Over the last few days, talk around town has been about the birthday celebrations of the first son Gen MUHOOZI Kainerugaba. The celebrations took place in several parts of the country and going by the social and other media posts, it was a great success. That was a good thing because he wanted to celebrate with others but also to make a statement and I'm sure all that was achieved. I was not in attendance but even if I received an invite for the much hyped Saturday event, I most likely would have missed it. I take the opportunity rather belatedly to congratulate him and wish him a happy 48th birthday. I wouldn't have attended because I had to attend the wedding of a close friend and business acquaintance on the same day. I realized we are separated in age by 9 months and 20 days (him older than me). I also congratulate the organizers of the different events across the country such as Balaam Barugahare whom I can call a friend I have spoken to a few times but we aren't as close as others would be to him. Also in the lead were my acquaintances Toyota and Nzeire younger brothers to Gen Museveni whom we enjoyed lots of breaks together with but we don't meet often lately apart from the occasional bumping into each other. My brother and friend Arinaitwe Rugyendo was also there and with him we probably share the alot in friendship going back to the early days of Red Pepper as well as Hon Odria Yorke who joined the Committee later to clinch the day's success.
Some people spoke with disdain at what they termed the 'waste' of resources in undertaking a celebration like this but for me I believe when people choose to celebrate themselves, their achievements and other great things in their lives, let them do so in whatever way they want to. A number of friends always tell me I don't celebrate myself enough and I think they are right. We should all celebrate life and it's rewards as best as we can. Sure enough Gen Muhoozi deserved to celebrate this..👍👍
Gentlemen I congratulate all of you and thank you for giving Gen MUHOOZI a well deserved party. My friendship to you only makes sense if we allow ourselves some latitude for straight talk.
Despite the enormous success the different events had, we missed one great opportunity. To feel the pain Ugandans are currently feeling. There are many ways this could have and can be done and some of which were covered in the Generals speech. He wanted to identify with the youth and help solve their problems not least the problem of youth empowerment. However you could have used this occasion to raise funds for several causes that are in need of government help and yet government continues to tell Ugandans, they are broke and don't have money. How about for once exploiting the 'glitterati' as we loosely call them and raise funds for one or several causes. For once because in a capitalist state, it's often the opposite. Ugandans would not only appreciate the gesture but identify more with the Gen and his ilk. I know a number of people who sought vigorously to get invites to the different events and there were also those organizers wanted at these events. Both calibre were present at one or two of the events. Most are not only loaded but have giving hearts too. All the marathons in Kololo, Katebe and now the proposed football match between UPDF Generals and MPs would be a good place to raise funds from Ugandans to support the different causes. Forget the cost of the events you organized. The people who attended would have raised more than the cost of organizing the events. You strike two perhaps three birds with one stone. Maybe I would have preferred the marathon in Kololo instead of a Golf Cancer fundraiser event in Entebbe Club. My brother Balaam, you had some of the best fundraising gurus I have ever encountered on your invite list. Talk about Dr Elly Karuhanga, Former NV Chief Robert Kabushenga and a host of others you know well, surely we missed this opportunity. Remember, those who wanted to catch the eye of the General and show him their love would have paid with their wallets and all the team needed to do is identify the cause and with a strike of the finger, the money is there. ..while I'm yet to see a few more photos to confirm who among the mighty and powerful in our society did not make it to any of the events held, there is enough evidence to suggest most were there either at Cricket Oval or State House.
Some might argue that it would be beshaming to government (in theory Gov't considers some of our problems as it's responsibility) by focussing on problems the government 'pretends' to have a solution for. That would be shallow in my opinion because Ugandans have raised money for different causes before and the latest being the COVID 19 fundraisers. The Gen Muhoozi event was even a better event bse you had the who is who's of this country, foreign dignitaries and a neighbouring Country's President.
Not to have done any of that or atleast something to identify with the proletariat in my opinion was an opportunity missed. Or did we choose to do this because we owe nothing to the ordinary Ugandan? What about the industrialist who feels the same pain? We can elect to live in denial but truly government must wake up and save Ugandans. I listen to the cries of so many Ugandans over the cost of essential goods doubling and their inability to get them everyday. I see them walk our streets hopelessly everyday and what comes to my mind is where is government to give these people a break or atleast pretend to care about their plight. For those able to build homes, commercial and other buildings, the cost of materials has gone up 50%. The last time I bought a bag of cement it was 27,000 per bag but today it's 45,000. In my daily hustle with farmers of South Western Uganda, I purchase on average 70,000 litres of diesel per month but my goods and services provider increased the cost of a litre of diesel from 4100 a month ago to 5,250 today. My farmers who on average use 15000 tonnes of fertilizer per season were unable to even afford one bag of 50kgs and yet this has a huge bearing on the productivity and business success of their enterprises. A bag of fertilizer which was already at an all time high of shs 115,000 last season (August - Dec) is now at 230,000. So where does the ordinary Ugandan, the farmer, the small business person and the industrialist go from here? Some even pass on their inabilities to us by asking for whatever little you can give them to be able to access medical help for a child they cannot get basic drugs for or a meal they last had days ago. While this could have come to us because of the uncalled for burden we take on ourselves as we strive for political leadership in various places in our communities, I think the pain of our people cannot be ignored and sacrificed at the alter of indifference and subjected to the erosion of our human spirit and the spirit of 'Ubuntu'.
You may ask about my rather well arranged wedding party and say was it any different or what did I do!! Well this happens so often around this country and it is considered a religious duty for all able couples but it never went unscathed by me. I have been running a small fundraiser to green Arua City and ensure we maintain the only recognizable green space in Arua City well for a few days now. During the party I managed to raise 3m in cash and pledges. We always have a moment to do good but we really never use those moments.
So my friends Balaam and others I mentioned earlier, next year is around the corner but before then, we could do so much and eliminate the need for this. Now it's time to walk the talk for the good Gen on youth empowerment and you can help him get there. The good will you and other friends of the Gen enjoy is huge and it's only good will if it adds value. Otherwise it's a lost opportunity.
Thank you and God bless you all. Once again Happy birthday Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
For God and My country
Ejiku Robert,
Arua Central Division
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