Che.” I thought: “No, he is not. He is Yoweri Museveni, son of Kaguta. African revolutionary and visionary. A giant among men.” She shared that it may matter to me and my family, but not beyond that. As I drove away that meeting, I wrestled with so many emotions. I felt she was from handing me a clamp to place firmly over my own mouth. My heart was pounding in my ears.
I got back to my room and shut the door and prayed. I poured my thoughts and feelings out to the Lord. In the end, I forgave myself for seeking advice from her. She, in many ways, represented the system that was crumbling. I realized that I did not need permission or validation from parties so far removed from our story. Her words and general demeanor worked as a propellant.
It was Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former President of Liberia, said, “The story of Africa is not just about poverty, disease, and despair. It is about resilience, innovation, and the indomitable spirit of a people determined to write their own story.” And Miriam Makeba also said, “Africa has her mysteries, and even a wise man cannot understand them. But a wise man respects them.” This story of Mrs. Natasha’s encounter with this woman speaks of her commitment and courage to tell our African story, and it’s a great inspiration to many of us as we pursue our goals, provided our conscience is clear. Let no one’s negativity distract us from the bigger calling.
The story of NRA liberation or Uganda in general is not only about President Museveni or his family, as this woman tried to portray it out of ignorance and the usual white stereotypes about Africa. It’s a great story of courage, resilience, and honestly, miracles that involves many Ugandans who have made and continue to make great sacrifices for their country and the generations to come. Preserving and telling this history through these movies and books will help the current and future generations in every choice they make to know the history of our country and the sacrifices made to build the great homeland that we now enjoy.
The Former Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew said in his speech on April 14th, 1988, that Uganda’s world had “collapsed” and could not be rebuilt even in 100 years. Yet it took only 14 years (1986–2000) for our country to rebound and reach its 1970 peak in GDP per capita. This recovery, in the face of such doomsday predictions, shows how remarkable Uganda’s economic reconstruction and state reconfiguration have been, and this is part of a prestigious story we must tell the world.
The engagement between Mrs.Karugire and the British lady exposes the global issue of Anti-black racism where horrific stories that are very important in black history have been ignored or given less attention by the world, especially the West that controls the media, amongst many other reasons to avoid accountability on their part for their contributions to those horrific incidents, and the urgent need for Africans to start documenting and filming our own stories.
Consider the example of the Holocaust. No Jewish person allows the world to forget genocide of over 6 million Jews, and there are laws in various states that criminalize Holocaust denial. It’s embedded in the USA’s foreign policy, but somehow the world never mentions the massacre of over 15 million Congolese by King Leopold II of Belgium or the massacre of millions and millions of Africans during the colonial period and slavery. Brian Kagoro, a renowned Pan-Africanist and Zimbabwean lawyer, recently said, “The most fundamental challenge of our times is not white supremacy but black inferiority and the abiding appetite of African elites to function on the basis of white embrace.” And it is for this reason that I want to appreciate Mrs. Natasha for not giving up on her calling simply because one white woman, despite her influence and experience in the film industry, didn’t approve it. Africa needs more of these bold people to stand up against white supremacy and this system designed against us and courageously advance our Pan-African agendas.
I conclude with the words of El Commandante Fidel Castro, who said, “There is only one formula to win; there is only one way for our people to get ahead; there is only one way to achieve victory, and that is courage”. I commend Mrs. Natasha .M. Karugire for her courage in telling our African story, her deep love for Uganda and Africa, and her unwavering support of the NRA revolution. You’re an inspiration to many of us, and we are eagerly waiting to watch, “Those From Among You” docu-series. Blessings.
France has seen a number of notable protests and social movements in recent years, with residents taking to the streets to express their concerns about a variety of political, economic, and social issues. Yellow Vest Protests (2018-2019), Pension Reform Protests (2019-2020), COVID-19 Lockdown Protests (2020), Anti-Security Law Protests (2020-2021), Education and University Protests, and the currently continuing protests are some of the significant protests. Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets to protest economic inequality, high living costs, and dissatisfaction with government policies, leading to conflict with police, property damage and disruption to daily life.
Subsequent protests, such as those against pension reforms and labor laws, further highlighted the discontent among various segments of French society. However, a critical examination of the Western media’s coverage of these protests reveals a striking contrast when compared to the coverage of similar events in Africa.
