Kampala — PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni's article in the Sunday Vision of April 22, "My long Journey to New Zealand," explained how Uganda is doing shoddily in development compared to other countries like Singapore yet it used to perform much better than them.

The President explained the cool climate in Singapore despite not seeing any forest plantation like Mabira, but just some trees around roads and in the compounds of the high-density buildings.

A person who lived in Singapore will, however, know that a visitor of some status cannot feel the heat and humidity that is on a small island of 682.7sqkm with a population of 4.5 million people in a day visit, as you breathe in the artificial air (from the air conditioners) ubiquitously except in some few areas. Singapore is actually one of the hottest countries in south-east Asia. This may well not be because it has no forests since its climate is influenced by the forests in the Malaysian side, but the compacted buildings.

The country is also on a low plateau, with the lowest Singapore Strait being at 0 metres above sea level.

Singapore was founded as a British trading colony in 1819 and joined the Malaysian Federation in 1963, but separated two years later because Malaysia gave the impression that Singapore was a burden to its economy since it (Singapore) had no natural resources.

By the time Uganda was investing in wars, the Singapore government was investing in training its people. This could be Singapore's success secret. Subsequently, Singapore is to be one of the world's most prosperous countries with strong international trading links.

Whereas Uganda still holds meetings with whoever would give aid to its people, Singapore has a highly-developed and successful free market economy with stable prices. It has attracted major investment in pharmaceuticals and medical technology. It may soon be south-east Asia's financial and high-tech hub since it depends largely on exports particularly on information technology products.

Currently, people in Uganda are rising up to save Mabira Forest and others are flocking foreign embassies for a better future. While Singapore makes its land open for whoever would come in with new development ideas, His Excellence should know that, the country did not sell any of its resources to develop.

The writer is a resident of Kampala who formerly lived in Singapore