On 11 October, the "annual Kiruhura and Kazo outstanding women awards" took place. I would never have known about this event had the poster announcing it not gone viral.
There were plenty of beautiful faces -- arguably of the most outstanding women of these two districts. Possibly for visibility, the designers of the poster made sure to include the most publicly-recognisable women, at the national scene.
They included First Lady Janet Kataaha Museveni, the president's wife who also doubles as minister of Education and Sports. There was also ministry of Health strongwoman Dr Diana Atwine, the National Roads Authority boss, Allen Kagina, former Museveni personal private secretary, Molly Komukama, and the public relations officer for the National Drug Authority (NDA), Sheila Nduhukire. (The others occupy significant public service positions, but are fairly little-known). Themed as inspiration for young girls, the event was graced by Vice President, Hon. Jessica Alupo.
The poster would go viral because commenters took offence with the seemingly unfair representation. In the spirit of Dr Jimmy Spire Ssentongo's #TribalismExhibition, many furiously asked how just two districts would have these many women in key national positions. Just two districts! If the women were this many, then their men -- in equally key public service positions -- from the same districts must be more. Well, one of these men is the president of the country.
NOT BUSINESSES BUT DEALERSHIPS
Dear reader -- unlike most of you -- I have no qualms with Museveni's tribalism. (Neither do I have a problem with his long stay). I know he has taken nepotism to extreme, explicitly embarrassing levels, but my problem is not with his tribalism per se, but the emptiness, and small dreams that stream through these tribal-nepotistic connections.
Consider this: In the same week that the "outstanding women" event was happening, the country learned about how one of Museveni's most renowned businessmen, Patrick Bitature, had managed to secure himself a Shs 240 billion bailout. In 2016, Bitature had received another Shs 47 billion -- all secured secretly and via political- nepotistic connections.
I do not really have much problem with selective distribution of bailouts (as other, ironically more serious businesses are left to the dogs). My problem is with the types of businesses --which are actually not businesses but dealerships -- and the environment in which bailouts are handed out!
A common characteristic of the women celebrated on October 11 is that they are all dependent on taxpayers' purse. If they were not political appointments, they were public servants, or wives of big men or all of them. Surely, if the next icons for the girl child are wives of politicians, and public servants (neither of this being bad or small), then we have settled for the smallest of dreams.
What is specifically inspiring about a labourer? What special skill set does one need to be a good wife? Exactly, the most basic of nature's gifts -- beauty -- and a little cultivation-- good manners -- are sufficient. Consider also that one needs simple literacy skills to make a wonderful public servant. So, what is inspiring about these people?
MUSEVENI FLIRTS WITH FRIENDS
Serious governments -- I mean serious governments -- cultivate an own bourgeoises and middleclass. These are selected and facilitated with actual capital to actually run the economy. These could be clanmates, family members, OBs or OGs. As a rule, they are facilitated with actual capital, and are protected by the state (often from foreign capital competition).
They then provide employment, cultivate linkages and networks and cement themselves into the economy. Their profits are enjoyed at home, and their growth spreads across the country.
Consider this: Should it not be painful that after 37 years in office, Museveni has none of his close friends and family members in major business that can sustain themselves if his government collapsed! There are no local bankers; no local telecom giants; neither are any serious and notable region-wide industrialists.
Even in coffee trade, an Italian woman, Enrica Pinetti, almost took the deal to monopolise coffee trade as our beloved son-in-law, Odrek Rwabwogo, was instead opening a coffee shop in a little- known Eastern European town.
Why would constructing a multi-million- dollar hospital facility in Lubowa be given to a foreigner? How could it be that Museveni has not cultivated five Zimwe- size contractors taking major deals at home and abroad? Why are fairly smart folks such as Allen Kagina not in private business giving competition to Roko Constructions competition?
Why are close associates such as Charles Mbire, Rugazoora or Hamis Kiggundu not giants in regional cargo transport with hundreds of trailers moving goods across the region? Instead of being agents for MTN and others, why wasn't Patrick Bitature facilitated to establish Bitature Telecom (BT)?
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Or with interests in power generation, why weren't units such as UEB or UMEME handed over to him, and helped to grow them?
Sadly, Museveni's friends and family all have their eyes fixed on the state. And not in a way that the state facilitates them to thrive on their own, but they are looking at this state for direct cash benefits, ranging from salaries, tenders, corruption to bailouts. If they are not fighting with their equally broke compatriots, they are positioning themselves as agents of foreigners, who throw crumbs at them and taka all the big bucks.
With these little crumbs from the state, Museveni actually lied to his friends. I am not sure if it was deliberate, because otherwise rich friends and family would sustain him in office, and will offer a richer, jobs-filled economy which would keep opposition at bay.
This would guarantee him a richer legacy because his tycoons would outlive him. No wonder President Amin's legacy continues to grow -- not because Museveni matched and surpassed his crimes -- but because Amin enabled compatriots to the economy.
