UPC President Takes Us Through Uganada At 60 Years Of Independence
In a paper written by Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) Founding President Apollo Milton Obote on the role of the UPC in Uganda’s independence, he said the number one motive for the founding of the UPC was FREEDOM - freedom of the people of Uganda to enjoy and exercise the inalienable, God given human rights in the same way the air is breathed by every human being. Obote founded the Uganda People's Congress (UPC) in 1960, which played a key role in securing Uganda's independence from the United Kingdom in 1962.
As Uganda is set for the 60th independence celebration, Jimmy Akena , former 1st son, President of UPC and MP for Lira Municipality spoke to the nation highlighting the following;
1.On Sunday 9th October 2022, Uganda will commemorate 60 years of Independence. As we celebrate this day we also need to reflect on demands and challenges of the decolonization and independence struggles in Uganda and Africa.
2. As we seek to carry forward the dreams of the Independence struggle as handed down to us by our Founding Father, through their sacrifice and commitment, that today, we can talk of Uganda.
3. This year’s independence theme centers on a declaration of African interdependence and shared destiny. This theme resonates well with the statement of one of Africa’s Founding Fathers, Dr. Kwame Nkurumah who declared that for Ghana’s Independence to have full meaning, the rest of Africa ought to be free and independent.
4. At Uganda’s Independence the need for National Unity and the rapid need for expanding services as well as involving the greatest number of Ugandan citizens in the economic development of Uganda guided Dr. Apollo Milton Obote and his UPC led Government from 1962-1971 which laid the solid foundation for Uganda.
5. Self-government comes with responsibilities and the opportunity to set our priorities right. However, the challenge now is how to deliver on those priorities! The clarion call to fight relentlessly against Poverty, Ignorance and Disease echoes hollow where deprivation, crumbling education facilities and inadequate access to healthcare and life saving medication. We need more resources, determination and a focused leadership in Uganda to deliver to our people some of the unrealized dreams of the Independence Struggle.
6. Uganda and Africa had looked at the end product or goal of political federation at continental level, “Uganda will support the setting up of a strong political, economic and social machinery to direct our next effort to free Africa, to give African peoples a continental security, and to give our continent the pride and dignity she deserves,” Dr. A.M. Obote (May 1963) at the summit conference of Independent African states held in Addis Ababa, which is still elusive and then commissioned political federation at regional level. This equally is still a tall order, but there is at least so forward momentum with economic blocs like East Africa Community (EAC), Southern African Development Community (SADC) and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are now evolving and Uganda must continue to actively fulfill her obligations at this level.
7. The big dreams of interdependence through economic, social and political connectivity are still taking long to materialize. There is now the need to see the implementation of superhighways from Cape to Cairo, Mombas to Kano-Nigeria and beyond as well as the recent adopted African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and African Union Vision 2063 in order to create more avenues for the much-desired interdependence. The Giant Inga Dam project in DRC on Congo River should be revived and completed as it is anticipated to meet the needs of power and energy for the entire Sub-Saharan Africa.
8. Domestically, we need to upgrade our infrastructure and think of participating fully in both regional markets and African free trade zones. The construction of Karuma Dam and the Standard Gauge Railway are some of the projects that give hope that we are rebuilding the country and making it ready to participate in regional integration as a prelude to the shared destiny of the continent (Africa).
9. From experience, UPC knows that the political leadership is a key to success in both Uganda and Africa. We need to be more certain and predictable with our political systems and charge the political systems to deliver on the biggest dreams of decolonization and independence struggles. We therefore will continue to engage and now urge the Uganda Government to ratify the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance as adopted by the AU-eighth ordinary session of the assembly, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 30 January 2007.
WORLD TEACHERS DAY
10. UPC joins hands with teachers across the globe to celebrate THE World Teachers Day held every year on 5th October which comes from the backdrop of the global pandemic of COVID-19 which did not only strangle global economies, but also destabilized the entire education system right from Kindergarten to University. These challenges led to more innovations and advancement in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) with virtual classes or E-learning. For those in developed world it is easy sailing and a big hustle for us in the developing countries! This is a big lesson for Uganda and Africa to invest massively in technology to match with the current times for any future epidemics. The education system and other sectors can be ready to soldier on.
11. As we celebrate the World Teachers’ day, we call upon the Government to vigorously improve on the welfare of teachers which include streamlining of the salary structure of both science and art teachers as well as timely payment of these wages. The disparities in the salary structure demoralize the teachers to fully institute their duties to produce standard students which affects the fight against poverty, ignorance and disease in the country.
EALA ELECTIONS
12. I want to take this opportunity to congratulate my Secretary General Hon. Ebil Fred for raising the UPC flag high in the just concluded EALA elections held on the 29th September 2022. I must therefore thank the 139 Members of Parliament (MPS) who voted for Hon. Ebil Fred and appreciate their effort and support towards the party candidate throughout the campaign period.
To UPC members, let us continue with the mobilization and recruitment of members in the Party.