Despite the magnitude and intensity of these protests, Western media outlets have provided scant attention in comparison to when similar occurrences happen in African countries. This disparity reveals Western media bias, selective reporting, and the perpetuating of African stereotypes. When protests occur in Africa or the other parts of the developing world, Western media tends to sensationalize the stories and exaggerate some of the incidents, creating a narrative in which the rioters are heroes attempting to liberate their countries and are victims of that country’s brutality, ignoring the destruction these rioters can cause and the rights of the majority citizens who are never part of these riots but whose properties are always looted and destroyed by some of these rioters, while others are even physically harmed by the same rioters. However, in the continuing protests in France, the media has focused on the demonstrators'”brutality”, plainly portraying how they clash with law enforcement agents and vandalise property, which is never the case when reporting about similar incidents in Africa.
When similar riots happen in Africa, some Western media outlets invite random whites to discuss incidents happening in countries that they know nothing about, are not their homes, and some have never even visited, in order for them to speak from an informed perspective and also without bias, because if it were their home countries or they knew well the affairs of these specific countries, they would be expected to advocate for peace and have better solutions to their political disagreements. I have yet to see a Western media outlet invite an African professor or a random person on the streets in Mali or Burkina Faso to comment on the ongoing protests in France, despite the fact that these people would like to comment on the affairs of a country that has impoverished and destroyed their countries through the most brutal policies. I’m yet to see a random African directing the democratically elected leaders of France to step down or what to do. As we have always seen in Western media, random citizens from the West call African leaders all sorts of evil and derogatory names and give them directives when similar events happen here.
The biassed and negative Western media coverage of Africa has been a deliberate attempt to portray Africa as primitive and impoverished continent riddled with anarchy and political instability. This stems from their racial and cultural prejudice, which perpetuates preconceptions about Africa. And it’s part of a larger strategy to isolate Africa from global investment and other opportunities, as many wouldn’t want to take the risk of investing in chaotic Africa or have pride associating with it. By this, it remains a source of cheap labour and raw materials for Western industries.
In all this, it is very important to know that Western media is part of the big structural system of the imperial West that it uses to strengthen its global dominance and implement its strategic interests across the globe. Before any power in the West invades a sovereign state, it first uses the Western media to build a narrative that justifies it’s actions. In most cases, the narrative is always that the people (a small group of rioters) want liberation from their government, which is why they’re rioting. That specific Western power is coming in as a saviour, but at the end, the truth has always been revealed, as these invading forces are always not saviours but looters who don’t even care about the people of those countries they invade, as after destroying their countries and looting their resources, they burn them to ashes and leave citizens in anarchy and suffering.
It’s also vital to understand that the majority of African riots are always planned by Western powers in order to destabilise and undermine African countries and install their puppets who would serve their interests. They support these puppets through their media, portraying them as “revolutionaries” while vilifying the legitimate leaders of those countries. This has been exposed by the change in reporting whenever similar riots happen in the West, because if that weren’t the case, then we would expect the Western media to provide balanced and comprehensive coverage of protests, regardless of the location. Such reporting should focus on understanding the root causes (which are always the meddling of the West) rather than solely sensationalising the events.
In conclusion: The ongoing protests in France and the Western media’s coverage of them highlight an apparent hypocrisy when compared to protests in African countries. This discrepancy raises concerns about media bias, selective reporting, and the perpetuation of stereotypes. To address this imbalance, media outlets should strive for more comprehensive and balanced reporting while promoting peace and unity and respecting the sovereignty and strategic interests of those specific countries.
A few people have the intellect to understand the real challenges of their communities, the selfless desire to find solutions to these challenges and the vigour to pursue the common good for the community while ignoring their own selfish interests, and the discipline to be patient, remain consistent, and stay focused on pursuing the common interests of their community despite the life-threatening challenges that may come along the way.
At a very young age, President Museveni, who was just a student at the time, started the struggle to liberate his Banyankore community from poverty and poor traditional farming methods and also find solutions to the other challenges this community was facing. From that time to this, His Excellency Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has never deviated from this noble cause but has since expanded it to include liberating the whole country, East African region and working with other leaders to liberate the entire African continent.
When President Museveni took offfice in 1986, Uganda faced various obstacles, including a faltering economy, political instability, a lack of social cohesiveness, and the entire breakdown of the state. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on the other hand, had a clear vision for the country he adored and was determined to effect genuine change, and he has since been a driving force behind Uganda’s prosperity and development. Under his leadership, Uganda has seen a considerable economic growth, expanded access to education and healthcare, and strengthened democratic institutions.
