AFRICA’S DISILLUTIONMENT

Yoweri Museveni....elected for another term as Uganda’s president after 30 years

By MAINA George

We are in Africa where thieves are canonized and saint demonized. It seems as utter audacity for Yoweri Museveni to be elected for another term as Uganda’s president for 30 years of reigning since 29th January 1986. Though Museveni have brought relative stability and economic growth in a country that has endured decades of rebel activity and civil war, I don’t understand why Uganda chose to canonize Museveni and demonize Kizza Besigye. Africa at large has leaders whose fingers itches to cling to power till death.

Africa should let the new vibrant blood with vim to be injected to the countries for sustainable growth and development. Why should one be in power for three decades and yet desires another term? Is it for someone’s patriotism or simply to enrich themselves?

Africa at large needs youthful leaders who can smell the future and do what it takes to bring the change we need.

The dictatorship nature of leaders once they assume power demonized Africa and her people; hence the USA presidential aspirant has the guts to and utter chutzpah to say that Africa need to be decolonized. Donald Trump, a business mogul should then come to Africa and teach us how to mature as a continent. African leaders at particular has the freedom to oppress the poor without question and hence the motion by President Kenyatta for Africa’s mass withdrawal from the ICC. This won’t make Africa any better.

Africa has been faced with many situations of perplexity due to leaders extending their terms. The quandary in Burundi, South Sudan seems to take stage in Uganda though the elections seem to be promising. African leaders fight for freedom of expression, neo-colonialism, equality but once they assume office, they become the oppressor. President Museveni fought liberation wars in Mozambique when he was a student at University of Dar Es Salaam. Ugandans thought he would be the best president but lots of challenges have faced Uganda since he assumed power.

Rwanda’s Kagame and Kenya’s Kenyatta are not different. They have led their countries a stray as they enrich themselves leaving the masses to be faced with problems. There is disillusionment with our African leaders.