By Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo Uzeiye
The management and staff of New Vision Printing and Publishing Company must be commended for their publication, the Weekend Vision of September 14-15 had a special coverage/magazine dubbed Museveni @ 80, honouring President Yoweri Museveni’s life journey.
It [publication], among others, highlighted the untold stories of President Museveni’s childhood, his efforts towards the transformation of Uganda’s education and the overall economy, detailed his legacy as a peacemaker, teacher, war strategist, pan-Africanist, revolutionary, family man, democrat and great leader.
Under each of the aforecited descriptions, President Museveni has achieved a lot for Uganda and Africa in general. As a war strategist, he liberated Uganda from tyranny. He continues to safeguard our country’s territorial integrity.
As a pan-Africanist, his contribution to the decolonisation and pacification of the continent is well documented. When, for example, our brothers and sisters in South Africa were battling the evil of apartheid, he provided logistics and training grounds at Kaweweta for the anti-apartheid forces. In the end, the African National Congress led by Nelson Mandela dismantled apartheid.
Also, under his pan-Africanist personality, President Museveni has been crucial in pacifying regional states like Liberia, Somalia, Kenya and South Sudan, among others. He has achieved that because his professional army, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) is acting as missionaries of peace, freedom and stability in Africa.
Between 1994 and 1995, for example, the UPDF served in the Economic Community Military Cease-fire Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) set up by the Economic Community of West African States. Under that arrangement, the UPDF undertook peace-keeping operations in Liberia. The motivation for Uganda’s participation in ECOMOG was largely because of President Museveni’s pan-African belief that Africa must find solutions to her own problems.
It is also in line with that conviction that he castigated the way Western powers mishandled the Libyan question instead of letting the African Union engage in dialogue with Col Muammar Gaddafi and all those that were opposed to him.
Also, as a pan-Africanist, President Museveni has been and continues to advocate for Africa’s integration. He envisages a huge market with potential to stimulate Africa’s prosperity. As a democrat, President Museveni has and continues to enfranchise Ugandans. It is under his administration that the right for every Ugandan to choose his or her leader was restored. Ugandans had been disenfranchised for long. The so-called elections of 1961, 1962 and 1980 were spurious.
As a teacher, President Museveni has enlightened and also saved many lives of Ugandans. Through his teachings, Ugandans got to know the real danger of HIV and AIDS. Also, under his teachings, he saved lives during the outbreak of the deadly COVID-19.
His teachings have extended on wealth creation, hence causing an economic miracle. The four-acre model he amplifies is fruitful to those who have heeded his teachings. For those that heeded the President’s advice and grew coffee are now earning a lot because of the increased coffee prices on the international market.
In light of those achievements, we thank God for the life of President Museveni. It is my sincere prayer that God gives him more wisdom and energy to continue breathing in the air of peace, freedom and security.
_The writer is a Senior Presidential Advisor, Political Affairs, Office of the National Chairman / National Coordinator Bazzukulu_
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