HE Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s leadership efforts or steps have been deliberate, strategic, well guided, and well thought-out, focused on liberating Uganda and building a peaceful and prosperous country. Most of the time, these good policies and plans have been implemented despite strong opposition from some political actors in the country.
Since taking power in 1986, President Museveni has implemented a series of policies aimed at improving Uganda’s economy and reducing poverty. One of the key policies implemented by President Museveni was the liberalization of the economy. In the 1980s, Uganda’s economy was largely controlled by the government, with little private sector involvement. President Museveni recognized that this approach was not working and began to liberalize the economy by removing price controls, lowering tariffs, and encouraging foreign investment. This helped spur economic growth and attract foreign investment.
Another area where President Museveni has excelled is in expanding access to education and healthcare. His government has invested heavily in these sectors, resulting in improved access to quality education and healthcare services for millions of Ugandans. This has contributed to the overall well-being and productivity of the Ugandan population. The government has also invested heavily in infrastructure and human capital development. As a result, our country is now a leading player in the global economy, attracting investment and creating jobs for our citizens.
President Museveni’s commitment to economic growth and development has been one of his most significant accomplishments. Uganda has become one of the fastest-growing countries in Africa, with an annual growth rate of 6–7%, thanks to his policies and reforms. As a result, foreign investment has grown, jobs have been created, and poverty has been reduced. The president’s emphasis on infrastructure development, such as roads, bridges, and electricity, has also considerably contributed to Uganda’s economic success.
Another important policy was the implementation of universal primary education. In 1997, Museveni declared that primary education would be free for all children in Uganda. This policy helped to increase enrollment rates and improve literacy rates, particularly among girls. President Museveni has been a great force for women’s empowerment in Uganda. During his time of leadership, women have been given appointments to serve in different key positions in government; currently, both the speaker and the prime minister are women, and Uganda is one of the leading countries with the highest rate of women entrepreneurs.
El Commandante Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s legacy cannot be discussed without mentioning his efforts to develop a strong national army and his role in establishing and sustaining peace in Uganda and the wider East African area. From the early days of his presidency, HE Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni prioritized the development of a strong national army and has invested heavily in the country’s security and defense infrastructure. His efforts have paid off, as Uganda now boasts one of the most capable and professional armies on the African continent.
Understanding both the internal and external security threats Uganda was facing at the time he took power and the instability in the region, President Museveni quickly set about transforming the country’s military, investing in training, equipment, and infrastructure to create a modern, well-equipped fighting force. This investment has paid dividends, as Uganda’s army has been instrumental in maintaining stability and peace within the country as well as in neighboring countries such as South Sudan, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Under Museveni’s leadership, Uganda has also played a key role in peacekeeping efforts across the continent. Ugandan troops have served in peacekeeping missions in countries such as Sudan, Somalia, and the Central African Republic, providing critical support to efforts to restore peace and stability in these conflict-affected regions.
President Museveni is a revolutionary leader who has transformed our country in ways that were once thought impossible. His visionary leadership, bold reforms, and unwavering commitment to progress have built a strong foundation for our country and will continue to shape its future for hundreds of years to come. We celebrate this great legacy and rededicate ourselves to supporting him on this journey of building our country under his informativeness.
All of us are products of a fabulous competition to select the unique particular genetics and chromosomes to produce the winning design, you. Success is not you being better than me or vice versa. Success means, WE having a better tomorrow than today. Many people have convinced us that our tracks to success lead nowhere, but we have fought to disapprove of many of them.
While appearing at the 1991 world championships of public speaking, Dave Ross told a story about his old friend Mr. Brown, who was an excellent vocational counsellor who helped many students choose the right courses and he could help them get the right classes and good training programs. But when students approached him and said they wanted to be professional footballers, basketball players, etc., he would give them what he used to call a “reality check.” He would ask them to go into the community and get five people who are earning a living from that specific activity. Few would come back. Through this, Mr. Brown taught those students to fail before they even entered the arena, and more importantly, they never learnt that you can succeed by not winning but by giving it your all. This is the measure of success. I’m now wondering what Mr. Brown could have said to an MDD (Music, Dance, and Drama) graduate, a former drug addict, if he had gone to him and told him how he wanted to be President despite failing to deliver as an MP or even articulate basic issues in our society.
