Uganda is not Spain
Recently, in the midst of negotiations for a 100 billion euro bank bailout for Spain, Prime Minister Rajoy sent a text saying “Spain is not Uganda”. Mr. Rajoy was referring to what he felt was Spain’s ability to secure a good bank bailout deal drawing a comparison with Uganda; a country which he obviously feels does not have the economic where with all to secure such a comprehensive bailout.
However, two important points stick in my mind. One; Uganda is not seeking a bailout for its banks and two; Mr. Rajoy should deal with his own problems without pointing fingers elsewhere. Why he felt the need to draw such a misguided comparison with Uganda is unclear. Putting aside his arrogance and throwback to colonial attitudes, I would like to further point out that Uganda’s unemployment rate currently sits at 4.2% while Spain has a rate of 24%. Uganda’s GDP growth rate for 2010 was 5.2%, Spain’s rate was -0.1%.
While Uganda faces challenges towards developing its economy and improving social services, it is rising to such challenges. We do not seek to look outward and make disparaging remarks about other states and their economy to make ourselves feel better; we simply seek to improve our own situation, through our own Government, elected by our own people.
If you come to Uganda today, you will see economic growth, employment and burgeoning oil and gas industries. Further, you will see foreign investors looking to invest in and cooperate with Uganda. While Uganda can be considered an emerging economy there is without doubt enviable progress. Mr. Rajoy’s problem is that he fails to recognize the efforts and success of young, fast-growing African nations such as Uganda. Instead, he seems to prefer to perpetuate an unwelcome, outdated, offensive stereotype of African economies.
It’s for this reason that I invite the Prime Minister to come and visit Uganda. Mr. Rajoy, you will see for yourself the positive change that occurs here on a daily basis. While we may not yet have the economic power of many fully developed economies, we are on the road. Good management of natural resources; continued innovation; ever increasing productivity in the agricultural sector; the emergence of a viable industrial and manufacturing sector as well as continued cooperation with our East African and International trading partners will drive Uganda to prosperity and equality on the world stage. My hope then will be that we can learn from Spain’s mistakes and negate the necessity for such an unprecedented financial bailout.
Uganda, like Spain, is a sovereign state and states should respect each other in equal measure. If that is news to you, Mr. Rajoy, I recommend that you drop outdated colonial attitudes and come see first-hand what Uganda has to offer, now and indeed, in the future.
