From: Ouko joachim omolo
Voices of Justice for Peace
Regional News
BY FR JOACHIM OMOLO OUKO, AJ
NAIROBI-KENYA
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012
As Uganda celebrates 50 years of independence today, the good news is that 19-year-olds, Proscovia Alengot has made history to be the world youngest Member of Parliament. She was elected as the Usuk County MP in Katakwi District, Eastern Uganda.
[image]Proscovia Alengot leaving Parliament after the business of the day/ photo-courtesy Daily Monitor
Waiting yet to join university, Hon Alengot obscured the seat after the death of her father, Michael Oromait who died from hypertension on the morning of Saturday July 21, this year.
Alengot was chosen as the ruling party’s (NRM) flag bearer in the runoff election, even when her father did not hold the seat on the party’s ticket. Some argue that Alengot was fronted and talked into the idea by the ambitious district Woman Member of Parliament, and, Minister for Education, Maj. (Rtd) Jessica Alupo, even though according to The Observer newspaper Alengot herself nurtured the desire to succeed her father.
The newspaper quoted family members as saying that Alengot took an interest in the requirements for one to become an MP, as soon as her dad passed on. She succeeded because had some powerful backers, including President Yoweri Museveni who pitched camp in the constituency to rally support on her behalf.
According to Robert Tabaro, a lecturer of Political Science and Public Administration at Kyambogo University, her age cannot have a hindrance to the potential of a good politician. At 19 she is old enough to legislate at a national level if at all she was not lured into the act by the forces surrounding her.
Paul Nyende, a psychology lecturer at Makerere University agrees with Tabaro that at 19, an individual has attained enough maturity to take part in legislation, even though their childhood experiences and knowledge base will determine how well they perform.
The good news is that as of today, Alengot seems to have a protective circle around her, especially personified in Maj. (Rtd) Alupo. Currently Alengot is a first-year Mass Communication student at Uganda Christian University in Mukono District, 23km and a 5–minute drive away from Kampala.
She attends only morning classes although she is punctual whenever she does. She sits at the back of the classroom and rarely is usually queit throughout the lectuers. She is chauffeur-driven to school and does not have meals at the University Dining Hall, where most first year students have their afternoon meals from.
Dressed with a sense of official importance, in formal wear that ensures to go below the knees, Alengot attended Soroti-Based Madera Girls Primary School, Kigulu Girls Primary School, Iganga Girls School, PMM Girls School and St Kalemba Secondary School in Kayunga. She spent a considerable part of her childhood living in Jinja District where her father’s main home was. This is about 200km away from the constituency she now represents.
The bad news is that the day is being marked when Forum for Democratic Change president Kizza Besigye is under house arrest. He has accused police of flouting a court ruling, which declared his detention under a colonial era “preventive arrest” ordinance unlawful.
The police in Uganda have become an aggressor despite the fact that they are there to protect people. Police remain heavily deployed on the road leading to Dr Besigye’s home after a mid-morning retreat from his main gate yesterday.
On his part, the Archbishop of Kampala diocese Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga has asked government to unconditionally release all political prisoners as a big step towards achieving genuine peace, reconciliation and justice.
The day he says is marked when there are many challenges affecting the country such as abuse of power, human rights violation, education system, corruption, ignorance and the failure to distinguish the relationship between culture, religion and politics. Despite the enactment of the land bill, people are still being evicted from their land.
The day is also marked when officers from the Rapid Response Unit regularly beat people with objects including batons, glass bottles, and metal pipes according to the 59-page report based on testimony from more than 100 interviews with former detainees, their families, and current and former members of the police unit, among others.
It documents six alleged extrajudicial killings in 2010. Two people had died from beatings during interrogations, while four others were shot dead during arrest, according to Human Rights Watch. The Rapid Response Unit makes arrests for a broad range of alleged crimes, including petty offences and terrorism.