Thomas Edison failed more than 10,000 times before he invented the light bulb. Can you imagine failing at something 10,000 times? Instead of quitting, however, Edison tried and tried again until he achieved success. Stephen King’s first novel, Carrie, was rejected by thirty different publishers. He was upset that he had thrown the novel in the trash, until his wife later fished it out and encouraged him to finish it. King’s books have now sold over 350 million copies, and Carrie has become a classic novel with many films and TV adaptations to its name.
Many historians have written about Britain during World War 2 that Britain had no chance against the massive Nazi war machine, but Britain had Winston Churchill, a courageous and determined leader who inspired that nation to overcome the overwhelming Nazis. The following speech by Sir Churchill, delivered several times, sums that attitude up when he says, “Never Give Up, Never Give Up, Never, Never, Never Give Up.” Those are the words of someone who knows that success is a birth right.
Born in exile in times of political turmoil, having on several occasions narrowly survived death and living in constant fear for his life as a kid, Lt Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s life started with serious challenges and obstacles. Later, after school, he joined the military, a career that has put him under constant criticism and life-threatening challenges. But as a fighter determined to succeed, Gen MK has kept the momentum, moving forward, winning several wars on different battlefields, and now we can see the light. Some may attribute his success to luck.
Juho Cortezàr once said, when asked about luck, “but of course, how else would you accommodate the success of people you don’t like?” Just like how the NRA, with only 27 guns, started a liberation struggle against a Junta with hundreds of thousands of soldiers and strong weapons, just like how Churchill defeated the overwhelming power of the Nazis, just like how communist Vietnam defeated America. It was not just luck, it was courage. The courage to continue when good sense tells you you can’t. It’s this extraordinary courage and bravery that I see in Gen MK and that keeps him moving despite all the obstacles in his life.
At Gen MK’s birthday dinner, HE Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, HE Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, some military commanders and Gen MK’s friends described Gen MK as a man of great courage, determination, and passion. The president advised parents to allow their children to explore their passions because some of these passions would be a blessing. The Army commanders and the President said the country has benefited a lot from Gen MK’s passionate leadership in the Army, citing an example of him successfully recruiting university graduates who went on to build the Army and his success in building a strong elite force under the UPDF (SFC).
The president appreciated Gen. MK for being a good leader with a noble character who has been against corruption and mediocre work in the Army. As a country, we have benefited from Gen MK’s bravery, courage, and passion to serve, and we can all contribute to the building of a better Uganda together with him.
In conclusion, I would like to thank Gen MK for his great courage, determination, and passion to serve our great nation and humbly request that he keep his focus on his good agenda. He shouldn’t be distracted by naysayers. Many of us patriots believe in him and support him. This has been evident in the recent mass celebrations of his birthday. To all Ugandans, we can all contribute to the development and progress of our country without necessarily undermining and criticising the contributions of others. The train is moving through the forests, valleys, and congested cities focused on its track directly to success.
For a long time our country has been grappling with an unfavourable balance of trade position. Uganda spends about USD 7 billion a year on imports. As a country we import a lot more than we produce locally. This means the country is losing money, jobs and also market for our local products that could have been used as raw materials for the goods we import if they were produced here. Starting from 1989 with the creation of Uganda Manufacturers Association and through good policies, national budget allocations, and several other efforts by Government through different MDAs clearly government is trying to pursue an import substitute strategy but this needs a strong Manufacturing base.
Industrialisation has always been the President’s main focus and message. One of the stimuli for faster economic growth and industrialisation is the low cost of doing business. The government has invested heavily in infrastructure development projects like roads, electricity dams, and hospitals to provide an enabling environment for both local and foreign investors to do business easily in Uganda at a low cost. The budget for roads now stands at 4.786 billion per annum and 2.7 trillion per annum for electricity. As a consequence, we now have tarmac to almost all corners of Uganda and electricity at all district Headquarters.
Our electricity generation capacity has increased from 60 megawatts to 2216 megawatts as a result of these concerted efforts, and 6,027 kilometers of road network have been tarmacked. Many of these projects have been done using government money (taxes). 58% of the road projects have been financed by government money. For manufacturers, the electricity tariffs have been reduced from 11 cents to 5 cents.
Through its agencies like the Uganda Investment Authority, the government of Uganda has provided several incentives to investors, with special consideration given to Ugandans. For example, in the Kampala industrial and business park, where land is in high demand, the government allocated more than 60% of the land to domestic investors. The government has also invested more than UGX 1,040.5 billion in the Uganda Development Bank (UDB), which is supposed to lend money to Ugandan manufacturers at no more than a 12% interest rate.
