Ugandan businesspersons are in awe as to why foreigners – Chinese, Indians and Nigerians, among many – have flooded the streets to sell petty goods such as razor blades, mandazi, chapatti, sandals, padlocks, bicycle spokes, mingling sticks, etc.

These, they contend, should be the enterprise ring-fenced for indigenous traders. Locals feel, and have been conditioned to think, that foreigners are big-time investors (bankers, industrialists, importers and exporters, hoteliers, etc).

But liberalization in Uganda has matured, and we can only ignore its hegemony to our own detriment. Uganda operates an open-ended capitalist economy where there is no definition of ‘investors’. Further, there is no control of what comes in and goes out. In that way, our economy is like a two-open-ended pipe carrying floodwater of ‘investors’.

In between the entrance and exit, there are multiple holes through which leakages occur – corruption, manipulation, state mafia, obscurantists, and so forth.
Ugandans who do not strive to understand the way our economy is organized and operationalized will continue to blame government for not doing what it should do.

They will blame the parliament for extravagance, accuse the judiciary and the police of being corrupt; and blame the media for being a propaganda tool; blame public servants of apathetic performances; curse the high cost of services; kill each other for scarce resources, etc.

By nature, neoliberalism is a dangerous stage of capitalism. Some clever economies have long established welfare systems to counter the potential failures of the neoliberal markets.

Here, strict measures are in place to ensure that leakages are minimized, investors are defined, laws are adhered to, individuals held strictly accountable, and profits and spoils of the market are shared with the unfortunate. We have none of that!

By design, liberalization of the economy for Uganda means anyone, from any part of the world, can walk into Uganda and into our markets. Government scales back, so that it spends less on critical services, as we have seen the projection of 2017/2018 budget where both health and education will face budgetary reduction.

Those are the most critical aspects of our economy and fundamental social services needed to prepare indigenous Ugandans to compete in the economy.

Unions are very critical in this stage of our capitalist market development to lead and regulate the market, as well as protect the rights, privileges and interests of local traders by keeping away Chinese, Indians and Nigerians from vending petty goods on our streets.

Morris Komaketch,
Canada.

Dialogue is the best concept for Rwezururu

It’s now close to 10 months since the conflict in the Rwezururu region started and claimed many lives and left despair in so many families. Although the killings have ceased, there is still uncertainty in the region as the real cause of the conflict is still unknown.

I think dialogue would be best suited for this issue and help in ending violence in this region as opposed to throwing blame at each other.  Recently, a certain group of people met President Museveni to offer their apologies on behalf of the region. Another group downplayed this gesture.

I would like to appeal to the Rwezururu people to accept peace by welcoming people who are impartial and neutral. I think it is time for politicians to get out of this issue because it’s evident that they are just attention-seekers.

Let us utilize the counsel of religious leaders and elders who can sort out issues calmly, objectively and in a rational manner. Holding onto things that breed negativity only harms us in the end.

Hope Abonit,
Kampala.

Appreciate them when still alive

I have closely followed the death of singer Dennis Rackla. The arts and entertainment industry gets in shock whenever fellow men in music, comedy or drama breathe no more.

On dying, the likes of Papa Wemba (a singer and king of Congolese rumba), Uganda’s AK47, Master Blaster, Mr X, Sera, Martin Angume, WethaMan, Harriet Kisakye and the one prime Sitya Loss dancer Alex, among others, have all attracted well-crafted comments about their contributions to the industry.

Why does every person show interest to talk great about the deceased. Dr Jose Chameleone once sang a song titled Basiima Ogenze, which is now evident.

When these people are alive, many are criticized, belittled and even some are not supported when they hold timely concerts.

Why appreciate them when they are dead?

How I wish Dennis Rackla would still be alive to see what people thought of him.

Rest in peace, Rackla!

Warren Chris Bulime,
chriswarrenb@gmail.com.

Gen Wamala was a great CDF

The transfer of the chief of defense forces (CDF), General Katumba Wamala, to become the state minister for works is a promotion, in terms of hierarchy and protocol.

It would be fair if Democratic Party (DP) president general Norbert Mao said well done to Katumba on being elevated to a state minister, rather than saying it is a demotion.  

Gen Katumba’s contribution to the army cannot go unnoticed; his illustrious military career is a benchmark in the UPDF, having been on the scene for 35 years now.

I can envision Gen Katumba taking to the ministry of works his leadership character, humility and administrative hard work. New CDF David Muhoozi should borrow a leaf from Gen Katumba’s eminent military career.

Derrick Otim,
Kampala.

letters@bserver.ug