A former Norwegian minister of Fisheries in late July of 2018 Mr Per Sandberg resigned and his only crime was travelling with a government mobile phone without informing the Prime Minister. But seems, resignation is alien in Uganda. If the above persons are patriots with upright consciences, they cannot be sitting in the office right now.
In recent years, diaspora members are considered key contributors to the economic development of their homeland. However, during ambassador Nimisha Madhvani’s tenure, Ugandans in Denmark have got zero support. Not even crumbs that may fall from the table of affluence.
The former ambassador, Kibedi Zaake was unceremonially transferred to UAE, supported us financially, morally and spiritually including the Uganda Danish Cranes, Uganda Cranes Norway, we went further and formed the Uganda Nordic Diaspora investment Initiative and we organised a number of conventions.
Ambassador Nimisha and her deputy, have been looking at us, as hypocrites who sing-praise People Power. We have invited them to attend events organized by Ugandans and friends of Uganda living in the Nordic. But we always got a negative response, that they have no funds.
Yet, UNAA in the USA is supported financially by the ministry of foreign affairs. How can diplomats successfully dehumanize the diasporas they swore to serve and protect, without any organized reaction of resentment from the oppressed?
We, the diasporans pre-warn international communities that give loans given to Uganda ends up in the pockets of few Ugandans; therefore, the future generations cannot be held accountable to repay the looted loan.
I recommend that ethics courses should be mandated from kindergarten to universities. Once it runs into our sub-consciousness. Furthermore, corruption of government funds should be a treasonable felony crime in Ugandan books of laws.
The “absence of career diplomats” — is the “presence of materialism” and the pursuit of the inconsequential. Such pursuit diminishes the glory and prosperity of the country. Every great nation or at least, nations of any consequence all have men and women at the vanguard of diplomacy and intellectualism.
They stir things up. They nudge us to greater heights. Why then is the government uncomfortable with career diplomats? Time will definitely tell.
matovua@gmail.com
The author works with the Uganda Nordic Diaspora investment Authority