Truthfully, these government policies have been the most favourable to domestic investors in the history of our country, and we compete favourably with our neighbours. For example;
1. An investor who invests in agro processing, manufacturing of medical appliances, etc. and employs 70% of Ugandans receives a 10-year tax exemption on their income. However, a foreign investor must have a minimum of USD 10 million, whereas local investors only need $300,000 or $150,000 USD if the Local investor is setting up his investment upcountry.
2. The minimum capital requirement for a foreign investor to get an investment licence and an investment certificate and qualify for incentives, he or she must deliver a capital investment of USD 250,000. For a local investor, the minimum capital requirement is USD 50,000.
3. There is a 10 year tax exemption on income derived from renting or leasing facilities established in industrial parks or free zones. To qualify for this incentive, the minimum capital investment for foreign investors is USD 50 million and for local investors it is USD 10 million.
4. Local Investors involved in agro-processing qualify for a one year income tax exemption. Import duty on plant and machinery for agro-processing is also exempt. All inputs for manufacturing in agro processing are duty free (zero rated).
5. Domestic investors qualify for 100% deductible allowances on cost of training Ugandans and cost of research into new technologies. i.e. when paying taxes (filing returns), this cost is deducted.
6. Raw materials not available in Uganda for input into manufacturing are duty free.
With these correct incentives and policies on private sector and other deliberate efforts by Government in other sectors like security and stability we now have over 5200 factories, 8200 services companies. These employ 600,000 and 1.2 million Ugandans respectively and bring in the country over USD 2.09 Billions. This has supported economic growth with industry growing at 6.2 percent, service at 7.3 percent, ICT at 7.9 percent.
A lot of local investors have benefited from these government incentives, good policies, and the will to support local investors. Currently, the government runs a campaign called BUBU (Buy Uganda, Build Uganda), which was started to promote locally manufactured goods and services. In FY 2017/2018, UNRA (Uganda National Roads Authority) awarded contracts worth UGX 3.3 trillion, but out of this, 450 billion were reserved for local companies. In addition, 423 billion were awarded to local providers through mandatory subcontracting.
In the same financial year, Uganda Medical Stores procured various medical supplies from local producers like Quality Chemicals worth over 156 billion. The Uganda Electricity Distribution Company is currently buying much of the equipment like transformers from here.
If the government had not made a deliberate effort to support commercial palm oil growing in Kalangala, we would currently be buying a bar of soap at UGX 30,000. The intention of promoting palm oil growing in Kalangala was to increase domestic production of vegetable oils and reduce Uganda’s heavy reliance on vegetable oil imports and to alleviate poverty. Initially, palm oil in particular used to account for 90% of oil imports.
Through a People Public Private Partnership (4PPP), where a private investor partner was sought to inject funding along with the public and the people (smallholder farmers), the government started on the road to commercializing palm oil growing in Kalangala. The aim was to find an investor with skills and knowledge in the field of palm oil growing who was willing to work with the community to pass on the skills.
In Kalangala, where the project was first implemented, smallholder farmers supply an average of 6.9 million kilos of fresh fruit bunches every month, earning a gross income of UGX 6 billion. Smallholder farmers also earn from oil palm leaves once pruned, which they sell as brooms used in urban areas such as Kampala. It is estimated that an ordinary farmer can earn as much as Shs. 800,000 from an acre of oil palm trees. The growth of palm oil in Kalanga has transformed households from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture. The project has also created thousands of jobs directly, with many people working in the plantations owned by Oil Palm Uganda Limited (OPUL) and the outgrowers.
In FY 2019–20, Quality Chemicals Industries made sales worth over UGX 284.5 billion, with sales of over 42.9 billion to the government of Zambia. Quality Chemicals currently sells ARVs to the whole region and this is one of the local investors who have received several incentives from government.
With all this success, it’s unfortunate that we have pessimistic and selfish people who are always trying to undermine such initiatives. They mislead the public into believing such incentives don’t exist. Many go on to fight and frustrate efforts made by Government to attract more investors.
Uninformed and biased comments concerning the government’s coffee deal with Vinci Coffee Company have recently dominated the media. These people’s arguments are even illogical at times. Uganda currently produces more than 300,000 tons of coffee per year. Therefore, for a person to have a monopoly on the processing of this coffee will need a processor capable of processing over 800 tonnes per day. This is impossible.
