By Ahmed Kateregga Musaazi
This is my land; This is your land; From Rwenzori; To the Victoria; Through the Western border; This land is for you and me.
One of the patriotic songs we used to sing in the early eighties at St. Victors Senior Secondary School Kitaasa in what is now Bukomansimbi District and greater Masaka contained words “this is my land, this is your land”.
Another one we used to sing in late seventies at Ssembabule P.7. School R/C was that Abaagalwa nnyabo, kati tutuuse, Amatama gamwenyemwenye; Tusse kimu ng’enkuyege ddala; Twezimbire Uganda empya.” That one had been composed at independence in 1962 for a new Uganda.
Such songs as pupils and students used to instill into us with patriotism although many of our political leaders then could not walk the talk as patriots.
As we celebrate 59 years of independence, we should intensify patriotism among children as youth which Office of President is doing well through patriotic clubs.
As patriots, we should not be partisan that is why while we were preparing for political pluralism, there were talks between government through the then Minister without portfolio and National Political Commissar Dr. Crispus Kiyonga and leaders of political parties including NURP now NUP.
They agreed on minimum program which was embedded among state principals and national objectives that are enshrined in the national constitution.
Independence will be meaningless if we are not patriotic and pan African enough. Our colleagues in Kenya are said to be more patriotic although during elections, they become so tribal.
Other neighbors like Tanzania are more patriotic and pan African thanks to the legacy of the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere that mentored many of our leaders including President Yoweri Museveni.
The worst in the region are in Rwanda and Burundi, where at a given time, they have been slaughtering one another the worst being genocides in 1959 and 1994.
As for South Sudan, it is not even at a level we were at independence in 1962, and some analysts like the late Dr. Anasi Abdnoor Kaliisa used to say that Burundi and South Sudan should not have been admitted to East Africa Community before they become stable, like other member states.
But the community has expanded to include DR Congo and to an extent, Somalia, and even the Sudan applied.
So, independence should not be narrowed to an individual state like Uganda, but it should be a breakthrough for regional integration and Africa unity. As President Yoweri Museveni told investors in the World Expo going in at Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Uganda is a big market of 45 people but much bigger with an expanded market of East Africa Community, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa and Continental Free Trade Area with a population of 1.4 billion which will be 2.5 billion in 2050.
Let us sing with Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah: Foward ever backward never. Happy Independence, Uhuru, Meefuga.
Haji Ahmed Kateregga Musaazi is a veteran journalist and Deputy Resident City Commissioner, Masaka
Email:hajiahmedkateregga2016@gmail.com
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