Did Ugandans surrender their sovereignty to politicians ? – Denis Mugonza Waggumbulizi

Previously, the Leader of the Minority in Parliament, Rt. Hon. Mathias Mpuuga was quoted saying that “stop questioning why National Unity Platform is not protesting against inflation, do it yourself. #WhisperEyeNews #Uganda #UgandaNews

Do not wait for Kyagulanyi to do anything. Kyagulanyi is a leader; equally, you are a leader in your own capacity because you head a family that is constrained.” Mpuuga’s statement angered many, but he spoke the reality and he was reminding Ugandans of our sovereignty.

Ugandans have taken it for granted that its politicians to solve their problems without their struggle. This is very wrong to let politicians decide on the kind of political, social, and economic atmosphere in which we should leave in.

Politicians especially in Africa will always decide in accordance with their survival and family benefit. They never think about the people who entrusted them with power. These politicians think that they help citizens to lead them. Ugandans have adhered to it and not questioned why things are not moving on well in the country.

Article 1 (1), (2), (3), and (4) of our Constitution, talk about the sovereignty of the people of Uganda. Briefly, it states that all power belongs to the people who shall exercise their sovereignty in accordance with the Constitution and that the people shall be governed through their will and consent. This article and many others in our Constitution speak a volume and if Ugandans practiced them, I am certain that they should now not be pleading to politicians for help but put politicians to task for better service delivery or change.

In other countries like Kenya, Tunisia, Egypt, Ghana, United States of America, United Kingdom to mention but a few, citizens know their sovereignty and it’s where they derive the authority from to cause the kind of change they need in their countries. They put their leaders to task and if a leader does not deliver as promised or expected, this leader is either forced to resign or not voted for the second term. In these countries, the moment the citizens go on the streets for a protest, they are hardly any security agencies to interfere with the protesters or teargas.

In other words, their protest is never taken for granted by the leaders. It’s always a wake-up call or warning that things are not going on rightly, thus certain things must change for a livable life. This kind of exercise to citizens’ sovereignty has increasingly led to democracy, good governance and sustainable development in these countries that we are ever proud of.

Ugandans must learn how to put on account the leaders who they vote in power, and we must take a serious scrutiny on who must lead us to avoid disappointments and torments which we are experiencing today because of selfish politicians, our ignorance, lack of zeal to express dissatisfactions and to demand for the kind of change we need.

Politicians shall not solve our problems unless we intervened in how we must be led and what we must have as citizens. We must not let politicians take us for granted and think that they are helping us yet they are paid juicy salaries using the taxes we pay. Most of these politicians live a life which most of us shall never live, and this is why they never put themselves into the shoes we are in.

They have gained wealth and status mostly at the expense of our property and taxes. Mpuuga was right to call for our intervention to demand the change that we need. Let us not surrender our sovereignty to politicians if we need a better Uganda. Politicians must lead us in accordance with what we asked them to do, but not what they think that is right for us.

Author: Denis Mugonza Waggumbulizi | Advocate, Researcher & Entrepreneur

wagumbulizidenis@yahoo.com | @DenisMugonzaW