It’s also illogical to think a government that has made deliberate efforts to improve coffee production in this country can turn around and destroy what it has built for years. What I saw in this bill is that our usual hypocritical and greedy technocrats were ignored in this deal, and they’re the ones fighting the deal with claims “they didn’t consult us.” Why are we debating whether you were consulted or not, aside from the benefits of this agreement to Ugandans and Uganda?
Similar criticism and arguments have been raised about Lubowa Specialised Hospital, a project being done by the same investor. First, this was started by a false alarming headline by our local newspapers. The media houses were reporting that the investor needed EXTRA money, which wasn’t true. Actually, this money was already in the 2021–2022 budget. The parliament’s finance committee knew we needed to honor our terms of our agreement.
The Lubowa Hospital deal was set up in the form of a Build-Operate-Transfer. The investor was to spend 2 years constructing the hospital, run it for 6 years, and then transfer it to the government. This is a very good deal, and the government is planning to do many projects in similar arrangements. Kampala-Jinja expressway, Busega-Mpigi expressway, Bwaise-Bombo
But overall, all these are good deals, just like the Kalangala Palm oil growing project that is earning farmers in that area over UGX 6 billion, and this government has made deliberate efforts to support local investors and the growth of industrialization for our economic growth.
The biggest gift one can offer his country is serving in the military. This being a matter of life and death, one dedicates his/her life to his/her country. It takes a great amount of courage and sacrifice to do what our soldiers do. Many of these great men and women have families of their own who they have to leave behind as they go to defend our great Nation. George S Patton a general in the USA army and a great commander during world War said, “The highest obligation and privilege of citizenship is that of bearing arms for one’s country”.
Our military deserves to be honored and appreciated. The freedom, peace and prosperity we enjoy in this country is much because of the brave men and women of the military who dedicate their lives to protecting our Nation’s sovereign integrity and interests. They risk their lives to protect our freedom, peace & stability, it is a selfless act of valor that is done without asking anything in return.
From a young age there has been one great hero, soldier and commander in our Army that I have always admired, deeply loved & respected. He has brought a lot of respect, glory and honour to our country and it’s Army. There’s absolutely no one who looks more smart and handsome in that camouflage SFC uniform with a beret than Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba. Tall with his charming smile at times serious face, General Muhoozi always stands out.
General Muhoozi Kainerugaba has been a great inspiration and a true role model to many of us, a very successful, well trained, hard working Miltary commander. He has worked soo hard for the betterment of our great Nation; improving the welfare, skilling, professionalisation and modernisation of our Army. As a well trained, highly educated & exposed commander with vast experience he has brought notable changes in our Army, new & intelligent military strategies.
Having started his military career in 1994 he has served in different Army leadership positions where he has proved his extraordinary military skills, commitment, strong patriotism and bravery, ability, confidence and potential to serve our great Nation. Very eager to learn and acquire knowledge, Gen Muhoozi has gone through several military trainings where he has excellently performed well and he has generously used the skills acquired from different military academies to serve our country & also develop/improve our Army. Notable, in 2000 he graduated top of his class from the prestigious Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
Through out his military career Gen Muhoozi has exhibited great courage and acted as a brave commander who commands from the frontline defending our Nation’s sovereign integrity, protecting the lives of Ugandans & Africans. In his first command Position as commander Armoured Brigade, Muhoozi who had just returned from training went straight to the frontline in Eastern Uganda where UPDF was battling LRA.
LRA terrorists were hugely relaying on Teso Sub region for food supply and had killed many innocent citizens forcing many others to flee their homes especially in rural areas. In order to ensure stability and peace in that region, protect the citizens from these terrorists who were kidnapping and killing them, UPDF fought several battles with LRA. Camped in that region as commander Armoured brigade, General Muhoozi commanded many of these operations where many civilians who hadw been kidnapped by LRA were rescued, many LRA terrorists were captured others put out of action.
One of the most talked about battles in that operation was on the 24th of August in 2003 when a UPDF force commanded by Gen Muhoozi was ambushed by the LRA rebels commanded by LRA’s Chief Of Staff Tolbert Tabuley. At some point Media even speculated that Gen Muhoozi had been killed in that ambush. Only for him to emerge victorious after defeating the rebels and rescuing hundreds of civilians. As a brave commander this narrow surviving of an attempt on his life and other similar life threatening incidents that have happened in his military career have not scared him off or discourage him in his efforts to serve our country, they have rather galvanised his commitment to fight & defend our country and its citizens.
