President Museveni should spare himself more embarrassment by insisting on giving away forests to sugar production to solve the temporary high prices for all commodities including fuel. I am not sure how long it takes sugarcane to mature for processing, but from my little knowledge, I think sugarcane matures and is ready for processing in about 22 months, i.e. nearly 2 years so our president wants to solve the current sugar shortage after 2 years from now. It would make sense if he advised Ugandans to postpone their sugar consumption till the sugarcane matures, so that they avoid the high costs as there will be more sugar. If that is what he did not mean as his secretaries will rush to say, then let him give a real temporary solution such as banning exports of sugar for six months as he had earlier on stated but which he unfortunately his minister of trade changed. The other option is for the government to import the badly needed commodities.
While addressing the youth in Arua recently, the president said that those that who see high prices must be sinners. We are brought to the story of Abdul the "Sugar" merchant who sold ash for sugar. I hope nobody will call our president "Mr. Abdul the Sugar Merchant."
I think our leaders have vowed to end in the same way that their colleagues have gone. I have always wondered as to what forms our leaders decisions, and even when they see their " African-God" Gaddafi of Libya at the verge of exiting from power as rebels close in around Tripoli, they continue to provoke the masses. Our Indian brothers (Mehtas') and others should "back- off" from these land deals, as they put to risk their people and property. The Mehtas should realize that putting riches above and over their people's future is very risky, they should remember that even when there was no open animosity between the Indians and government and the majority of Ugandans, the peace that lasted over 80 years, such peace did not stop Idi Amin to dream about the "milking of the economy," and with God's guidance, he ordered Indians out of Uganda within 90 days in 1972.Now that Indians are seen as agents of corruption which risks our forests and thus livelihood, how will these Indians be treated if the protests against the giving away of Mabira Forest become serious? The Mehtas should be the last people to think of getting free land.
I think our leaders have vowed to end in the same way that their colleagues have gone. I have always wondered as to what forms our leaders decisions, and even when they see their " African-God" Gaddafi of Libya at the verge of exiting from power as rebels close in around Tripoli, they continue to provoke the masses. Our Indian brothers (Mehtas') and others should "back- off" from these land deals, as they put to risk their people and property. The Mehtas should realize that putting riches above and over their people's future is very risky, they should remember that even when there was no open animosity between the Indians and government and the majority of Ugandans, the peace that lasted over 80 years, such peace did not stop Idi Amin to dream about the "milking of the economy," and with God's guidance, he ordered Indians out of Uganda within 90 days in 1972.Now that Indians are seen as agents of corruption which risks our forests and thus livelihood, how will these Indians be treated if the protests against the giving away of Mabira Forest become serious? The Mehtas should be the last people to think of getting free land.
If only the leaders could be dragged to court as Mubarak is enjoying now while the wanainchi are spared when they are violently removed, I wouldn't bother about their (mis)treatment since they are working hard to end likewise; my only worry is the innocent civilians. In our country, local people who hail from the regions where the president comes from are often targeted on the belief that they "ate" while their corrupt son and cronies were in power. Innocent people suffer for no mistake of theirs. This is a wrong belief which is often fanned by people who have not gone to those areas to see how the ordinary people are suffering. I saw how the local people there suffered, sometimes leading worse life than ordinary people in other parts of the country, but such people can be erroneously targeted.
If Gaddafi can be challenged to such an extent, I don't know what makes other African leaders think that they are in a better position to withstand people's wrath once they start. I like the former Tunisian president, Ben Ali; he did not organize too much death during his last days, in fact he realized fast enough that he would not manage to stop the wave of resistance that had started and decided to flee for his dear life, which saved his family, the Tunisian people and the country unlike Gaddafi who wants to leave or die with the country.
Peter Simon Okurut
UAH FORUMIST
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