Dear Readers, welcome to November the second last month in the Calendar year 2010. It’s midterm elections here in the US. The republicans, democrats and the newly formed tea party movement are all pushing their agendas at the polls this November.
One thing that is most certain to happen will be Speaker Nancy Pelosi losing her powerful position as Speaker of the House at Capitol hill. In a way we are experiencing the wave that swept Republicans out of office when Obama assumed the Presidency 2 years ago. Then the US economy was in shambles and the Bush administration registered some of the worst poll numbers in the US history. Pundits add that a vote for Obama was a movement vote meant to protest President’s Bush’s policies.
Today its the Republicans who are showing dissatisfaction with Obama’s failure to fix the economy and for this the ‘GOP’ and the Tea party members are planning to register their disappointment at the midterm elections in large numbers.
Some might perhaps ask why I raise the issue of the US elections. It is because Americans can be very interesting people. Once they register their disappointment in a politician they will punish them at polls. This will particularly be evident this November where several democrats who supported President Obama’s health care [OBAMA-CARE] are expected to lose their seats in large numbers. In a way it’s perhaps important to add that this midterm US election is a referendum on the Obama Presidency.
Ugandans too share similar discontent with their politicians, from legislators who never utter a word in Parliament to corrupt government officials who abuse public resources . First came the misuse of the Global Funds meant to fight AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis. And later it was the abuse of the Commonwealth or [CHOGM] funds by government ministers and accounting officers meant to organise the Commonwealth Heads of State and Government meeting held in Uganda three years ago.
Following the corruption and abuse resulting out of CHOGM a parliamentary committee was named to investigate those directly implicated in the scum but three years on, the Government has failed to prosecute those named in the report. Many hope that perhaps the 2011 elections will bring an end to this entrenched culture of corruption. It’s partly this issue that makes this election a litmus test to Uganda’s continued failure to address graft.
Therefore the February 18th 2011 elections will go down as the biggest election in Uganda’s political history. Incumbent General Yoweri Museveni will take on 7 opponents vying to unseat his 26 year old presidency. For us here in the diaspora the election will be keenly observed because some ‘nkuba kyeyos’ [Ugandans working abroad] are now beginning to think of retirement. And to this constituency economic stability and security of persons/property a key ingredients to their eventual return to this nation they call home that has experienced coups, wars and political instability in the earlier years following independence.
Pundits on various discussion forums are already weighing in on the candidates with the best chances. Among the young intellectuals Mao and Bwanika seem to energise the electorate with their brilliant ideas. However some feel that a vote for Mao might favor the incumbent yet President Museveni’s opponent Kizza Besigye who is now the official Inter-party cooperation flag bearer is what many feel stands the real chance to unseat the incumbent having tussled it out in the past two elections [2001, 2006 and now 2011]. To many the race is still between President Museveni and his arch rival Besigye two bush war comrades who have since fallen out due to a difference in political ideology and the removal of Presidential term limits.
Speculation is also high on how the national vote might get divided with 5 of the candidates hailing from the Central region many believe the Buganda vote will constitute the biggest split. With events surrounding CBS FM’s closure and the Kayunga riots that saw over 27 people die in cold blood still fresh in people’s minds, the NRM-O might be in for a big surprise in Buganda even after re-opening CBS FM radio the Kingdom mouth piece.
Norbert Mao and Olara Otunnu will also divide the Northern vote as some people in the north will want to identify with one of their own sons. The rest of the country might be a toss up depending on how you look at it with west largely expected to remain ‘movement’ country. Recently President Museveni pulled off the first political hat-trick with his ‘do you want another rap’ hit single that is quickly becoming an anthem on the local FM stations across the country in the quest to attract the youth vote. But whether the other candidates have a level playing field and can also converse for votes in the Uganda’s 112 districts within the allotted 112 days will be something quite interesting to watch.
Finally on a lighter note it is with great pleasure that I announce that a sister publication of UNAA Times Online will be launching this coming January. The Ugandan Diaspora Magazine [www.ugandandiaspora.com], will be the first full color glossy high end PRINT magazine in Northern America. This will profile Ugandan success stories here in the diaspora. Focus will largely be on topics like economic, social, business, entertainment, showbiz as well as highlight all the cultural aspects that affect the Ugandan diaspora. We welcome ideas on stories to cover, people to profile and contributing reporters and photographers in the various Ugandan communities. Those interested in advertising with us, please email me at [Ronnie.Mayanja@gmail.com]. The publication will be distributed FREE across the US and Canada.
With that said, I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving!!
Sincerely,
Ronnie Mayanja
UNAA Times Online
www.unaatimes.com
www.ugandandiaspora.com
skype:ronnie.mayanja
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