LUWERO-UGANDA/NEWSDAY: I have attended church many times where the priests always invite those who are prepared for Holy Communion. They move to the priest and receive the body of Jesus Christ and his blood.
I admit I have never tasted this body of Christ or his blood and I envy those privileged to take it. But for them, they prepared in advance.
One fateful day my friend who had planned to receive Holy Communion at a funeral was politely removed from the line when he was asked for his marital ring and his confirmation sacrament details. That’s the day I knew preparation is very important in all aspects of life.
People of central Uganda have lost the will to prepare for anything. They have adopted quick fix strategies to gain anything. They no longer believe in holding their bibanja because they can’t be patient to wait for food to grow, sell and get paid. They rather sell the kibanja and get a motorcycle because for it you get instant money.
The biggest business here is land brokerage because with it you locate those who have money and connect them to sellers. The business is okay but soon you will realise the brokers are more in number than the products they sell.
The Baganda loathed Obote like Christian’s hate hell. Everything bad was equated to Obote and those who have been around for some time can bear me witness.
Lack of preparedness for Baganda enabled Obote to come back for a second time even after he had lost to Amin in a 1971 coup. After the overthrow of Amin, they brought President Prof. Yusuf Lule who was academically good but his lackluster attitude, lack of charisma and assertiveness failed him to retain the opportunity he had got. He was just window shopped to handle a position he was not prepared for.
In the same way President Binaisa told me, on a one on one shortly before his death, that he was called by the military commission from New York where he was practicing law and was asked whether he could take on the mantle because they thought he had the experience and wisdom.
The rest is history known to all.
That’s how close the Baganda have fared in the struggle for Uganda’s top office.
Museveni has been the longest occupant of the State house and got it not by chance but through preparation, hardship, sacrifice and determination.
No one expected him to stay this long but to reiterate President Binaisa’s words ‘Entebbe ewooma’ (the chair is so sweet) he has enjoyed beyond normal. The central region has reached a boiling point in the hate Museveni campaign and in Museveni’s tone he wants to pay back using fire to fight fire.
Buganda’s disadvantage in this bout is still lack of preparation, leadership, and probably cohesion. I still doubt whether National Unity Platform leader Robert Kyagulanyi will provide that leadership but he lacks the strategic collaboration needed to form alliances with other regions and players like Museveni used Buganda.
Museveni is at his weakest point and waning because of nepotism, age, injustices occasioned by his security, indifference to immense corruption by his close circle but still Buganda lacks the much needed preparation to win him.
Having the most powerful army doesn’t guarantee stay in leadership but organisation and preparation does. Whining and lamentation is not leadership but the will to act, organise and strategise.
Ndawula Ronald is the former Chairman of Luwero District.
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