The same had been the fate of other young activists like Abu Mayanja, but it never hampered them. Still in his twenties, Obote moved to Kenya, where he became prolific in fighting for workers’ rights before coming back to Uganda to join activism against colonialists. Fast forward, when Idi Amin’s regime started trampling on the freedoms of Ugandans, one of the many young people that were at the forefront of pushing back at the regime’s excesses was Yoweri Museveni.
While, over time, Museveni has disappointingly grown into the opposite of his earlier proclamations and struggles, there is something to learn from his active pursuit of his convictions from a young age – right from his student times at the University of Dar es Salaam in the late 1960s.
With fellow students such as Joseph Mulwanyammuli Ssemwogerere (former Katikkiro of Buganda), John Baptist Kawanga, Eriya Kategaya, James Wapakhabulo, they spent some time in battlefields in Mozambique in solidarity with freedom fighters there. Their association, University African Students Revolutionary Front, led by Museveni, became quite robust in debates about the liberation and development of Africa.
These days, it is uncommon to find student associations with such focus at our institutions of higher learning. When students show cause, in most cases it is about their own welfare issues such as fees and food. When Museveni joined the guerrilla fight against Idi Amin in the early seventies basing in Tanzania, he was still in his twenties.
He formed his breakaway rebel group, the Front for National Salvation, in 1973 at the age of 29. Most of the people that joined him were young, including his brother Salim Saleh who was only 16. When he resumed fighting in 1981, again most of those who joined him were young people.
Paul Kagame was only 24, Elly Tumwine was 27, David Tinyefuza (Sejjusa) was also 27, Dr KizzaBesigye was 25, Winnie Byanyima was about 23. Mugisha Muntu was 24. This one joined only a day after his last exams at Makerere University, notwithstanding that his father was a staunch UPC supporter.
Dr Andrew Kayiira was in his thirties. Many others were in this age range, including the so many child soldiers (kadogos) that joined unwillingly. By the time they captured power, Mr Museveni was only 42. This is not to vindicate all they did during the war or to unreservedly argue for their cause, but to dismiss the misleading idea that certain levels of service and ability to cause change are a reserve of the old.
So many other young people have immensely contributed in various ways to the process of building peace in Uganda’s history. Among the many that negotiated for the end of the disastrous war in northern Uganda was a young member of parliament called Norbert Mao. His young age did not stop him from taking the risk of reaching out to Joseph Kony.
To these few names, add the long list of those whose contribution may not have been documented anywhere. While politics plays a key role in determining whether there will be peace in a country or not, as I said earlier, not everyone may have to join politics in order to play a part in tranquilising their society.
Our abilities, talents, and circumstances may differ. Away from political negotiators and fighters, several young people have made their contribution through writing theatre and music. Many of the first books to be written by black Africans addressed themselves to questions of emancipation from colonialism ad its lasting legacies, and later to excesses of postcolonial leaders. Most of the writers were in their youthful years.
By the time Ngugi wa Thiong’o released Weep Not, Child in 1964, he was only 27. This was quickly followed by The River Between at 28. Wole Soyinka published The Interpreters at 31. Chinua Achebe’s awesome Things Fall Apart (1958) came out when he was only 28. In Uganda, one of our greatest literary icons-cum-activist, Okot P’Bitek, released his first critical book at 22.
In the field of drama, we remember a lot from Robert Serumaga who died at only 41 and Bairon Kawadwa of the famed critical play, Oluyimba lwa wankoko, who was killed at only 37. In the field of music, in my view, while Uganda has produced many great musicians, very few, if any, can be said to be consistent peace and freedom crusaders in their music.
When you listen to the dominant themes in the youthful music of Bob Marley, Lucky Dube, Chaka Chaka, Fela Kuti, Miriam Makeba, which Ugandan musician would you place in that category in terms of focus?
All one can point out are isolated songs of the kind here and there. Amidst all the corruption, police brutality, bad politics, violence against women, in our society, it is curious that, with all the audience they have, most of our musicians rotate about romantic love, love, and love.
Robert Kyagulanyi could be one of the few that have tried to raise these issues even before joining active politics. Little wonder that many believed his focus later.
The question every young person should be asking themselves is: what am I doing with my abilities in contributing to a better society, with integrity?
The author is a teacher of philosophy