“The unit’s personnel typically operate in unmarked cars, wear civilian clothing with no identifying insignia, and carry a variety of guns, from pistols to larger assault rifles,” the report says.
President Yoweri Museveni formed the unit in 2002. It was originally called Operation Wembley, before its name was changed to Violent Crime Crack Unit and then the Rapid Response Unit.
As the country marks 50 years there are some important personalities remembered for their role in Uganda:
Sir Edward Mutesa II
He was born to Ssekabaka Daudi Ccwa and Irene Drussila Namaganda on November 19, 1924, Makindye, studied at King’s College, Budo and Magdalene College, Cambridge. He was 39 years old on the day of Independence. He was president from 1963 – 1966 after a coalition between his party Kabaka Yekka (KY) and Uganda People’s congress (UPC) won the April 1962 final election. He was exiled after a May 24 (1966) attack on the palace by the federal Ugandan army and died on November 21, 1969, in London of unknown causes.
The Prime Minister-Milton Obote
Born December 28, 1925 in Akokoro village -Apac district in northern Uganda; he was 38 years on Independence Day. He studied at the Protestant Missionary School in Lira, and later attended Gulu Junior Secondary School, Busoga College. He eventually did English and Geography at Makerere University. He held his ministerial position from April 30 1962 until 1966 when he abrogated the Constitution and attacked the King’s palace hence declaring himself president and abolished his former position.
He established UPC, which was socialist and the only legal party between 1966 and 1971. Hugo Vickers writes, “Apollo Milton Obote, the country’s first executive prime minister, told Coutts that he expected the Queen to deliver independence in person. He was disappointed that she was sending the Duke of Kent since he was ‘young man and totally unknown in Uganda’.”
The Governor-Sir Walter Fleming Coutts
He was the Governor- General (a new position, initially was the Governor of Uganda) on the day of Independence and was the last governor of the Ugandan Protectorate. He served in this position from 1962 -1963. He was succeeded by Sir Edward Muteesa I as president.
He was born in 1912 and died in 1988. His role was to act as an agent of the British Government and a representative of the monarch. He therefore held the executive power of the Ugandan Protectorate.
The Queen’s representative- The Duke and Duchess of Kent, Prince Edward
Edward George Nicholas Paul Patrick also known as Prince Edward is a member of the British Royal Family. Born on October 9, 1935, he was exactly 27 years on the day Uganda got its independence.
He is a grandchild of King George V and has held the title of Duke of Kent since 1942. He is said to carry out royal duties on behalf of his first cousin, Queen Elizabeth II and on this day he and his wife Katherine Worsle were chosen to represent the Queen as Britain handed over the instruments of power to Milton Obote. He is the Queen’s eldest living paternal cousin.
Rhothinga – Sergeant at Arms in 1962
Little is known about the man who was the sergeant at arms at the time of Uganda’s independence. However, the little that is available about him is that he was a man who hailed from the West Nile.
(Rtd) Maj Akorimo Kanuti
“Disappointed and frustrated are the two words that describe Kanuti on this day,” read a TV presenter as she started an interview to the hero who reportedly brought down the British Union Jack and raised the Ugandan Flag on Independence day.
The 80-year-old who is tucked away way deep in Omatenga village in Kumi District was crowned a war hero during the 2003 independence celebrations, Mr Akorimo now leaves a laid back life with his two wives and children.
“While I am sitting in this damaged home, I am not happy. I did a lot for Uganda where I expected government of Uganda to be awake and see where I am,” he told NTV. He has 22 children and he was 29 at the time of independence. Many accounts have it that he lowered the Jack and hoisted the Ugandan flag. However photos on a British archive site, British Pathe, show a British man appearing to lower the Union Jack. (Sources-Uganda nation media)
Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
People for Peace in Africa
Tel +254-7350-14559/+254-722-623-578
E-mail omolo.ouko@gmail.com
Peaceful world is the greatest heritage
That this generation can give to the generations
To come- All of us have a role.