The Observer (Kampala)
Anne Mugisha
5 November 2008
column
And so it came to pass, that in our life time an African American was elected to the Office of the President of the United States of America. The fact became real to us after news channels called the state of Ohio for Obama giving him a crucial 20 electoral votes. But how does one write this story and express the emotion that is flowing through their soul? The mind has grasped the figures; the soul is in paralysis. Some changes are anticipated without real expectation. This was one of them.
Obama's win means a lot to a lot of people. I will fall back to the familiar. I received a text message during my lunch break on Election Day from a Ugandan American who had just voted for Obama. It read: 'Feels so good to be part of this truly free and fair process. I weep for Uganda. This makes me lose hope for Uganda and feel truly American. Never thought I would ever say that, but that is the reality. Here I can have my true voice heard without fear of any kind. Try that in Uganda!!'
So in a moment that gave many hope, this Ugandan finally let his country go and embraced his adopted country. Instead of joy I felt a deep sadness. I experienced a moment of real pain for Uganda that cannot be described in these few words. When a person chooses to take refuge in a foreign country it is usually because their own country has failed them in a very fundamental way. They see no path to success in their own country and no chance of changing their circumstances back home. Even worse than flight from dejection in their home country, is the moment when they give up the fight for their country's freedom. The lowest point is reached when they finally accept that they are unable to change their own home country for the better and are content with the power to change their country of refuge. There is so much
sadness where they should be joy when Africans, including the oppressors, take pride and celebrate the victory of freedom in lands that are a world away, but feel completely incompetent to change their own circumstances.
At a time such as this, one has to reflect on those rhetorical questions that are too big to ponder on the days when we hassle to get by. One that comes to mind is how much longer can we hide behind our 'Africaness'? Obama has blown the myth that Africans are in some way intellectually, emotionally, and psychologically challenged by reason of their colour, out of the water. We will of course fall back on the reasoning that Barack Obama is not a real African. He is biracial and was raised in the USA and cannot therefore be as challenged as 'real' Africans.
But when will the cynics hiding behind the excuse of 'Africaness' face up to the fact that the real reason that Obama was able to follow through his improbable journey to an improbable outcome was because he lived in a country where peoples' struggles have made it possible to build and maintain institutions that transcend their prejudices? When will we acknowledge that he emerged from the selflessness of George Washington who knew that as much as he was admired by the American public it was in the interest of the greater good that he stands aside and allows another leader to emerge? Can we escape the fact that Obama rose from the sacrifices of Martin Luther King and the civil rights activists who dared to dream and pursue their dreams until their rights were not only recognized in statute books but were also guaranteed and applied?
The bigger question is when will we realize that we all have a responsibility in the process of our liberation? Those in power would have to accept their moral responsibility to return power to the people by enabling them to express their free will on how they shall be governed. Those in opposition must realize that the
temptation to follow the easy path of condemning failed leaders does not always offer better alternatives to the people unless they subject themselves to the same scrutiny they direct at failed leaders. That if we can read these lines then we have an innate responsibility to educate those that cannot read of their power to influence the public sphere. These things cannot happen overnight. It has taken the United States a long time to reach where they reached this week but they got there through selflessness, sacrifice, endurance, patience and perseverance. Those are universal qualities which we all possess.
Unlike my friend who turned his back on Uganda after voting on Tuesday, I was energized to go that extra mile for change in Uganda.
Anne Mugisha, The author is a Special Envoy, Office of the President, FDC.
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