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 Instead, he seems to prefer to perpetuate an unwelcome, outdated, offensive stereotype of African economies.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.

Ingrid Turinawe: Nation Media Group always distorting stories to sell advert space

I am going to start by asking The Daily Monitor and its editors at The Nation Media Group to openly declare their business interests in the undue public disruption meted out by the likes of Ingrid Turinawe as well as their dislike for balance in reporting anything political in Uganda. Nation Media Group conglomerate seems to stoke conflict for good business. Now that I have seen and read the Uganda Police visual and print versions, I clearly understand what actually happened. Please refer to http://ugandansatheart.org/2012/05/21/igps-statement-on-turinawes-breast-arrest/

So why did NTV manipulate footage the way they did? It’s a free press in Uganda so anything that sells to the advert-selling audience is good enough for the editors. Conflict sells and Nation Media Group is a business with shareholders to answer to. NTV have history in this regard including the Agaba incident in Luzira, (I thank Mr. Mwenda Andrew for debunking their edited version). Then, they had the nerve to try and convict the Uganda Police on the spot and even try to compel Kale Kayihura into following their own incomplete version of events. Where is the balance and proper investigation? At least UPF had the professionalism to know where one of their own went wrong and to issue a statement and apology to that effect. It seems nobody else is willing to acknowledge the truth.

So why did Ingrid change from the passenger seat to the driver’s seat?  That’s the way the opposition remains relevant in a society where their grassroots support is as low as it is in  Parliament, just act stubborn and defiant to common sense, cause attention to yourself and try to inspire a riot. At one time she is a passenger then later the driver; she takes the wheel of the vehicle precisely because her driver refused to defy the Police and drives right into a uniformed Police officer. Ingrid seems to think that she is too special and she can’t be expected to abide by the law of the land.  As a proud and law abiding Ugandan I can't accept this.

Why would Ingrid’s arrest for civil disobedience require more than one cop? Uganda needs Police resources elsewhere. Annoyingly, the same politician then comes back to tell us that the Government, not them, is wasting our tax money. Only thugs and criminals resist arrest, and now the “well known-opposition-woman-politician” Ingrid acts just like them. It’s an embarrassment to our politics that supposedly prominent opposition politicians have no respect for institutions sanctioned by Ugandan people.

Actions such as Ingrid’s bring disrepute to her political ambitions and to the cause she supposedly advocates. The manner in which she was arrested was entirely unsatisfactory, no one is saying otherwise. The Police themselves have apologized for such behavior and have taken appropriate action. However, for Ingrid and her small band of followers to dispute clear video evidence of what really happened is dangerous and unnecessary, just like her presence in Ugandan politics.