OPINION– I refer to ingredients of news that has been circulating entitled “Tycoon Bassajabalaba summons warrying Bushenyi big wigs, calls for reconciliation” dated 10th June 2022.
Notably, every human being that is human embraces reconciliation between human beings when there is an impasse between them or when at loggerheads. Disunity curtails development, unity is power and lastly , Political literacy calls us to see Politics as service to people, making choice of candidates premised on meritocracy of their candidates.
Political literacy calls for Ideological tolerance but not venue to make archi-enemies because of Ideological differences. Electioneering period is seasonal where as striving for qualitative human development is core intrest of every generation and perpetual.
In last Bushenyi Electioneering period, we saw alot of divisions. Thus, we gravitate to see folks who want reconciliation to delve into what caused this public discontent. For reconciliation to happen , all parties must be authentic to themselves and acknowledge personal weaknesses and promise to perfect their imperfections.
Pertinent to note, it’s truth from facts that a certain Political patron would pre-determine candidate to stand and sell him or her to electorate after having Political tete-a-tete terms with this candidate. Thus, Bushenyi voters felt that their democratic voice and right to choose leaders they want as enshrined in our Ugandan constitution been violated.
This patron had always used voter bribery and manipulation to sail through his pre- determined Political candidates and when these patron’s candidates passed through, they were answerable to this patron not voters . Infact these candidates would spend their terms repaying inflated election costs by this patron not serving their voters.
Additionally, the Chairman of NRM party in Bushenyi did not follow NRM party code of code as enshrined in NRM party Constitution. The so called Chairman would even determine who should be declared winner in NRM party primaries where as NRM party Constitution stipulates that Majority vote should determine NRM party flag bearers and District party Chairman should campaign for official flag bearers thereafter.
The so called Chairman pre- determined some candidates before Bushenyi NRM party primaries and even when voters rejected his personal choice, he went further to front independent candidates in general elections which was total violation of NRM party Constitution. Fortunately, people power determined the ultimate choice. The rest is history.
The Bushenyi voters were against leadership modus operandi of some folks. They deliberately refused to connect Bushenyi elites despite being in good dockets, failed to lobby for Bushenyi District. They went by Political whims of a certain self styled Bushenyi tycoon that his financial muscle would make them get automatic victory in subsequent terms through voter bribery and manipulation. These Political patrons and matrons got surrounded with illiterates as their conduits to down play Bushenyi Intelligentsia class. This was seated public discontent that changed Bushenyi Political landscape as we witness today.
Inferably, one would be right and inclined to submit that reconciliation is needed as yesterday but it must be genuine with ingredients of honesty and truth. Reconciliation must have terms of reference and must usher in ingredients of putting Bushenyi before self, making Bushenyi bigger than individual intrests, People’s welfare taking precedence other than individual intrests , leadership modus operandi premised on ecumenical spirit and being multi-ideological, pro People , pro development and respecting Majority vote as democracy determines so.
Indeed reconciliation should not between Bushenyi big wigs” but rather between these selfish folks ,their honchos and Bushenyi people. The results of general elections was overtone of people’s Revolution against the oath of Omerta by these selfish politicians and their conduits.
To err is human and they are welcome to embrace objectives and mission of people’s Revolution if reconciliation is to be realised but without this, it will be sawing sawdust to get timber. Impossible venture.
BUSHENYI BEFORE SELF, BUSHENYI IS BIGGER THAN INDIVIDUALS
Igambirine Hillary
