Thank you Mr Muhwezi for taking time to write, and enlightening everyone on UCAN.
Dear Mike Akiiki,
Thank you for your elaborate writing. UCAN (Uganda Civil Alliance Network) is a non partisan, non-profit organisation, formed in RSA. We have carefully read your letter profiling two of the UCAN’s officials as working as agents for the Ugandan Governement against the opposition - FDC. As UCAN we can neither refute nor agree with such an allegation, but can only say that UCAN remains an all embracing civil network of Ugandans and friends, from all walks of life, as long as they share the vision of preparing and contributing to the bigger picture of nurturing the 'Uganda we need' for ourselves, our children and posterity, based on the fundamental values of Freedom, Human Dignity, Equality and Development for all.
Coming back to your letter, from the tone of the letter, UCAN can identify the following;
a) That there is a democratic problem in Uganda,
b) You are an angry Ugandan,
c) You are a frustrated Ugandan. Frustrated because of the democratic problem in Uganda – just like all of us Ugandans in the Diaspora.
The question is what can Ugandans do about the democratic problem in Uganda? How can we solve the problem? How can we build up strength to counter any stumbling blocks to achieve the dream of many Ugandans?
Mike Akiiki, you chose profiling, listing or labelling individuals as impostors etc. That is your style of contributing to the solution of the democratic problem in Uganda. Can we humbly point out to you that your method could be counter productive and threaten what you and many of us are striving for, especially if it is found that there is no truth or your story is based on Individual differences, you conclude these gentlemen are agents, publish the story and warn Ugandans to avoid UCAN. All these may turn out to be nothing but defamation.
We feel you are really disturbed by these allegations, and we have brought this hearsay to the attention of these officials and they have categorically denied it and instead given us another interesting story, where Ugandans could be used to fight against themselves, while the struggle for rights, equality and development is put aside.
Profiling and labelling individuals has its problems. For example, in South Africa, we have a leader (not a ruler) called Nelson Mandela. This person was a student, Human Rights Activist (just like Martin Luther King Jr. of America), LABELED A TERORIST, prosecuted and sentenced to life imprisonment, after 27 years he was released, became the State President of RSA, made it possible for a good Constitution to be written in RSA, the fruits of which we are enjoying and quoting. Today, Mr Mandela;
- is the only true leader Africa has ever known
- has no inclination to revenge or to grab property for lost times or for claims of repayment for fighting for freedom,
- has an incredible power of forgiveness and reconciliation. When the State President, Mr Mandela invited and had lunch with the lawyer who prosecuted him and put him to life prison!! He told the lawyer not to feel uncomfortable about the past, because the lawyer was doing his job at that time!! In other African countries imagine what would have happened to the lawyer!!
Uganda needs a person of Mr Mandela’s calibre – could it be you, Mike Akiiki?
Your method does not comply with the laws entrenched in the 1995 Uganda Constitution.
UCAN has also chosen a process to the solution of the democratic problem of Uganda. UCAN does not list nor profile individuals, instead UCAN has chosen to strive to 'Build Freedom, Equality and Development for ALL', in line with values entrenched in Chapter 4 of the 1995 Uganda Constitution, based on the values of Human Dignity, Equality and Freedom. The Uganda Constitution is the Supreme law of Uganda. It is the law we all have to follow in order to solve the democratic problems of Uganda. The Fundamental laws enshrine in the Chapter 4 of the 1995 Uganda Constitution are Universal laws. They are laws derived from the UN Declaration of Human Rights. One will find these laws in any democratic country like America, UK, Norway, RSA etc.
Mike, from your tone of writing, you seem to aspire for democracy in Uganda. The values you aspire for are the values UCAN is reminding Ugandans to achieve. The only difference between your choice and UCAN’s is the methodology used. Mike with due respect, to us a person doing National Monitoring, carrying out evaluation management with a renown organisation and driving a BMW car does not make the person a negative force to our aspirations, We think we should focus on the bigger picture and encourage Ugandans to come together and identify the threat to the 'Uganda that we all Need'.
UCAN has chosen to remind and educate Ugandans on their Fundamental Rights enshrined in the 1995 Uganda Constitution, as in UCAN’s clear and undistorted aims and objectives of
a) To promote and ensure equitable development, freedom and non-partisan participation,
b) To formulate and ensure ways and means of COLLECTIVE CIVIC EDUCATION on Basic Human Rights in Uganda,
c) To promote and ensure understanding of and respect of the Fundamental Rights, thereby ensuring separation of powers.
The Fundamental Rights enshrined in the 1995 Ugandan Constitution are baseline laws of democracy. They are ideal laws you (Mike) as an individual and all of us Ugandans, whether non-party believers, or members of FDC, UPC, DP, NRM, must uphold. It does not deal with profiling or listing – since profiling or listing is divisive between parties and within parties. It is worthwhile writing about the democratic short-fall one has, UCAN is very sure the opposition party you belong to would like you to practise the principles and values of 'playing the ball, not the person'.
The Fundamental Rights deal with the ideals of democracy. The Rights strengthen all non-party believers. It strengthens parties like FDC, UPC, DP, NRM etc. It strengthens the values of Human Dignity, Equality and Freedom. UCAN strives to remind Ugandans that these values, stated in Article 20 (1) are not privileges but 'Fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual are inherent and not granted by the state'. We, all Ugandans, must claim it back and hold on these values.
Funding is required to facilitate the process of education. That is why UCAN solicits funding from Ugandans, and their friends – the funds will be kept in trust, in a democratic, accountable, transparent way and utilised by renown consultants like Ernest and Young.
