INTRODUCTION

The second instalment of the monthly Ask Mugisha Muntu conversations took place on the 13^th of August 2021. The conversations are aimed at informing, educating, and inspiring Ugandans throughout the country and in the diaspora. In August, moderated by investigative journalist Raymond Mujuni presented questions about covid, the recently concluded Olympics and sports in Uganda, as well as what Ugandans can do for a better future.

Highlights

This section summarizes some of the key points from the discussions, however, most of the details may be found on the ANT Facebook page, where the video is now archived.

Allocation of Resources Towards the Betterment of The Sports Industry

The Sports industry in Uganda requires a lot of investment in terms of money, the contribution from Government, as well as the necessary facilities to properly support the country's sportsmen. All the country’s sectors must be examined, not merely for the sake of individual citizen pleasure, but also for the sake of employment and money production for the government. This is what it takes when we speak of being comprehensive. However, Ugandans who want to see advancements in our sports industry should not look to the current government because it will not accomplish anything. Instead, they should concentrate on working towards a different administration and different leadership. It is regrettable that the current government is made up of people whose perspective on building the country and managing the economy is oriented toward self-advancement and self-interest. General Mugisha Muntu said that we need to discover talent in our educational institutions and establish academies for various sports. He pointed out that our existing system does not allow us to recognize the various ways in which people are endowed other than through academics. There must be a comprehensive program with specified budgetary requirements for sports. Start talent identification right from the primary.

Are Ugandans Willing to Challenge the Current System? 

Ugandans have all the God-given abilities that the rest of the world has. Discipline is all that is required. Thus, there is no reason for us, as a country, to be underperforming. The private sector is a good illustration of how this country has people who believe in discipline and ethics, as well as those who are prepared to put in the effort. The inner workings of the system are obvious, and this is something that the government can learn from. You cannot vote for a corrupt individual and expect good service delivery. It should come as no surprise that this is the case in Uganda. It's not enough to talk and talk; one must walk the talk. If you want sweet fruit, you plant seeds of a sweet fruit-producing tree. A lemon seed when planted will not yield a mango. These are the facts and discussions that must continue if Uganda is to change.

However, it is human instinct to seek rapid comfort from pain and suffering. In Uganda, people can be very gullible. Politicians would rather lie than tell the truth in order to gain power. This is how our politics work. However, people who vote don't seem to understand that what a man or woman sows is what he or she will reap. So, when it comes to elections at all levels, one should not base their decision on how much money a candidate has to offer. Change in quality cannot occur by chance. To accomplish this, dedicated and disciplined individuals are required.

Integrity Vs Qualitative Change

More Ugandans of good intent should participate in politics in order to restore balance and assure a movement toward what is best for Uganda as a whole. Since the British left, Ugandans expected their new leaders to understand their demands because they were Ugandans. This, however, has not been the case. It is regrettable that Ugandan men and women of integrity do not want to get involved in politics. However, even if you choose to focus solely on your small business as the country burns, it will still impact you as well. As a result, we encourage these good people to get involved in politics or participate in shifting the trajectory of our country. Any leader who wants to effect qualitative change must concentrate on their team. Building or not building teams determines success or failure respectively. Furthermore, equality and equal opportunity, equity, peace and peaceful means of dispute resolution, a country where citizens can access services, and so on, can only occur when teams are focused on ensuring these values and principles are at the center.

There are no politicians who will tell you the truth about their intended corruption. The difficulty has always been the gap between theory and practice; what we say and what we do. As Alliance for National Transformation (ANT), we're in this fight for the long term. We are tough, focused, and disciplined and we know what we want as a final result. Uganda cannot avoid one fundamental principle: what you sow is what you reap. We want to break out of the cycle of poverty, mismanagement, and so on as a country. Ugandans need to support those politicians who represent good governance if we are to realise a different Uganda. Fighting against what we don't want is in our nature. People can fight for what they want or what they do not want and what Ugandans need to do is start fighting for what they want. Ugandans have been fighting against what they do not want for far too long. We must abandon that strategy and fight for what we desire. This is the kind of cultural revolution that our country requires. We all know that Mr. Museveni and the NRM are only indicators of a much larger problem. We see them as a hindrance to achieving our goals. Our priority cannot be to remove him and his team, but rather to focus on people.

Prioritization Amidst the Covid-19 Pandemic

Regarding Covid, it is likely to take longer to vaccinate the whole population even if we had the vaccines. Our systems are inefficient, which is why we cannot anticipate quick results. We trust, however, that the government has learned from its mistakes. Unfortunately, some have seen this pandemic as an opportunity to steal. We encourage everyone who has backed the current leadership group to withdraw their support and look to the future because the current group is incapable of overcoming their corruption. To deal with this pandemic, every administration must be disciplined, listen to experts, and ensure that mechanisms are operational and capable of dealing with the issue.

When the pandemic began, the opposition was willing to put campaigning on hold in order to focus on the problem. However, the current leadership was incapable of prioritizing the current issue. The country lacked appropriate preparation, and many service employees suffered as a result of the lack of preparation. We should not have lost any health personnel as a result of their exposure. How can you have faith in a government that does not prioritize the lives of our healthcare workers? A government should ensure that processes work, medical professionals are properly compensated, experts are listened to, and remedies are offered where possible. We urge the government to build the necessary infrastructure for testing, treatment, and other purposes. Further, education is at the heart of the development process, and it must be prioritized. The government should explore engaging with, for example, the financial sector and schools to see if they can collaborate; otherwise, keeping schools closed will have a negative impact on our country.

The issue on our continent is that governments are motivated by self-interest and greed rather than national progress. We have put out a proposal as a party on how the government should approach the issue of education during Covid. Schools must remain open, and there are safe methods to do so in order to protect children and families. Additionally, the small business sector must leverage and assist one another. They must look for ways to obtain financing in order to continue operating during this difficult period. Investment programs are vital for Uganda as well because they necessitate trust. These discussions need to take place, and I believe the youth should concentrate on the private sector.

Conclusion

As ANT, we aim to build the type of government that fosters an environment in which local Ugandans can prosper and benefit from their own potential. The most important piece of advice for people who are not currently enrolled in school is to use the time to learn new skills. The government's employment levels are unlikely to rise. However, the private sector can continue to thrive in terms of employment creation. Learn the necessary abilities for the industry in which you are interested. As an illustration, the ANT youth leader (Advocate Matanda) gave a fascinating narrative about a young person in South Africa who founded a business where people could buy shares in cows. Imagine that!

The future is just as good as we make it. Covid is both a health challenge and a political challenge. Whatever the case may be, we have a future to shape. Let us continue to plan how to put the essential infrastructure in place. Furthermore, at ANT, we remain focused and continue to speak with and engage you all in order to develop an Uganda for all of us. It takes a million people to change a country. At the district level, we need 200, 500, or 700 people who are focused and committed to the absolute and drastic transformation. To summarize, young people should maintain an open mind, take advantage of technical breakthroughs, and come up with innovative ideas. If God wills and ANT leads Uganda, we will create an environment where the youth can thrive.