Dear Ugandans,
Anti nepotism laws are not in place just for the sake of it. They are here to safeguard the interests of the public and the country as a whole. When some of you ask us about where the president Museveni’s daughter, Natasha, should be employed I say, they were born in the wrong family, simple and pure. Public office is a NO, NO, or at least that is what it should have been if there was rule of law in Uganda. In fact I ask you, where should my children be employed?
Lt. Col. Muhoozi and Natasha Museveni
So when I hear about president Museveni lecturing the nation on how his family is sacrificing, by taking up positions in public office, I ask him, whose family hasn’t sacrificed anyway? How have the people in Luwero, northern Uganda, Banyoro, Baganda, the Itesots and more been rewarded?
Is there sacrifice not good enough? If his family loves Uganda so much and they are willing to sacrifice, they should also go and help treat those Basoga’s jiggered limbs, help rehabilitate wells and mop hospital floors in Kitgum and Bududa. Unless the definition of sacrifice is all about taking up public office appointments, that is what they should do also.
First lady,Member of parliament and Cabinet minister in Uganda
Although an anti-nepotism policy is generally viewed as barring of the employment of relatives in the same public office, technically nepotism involves the appointing authority appointing others to public positions because of the blood or marital relationship of the individual to the appointing authority. In other words, nepotism does not simply involve the employment of relatives within an organization, or public office, it results when the individual is employed solely because of the influence or authority of their relative to effect the employment.
You may not like the dynastic nature of Ugandan politics, that, however, is the so called democracy in which we live. Can we change it? Of course we can, but only by making it less democratic, for those who tell us that Uganda is a democratic nation.
John Nsubuga
FDC member
Further reading:
Family Rule In Uganda: How The Museveni ‘Clan’ Runs Government”
http://www.independent.co.ug/index.php/cover-story/cover-story/690-family-rule-in-uganda-?showall=1