Mike, you are in Norway because the Fundamental Rights exist and are practised in that country. We are also in RSA because the Fundamental Rights exist and are practised in this country. UCAN looks forward to existing Fundamental Rights in Uganda be actively practised in Uganda. Therefore, we pray, and request Ugandans to join hands in UCAN or similar organisations to achieve a democracy in Uganda based on Human Dignity, Equality and Freedom.
Further, UCAN looks forwards to the ideals where ALL Ugandans;
i) can discuss issues/facts but not profiling
ii) where parties only vary in policies, but do not vary in the values of the Fundamental Rights in Chapter 4 of the 1995 Uganda Constitution,
iii) where we call Ugandans belonging to this 'camp' and that 'camp' only in party policy matters,
iv) and where the baseline of democracy is enjoyment of Human Dignity, Equality and Freedom for ALL.
v) Where Ugandans take fellow Ugandans to open democratic courts for wrong-doings or breaches.
The values UCAN aspires towards to are a mammoth task, with enormous difficulties. We would like the task to be our challenge. If each Ugandan practices the values everyday, we shall in time achieve our goals of TRUE DEMOCRACY in Uganda.
Please Mike, be free to join UCAN or any other organisation which aspires to the values of Fundamental Rights, or alternatively subscribe to these values to force the opposition parties or ruling party to practise true democracy.
By Henry Muhwezi,
Chairman, UCAN, RSA.
Tel: +27 (0) 12 321 9521
Fax: +27 (0) 86 690 8203
Henry Muhwezi wrote an eloquent piece about UCAN and as a response to "Profiling double agents in opposition� that appeared earlier in RK. However, despite his assertions that his organisation �can neither refute nor agree with such an allegation", reading his piece leaves a feeling of a veiled attempt to defend the persons mentioned in "double agents" piece.
It is not my wish to delve into whether the individuals mentioned are indeed guilty of what they are being accused of. Indeed history is full of persons who have been wrongfully accused of crimes they never committed. Possibly in future Radio Katwe could consider finding out the other side of the story before going ahead to run a damning piece such as the one referred to. This would also raise the profile of the site and its honest dedication to liberating our country.
What I don't agree is that the struggle such as the one in Uganda can be won purely on the noble democratic principles that Muhwezi and his organisation espouse. I feel believing in such a scenario when faced by a fascist like Museveni is living in utopia.
Let's take the case of Madiba Mandela whom Muhwezi extols: Yes Madiba is one single and possibly the only leader Africa has been blessed to have so far. Of course Mwalimu Nyerere could also fall within this category.
But for Mandela to rise to such hallowed status the ANC had to wage a dirty war. In the midst of that war penetration by the enemy, sometimes using people who masqueraded as supporters of the cause, and sometimes indigenous South Africans themselves, was very common.
Muhwezi is in SA and I'm sure if he cares to dig deep he will find chilling stories of how those kind of persons were dealt with once discovered. This was an organisation that Mandela was its defacto leader although it was Oliver Tambo who was then in charge. And when Madiba was released I don't remember hearing any time that he condemned the activities of ANC's armed wing Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation) for some ruthless actions it took during the war nor did he condemn them when he was still in Robben Island.
What I'm trying to advocate here is not re-enactment of the ruthless actions that may have been adopted by Umkhonto then, what I'm trying to say is that sometimes in a struggle exposing hypocrites saves the struggle. Because, for instance, if we assume that the guys exposed here are indeed moles, their activities and covert operations will now become difficult because the honest strugglers for the emancipation of the country will now somehow avoid entrusting them with very important and crucial information - "A stitch in time saves nine" kind of situation.
The onus now lies on the two fellows accused of doubling; let them prove themselves innocent. There are issues that have been raised including their suspect sources of lavish lifestyle. If indeed this is true and if everybody knows that their current employment cannot meet the demands of such a lavish lifestyle then it will be necessary for them to explain the discrepancy between their humble employment status and the funding.
Muhwezi, it is not just about democracy. We are at war here and I think the cunning thug in Kampala knows it. He therefore utilises all forms of under the belt tactics. To survive you must be ready to use under the belt awareness procedures to avoid his snakelike venom.
The guy was not ashamed to harass Besigye in the glare of international eyes. What will stop him from deploying moles?
Etome
Thank you Etome, I notice you emphasise phrases like; under the belt tactics, snakelike venom, deploying moles (spy, infiltrator or secret agent) and that its not all about democracy but that we are at war!! At WAR? Certainly, not ALONG with us. We do not share that view and that is why we remain an all embracing and peaceful civil alliance network of Ugandans of all walks of life. Those at war fear being infiltrated by their opponents. I am surprised when you make such utterances; I tend to be aware of which organisation you represent although you just call yourself (Etome).
The wordings used have serious interpretations. At the Uganda Civil Alliance Network (UCAN), we believe in collective intervention in the areas of human equality, dignity, freedom and development for all in a transparent manner. No under belt tactics or hidden fibre UCAN envisages engaging.
Etome, the tone of your response adopt support for an ANC dirty war that it had to wage, in order to dislodge apartheid regime. Whereas, we also stand by that, our route is divergent to what you espouse, and its against that notion that we have no moles in UCAN.
I will come back to you sooner or later to advise you about benefits for being a member and on how to become a member of UCAN, because you seem not to understand and confusing what UCAN stands for.
With due diligence, I thank you.
By Henry Muhwezi,
Chairman, UCAN, RSA.
Email: henrymuh@yahoo.com