Political Platform: Is Uganda a failed state?
By Timothy Nsubuga
28th Nov 2011: In the last ISSUE of Uganda Correspondent, we reported that a group of London based opposition activists had told the British government that Uganda is a failed state. [See: Uganda is a failed state – British govt told] To justify their claim, they pointed to among other things, the NRM government’s failure to organise free and fair elections and the continued harassment of opposition activists and Journalists.
The other key issues that the activists pointed out as “symptoms of a failing state” is President Museveni’s consistent interference with parliamentary processes and the fact that the Ugandan government seems to have surrendered many of its roles and responsibilities to Non Governmental Organisations [NGOs]
The other sticking issue is the government’s apparent failure, inability, and or unwillingness to fight the widespread corruption that is costing the country billions of shillings that could have been put to better use in the social services sector. The Speaker of Parliament Ms Rebecca Kadaga last week added her powerful voice to that of the London activists, saying “corruption has reached crisis levels”.
A few optimistic Ugandans that Uganda Correspondent spoke to following the publication of our story however said that although Uganda is facing serious political and economic problems, those problems do not, and should never warrant the charge of “failed state” being slapped on Uganda.
For these optimists, Uganda is merely a “weak state”, not a “failed state”. As a publication that prides itself in offering Ugandans an open platform for unfettered debate on social political and economic issues, we would like to hear your views on the subject: “Has Uganda become a failed state under Museveni’s rule?” Let the debate commence here below!