After the defeat of LRA in Eastern Uganda and finally chasing them out of our country, he went on to command different operations like lightening thunder that persuade the LRA in Garamba forest, he also commanded a Special Forces operation against ADF in Semuliki National Park where ADF rebels who had sneaked into the country were badly crashed. He also commanded several operations in Somalia against Al-Shabaab terrorists. Defending and advancing our National interests is a job that he has certainly carried out tremendously well with great pride.
General Muhoozi is the true representation of the UPDF a modern people’s army that doesn’t only fight wars but also support our country’s development as guided under their mandate in our constitution. He has not only been a distinguished & successful Miltary officer but also a very generous and supportive citizen. Through his office, several development initiatives especially youth programmes which have generated income to many young people completely changing their lives into successful & prosperous citizens have been championed. Very many church leaders and other elders of our communities have greatly benefited from his generosity.
This successful military career, admiration, love and support from many Ugandans has not only come with advantages, but also hate and malicious attacks from a small section of our country’s enemies and self seekers. As General Muhoozi’s prominence and support base grows many individuals who have been trying to take leadership of Uganda have started seeing him as a threat to their egocentric plans.
It’s crystal clear General Muhoozi Kainerugaba may have ascending to the Presidency. Many Ugandans in their individual capacity have been showering him with love and support demanding him to consider taking the highest office of our country. And, of course, he has all the qualities, qualifications and his support has been growing at a great speed. Ugandans of all walks of life, retired and active military officers trust he can lead the country and well, if Ugandans voted him into power. This has in a way triggered our opposition whose only game of politics has always been malicious falsehood propaganda and insults. All their guns have now been pointed at General Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
It’s very unfortunate that this military officer, whose only crime has been working hard for the good of our country, advancing our National and African interests is now a victim of malicious falsehood propaganda from our enemies who see him as a threat to their evil plans against our country and its citizens. Moreover, many of those individuals being used by these enemies have done no good to our country. The same people who preach democracy & rule of law are now desperately trying all illegal evil means to malign and destroy the legacy of General Muhoozi. They have concocted all sorts of malicious lies, hurled insults daily, but unfortunately for them his support keeps growing.
No where in the world has anyone ever acquired power through insulting innocent citizens serving their country with total dedication and no country has been built on the foundation of such evil schemes.
Being caught up by the fruits of their evil, these criminals are using criticism and advocacy for human rights as their scapegoat. If their malicious falsehood propaganda campaigns and insults were genuine criticism, it would be based on his career, with evidence showing where he hasn’t performed. But because Gen Muhoozi has maintained a clean reputation and great legacy of hard work with visible fruits they have gone on to craft up lies and insults to malign him as they advance their evil agenda. History has been clear and harsh on such evil self seekers.
This is not in anyway to suggest Gen Muhoozi can’t be criticised.
Positive criticism supports growth and Muhoozi is well known as a person who loves engaging with his critics. Recently, while appearing on a Local TV political show, Chairman of the Democratic Party Hon Nobert Mao said during the LRA war he wrote an article criticising the UPDF and General Muhoozi who was commanding Operation Lightening Thunder.
Hon Mao said that General Muhoozi called him and expressed displeasure to his biased views towards him and UPDF, the two suggested a physical meeting which Gen Muhoozi honoured. The two had a fruitful meeting where they reached an understanding on several issues. Later General Muhoozi suggested to take Chairman on a trip around the North to see the impact of the war and the efforts by UPDF. From the trip Hon Mao had an informed and positive perspective of the UPDF and the good General.
However much these enemies struggle with their evil campaigns, patriotic Ugandans understand the great sacrifice of brave commanders like General Muhoozi and will stand with him in all his effort to protect the sovereign integrity of our country and advance its interests in any leadership position he’s assigned by CIC HE the President or when he desires to serve in active politics.
God bless you General Sir, Ushindi Niwetu Ndugu. Endelesha Mapambano.
