African Leaders

Today was an interesting day at the office. Right before lunch a colleague (john) came in and talked to another colleague (Rohna), and somehow the issue of the government came up in discussion between the three of us.

John made a very convincing point. He said "the ongoing success of dictators maintaining power in Africa is to get people to sing Poverty." He was saying that governments preach about ending poverty, yet it is in their grander plan to keep poverty expanding, for the more you allow poverty to exist, the more people begin to become desensitized to it, and for people living in poverty to just accept poverty as a reality, something that can't be changed, something that people dont have rights to rise above out of. He followed much of the maltheusian theory of the hierarchy of needs, stating that while people are in poverty, all they can think about is their basic needs and can't begin to think about collectively demanding democracy, and trying to change the current system. He said leaders strategically keep poverty to maintain their dominance. He was also telling me of the opposition towards the leader. That if he stepped down from power, he would not be able to stay in the country as he would have a death warrant with most people and people would beat him in the streets, his family would denounce him, etc. It has always confused me about these scenarios, that if so many people dislike oppose a leader, and were being neglected by the system, why an undercurrent hasn't arisen. John was also talking about the fact that even if you don't believe in the leader, you must always support them and become part of the majority. If you don't you face the possibility of being picked up by secret men and never seen again. This was a shock to me. In my head I truly thought Uganda was much more liberal. Freedom of speech here is like walking on egg shells. Newspapers poke and jab at the government, but in a way that isn't too controversial and is just behind the lines of overstepping. They really fear being arrested and detained. I really had no idea things were this way. I guess arriving here at first, I saw things as very liberal, and there were political cartoons so I figured freedom of speech was a given right, but hearing John talk about needing to really watch what you say and where you say it really suprised me. He was telling me that since Uganda has taken on the British system of rule, whoever is in power is not accountable to anyone for anything, and cannot be called out on issues.

We also got talking about how divided Uganda is from region to region and between tribes. He was saying that the number one issue of not having a national identity among the tribes is the lack of a universal language. Yes English is present, from the ties of colonialism, but tribal dialects and languages are still the majority of languages used outside of kampala.

In my head all of this is a blur. My thoughts on universalism and citizenship to mankind, all being one are by no means an accepted notion here. what is good is that things are ripe to spread this message, and spread it I shall!!! :)

Anyways just wanted to share what I have gleaned on the political system here so far. I know this is just a surface glance at the system, but it is what I have hear thus far. Will try and get more info and learn more about it through discussions with people.

Will relay more info soon.
Lubs ya