President Museveni has had several opportunities to prove his leadership qualities & skills, strength and support from Ugandans. Throughout his leadership journey, he has heavily enjoyed the support of ordinary citizens. From the start, he always had the option of carrying out a coup d’état. This would be simple, but he chose the harder option of a Protracted People’s Liberation, because he trusted he had the support of the Citizens. A coup d’état would require him to negotiate with other Army commanders, share power and this meant he would return to power the same people who were killing innocent citizens. In the 1985 peace talks with Gen Tito Okello Lutwa and Gen Bazilio Okello, he made it very clear that for the negotiations to continue the Junta had to first punish a list of Army officials who had committed several atrocities against Ugandans. All this goes to prove that from the start, he had Ugandans and the interests of Uganda at heart.
All through the war, the NRA heavily relied on the support of Ugandans. In many incidents the citizens accepted to be tortured to death than reveal the hideouts of the NRA freedom fighters. The liberation war was of Ugandans liberating themselves from the Junta and they fought and won. After the liberation war, NRA faced huge resistance from former UNLA soldiers & other former government officials who refused to recognise NRA as a legitimate Government. Still, with the support of ordinary citizens these rebel groups were defeated.
When NRM took power it prioritized programs that were aimed at improving the lives of Ugandans, giving them back their freedom and rights to decide on how and who should lead them. Every five years since 1996, Uganda holds general elections where citizens vote leaders of their choice from village local councils to President. These initiatives and freedoms cemented the good relationship between the leaders and Ugandans
This is a relationship & trust that has been built in a very long period of time. People like Bobi Wine, continue to be defeated, because they don’t understand the strength of President Museveni and the system he has helped put in place together with his co-liberators. They’re so swallowed by pride, arrogance, intolerance and hate that they’re blind to the fact that President Museveni is hugely loved and supported by majority Ugandans not because of paid PR like him (Bobi Wine), but because of the journey he has led our country through, his good leadership and great wisdom.
Before the 2021 elections, Bobi Wine was quoted by mass media on several occasions saying he believes and trusts democracy works in Uganda. It’s hypocritical and illogical to trust a process, be part of it, but reject its results simply because they don’t favour you. That’s absolute dictatorship.
One of the grounds Bobi Wine bases on to reject the previous election results is the switching off of Internet.
To begin with, Ugandans were not using Internet to vote such that switching it off would affect the process or deny them a chance to vote. The switching off of Internet was for security reasons.
The ultimate Comprador, Bobi Wine had been helped to set up a tally center outside of Uganda being run by foreigners with intend to declare himself as the winner. The dictatorial and hypocritical, apartheid condoning socia media companies, Facebook and Twitter, had already sided with Bobi Wine, who, helped by David Lewis Rubongoya’s contacts in the LGQTQI movement, the narrow minded radical leftists at Harvard, compiled accounts of supporters of the NRM and deleted them.
Throughout the campaign Bobi Wine and his group deliberately and provocatively refused to follow any Ugandan Law mostly COVID-19 restrictions, traffic and road safety Laws. These criminal and reckless acts always put them in confrontation with the law enforcement officers as they endangered the lives of many innocent Ugandans.
Bobi Wine’s convoy would on several occasions offend innocent road users shoving them off the road. They would exceed the required number of passengers in their vehicles, drive at a breakneck speed. This recklessness acts were risking their own lives but never listened to police advice in the end their own people like Frank lost their lives due to accidents that would have been avoided if they followed the law.
At one point during campaigns Bobi Wine said he will have President Museveni out of power in the next one month. This was not by elections but by illegal means. What followed were well coordinated riots with cars transporting tyres to be burnt in roads, rioters who were staging roadblocks; extorting money from people, undressing women, beating people and vandalising their vehicles. Using intelligence, cameras many of these criminals were arrested, when Bobi Wine is singing about their arrest he doesn’t mention the reason for the arrest.
Just like his masters, Bobi Wine has this false feeling of importance that nothing should go on in Uganda unless he’s the president. Its unfortunately funny the Bobi Wine who claims to be standing for Ugandans, advocates for AID cut, the Aid that benefits the same Ugandans he claims to fight for. Its from the usual trick book of the imperialists to impose embargos and sanctions on the governments they’re fighting, creating frustration and suffering amongst the population in their evil agenda to fail the ruling government, its the same trick Bobi Wine desperately wants to use, but remember citizens may suffer for centuries and the government doesn’t change as it happened in Zimbabwe.
His malicious falsehood propaganda campaigns scare away tourists and foreign investors who would invest here and support local businesses.
In the real truth Bobi Wine is the real enemy of Uganda, its citizens and a dictator who wants to impose his selfish interests on Ugandans.
Semuliki Broadcast 