
“With 530 MPs, 82 ministers, and thousands of other personnel on public payroll but whose real contributions to the country’ progress cannot be measured, many areas of duplication, wastefulness, and pervasive corruption, yet plenty of resources, Uganda probably deserves neither pity nor World Bank (WB) loans. There are faint-hearted quislings who falsely believe that foreign aid and loans are indispensable, yet it is possible to do without, but only if we enforced better planning and prioritization, frugality, transparency, strict accountability, effective implementation and supervision of plans and projects to the desired results” (OO, 19.08.2023).
Today I was seeing the article of Government Spokesperson Ofwono Opondo. The man who is the head of the Uganda Media Centre and is a defender of the National Resistance Movement (NRM). That man has dropped a very unique article on the UMC pages. This is titled: “WITH 530 MPS, 82 MINISTERS; UGANDA DESERVES NEITHER PITY NOR WORLD BANK LOANS” and it was published on the 19th August 2023. So, I lost a few days, but “oh” what a gem of a piece this is.
I did not expect him to use reasoning of the opposition and the defiant members of the Republic. Because, the manner of how he was introducing the piece. That could have been written by any sincere opposition leader and who would have talked down upon the NRM. OO is using talking points that is opposition based on the first paragraph of his piece. This has been addressed and been a key component in the drive for good governance. However, the President and his “yes-men” are in it and they want plum-jobs, which His Excellency is providing.
OO continues: “The fickle reason advanced by the WB, and others to halt future loan and grant considerations to Uganda over the recently enacted anti-LGBTQ+ law, should, in fact be a silver-lining below the dark cloud and compel government into fiscal consolidation and discipline. It’s fickle because the enactment of the law and before, there hasn’t been any reported case of harassment or discrimination of LGBTQ+ persons in Uganda. And well, WB has previously frozen lending to Uganda over myriad of issues, some very flimsy. It’s possible it’s under pressure from LGBTG+ groups hence issuing a hasty statement not supported by any evidence over an abhorrent lifestyle that is still contested including in western countries” (19.08.2023).
Here the true character and nonsense of OO begins. When he goes into defence mode and defending the regime. This is him trying to clean the facade and make everything shiny. However, there is known oppression and targeting of the LGBTQ+ before the law. There been extra judicial killings and blocking of events. NGOs and CSOs has been in the firing line too for their involvement or participation in it. Therefore, OO must think we are fools… Yes, there are Western nations and others who has targeted the same minority. Still, with that in mind… two wrongs doesn’t make one wrong right. Just to be straight about it.
In the end of the piece he writes this: “President Museveni in particular, has been and continues to mobilize Ugandans, and Africa to stop exporting raw materials because it denies us true value, employment, revenues, skills and technology transfer, while making us completely dependent on outsiders. With such a stance, Museveni becomes a target for blackmail. President Museveni has stopped the export of raw minerals especially gold, iron ore, uranium, oil and petroleum among others, and as well unprocessed agricultural produce like milk, beef, cocoa and coffee which may all soon require enactment of laws and the west isn’t amused. All these, if well coordinated and implemented as should be throughout Africa, and the global South the main producers and suppliers of cheap raw goods will certainly disadvantage, if not ruin the prevailing Western dominated World order. And surely the West will seek to withdraw the little support they currently offer, and impose sanctions as well. Therefore, the WB strike at Uganda must be seen from a broader perspective, and not just LGBTQ+ disputes” (OO, 19.08.2023).
He comes with the idea that the World Bank and the West is collectively stopping industrialization or progress on the continent. While the World Bank itself in reports has stated the lack of domestic revenue and boosting the economy from within. The loans, grants or aide wouldn’t deliver the needs or even be able to keep up the upkeep as it was. This is why the government spokesperson pins the blame on outsiders, but the regime took the money and the strings attached to it. They accepted the terms and condition. While they ate the funds and didn’t deliver on the promise either. Therefore, it is high and mighty to blame “the West” and say they created this “world order”.
OO needs to get his arguments straight and also reasoning behind it. As he started the piece by blaming the Republic and the Government he represent himself. However, in the end of the piece. It is the West and their “world order”. While we know the NRM and Museveni has accepted and signed off on the financial instruments of the West. He accepted the mechanisms and the expectations of the fiscal funds disbursed to Uganda. Therefore, it is really special to blame them for everything after the fact.
The government spokesperson should look into own records and own achievements. As they where tied to the funding from World Bank and other similar entities. They invested and promoted Museveni as a “new breed” of leadership. Alas, he knows this and now wants to use the LGBTQ+ as a shield as well. While the World Bank isn’t in the right in the slightest of suspending the loans over the Anti-Homosexuality Act. They should have ceased funds over the impunity, the injustice and the oppressive behaviour of the state towards dissidents. That should have been the red flag and it should have acted accordingly. However, they only did it for one minority and their lifestyle. That’s why the NRM and OO has ammunition. As they feel the hypocrisy and it’s so obvious…
He ends with: “The west, aided by local poodles have run a global web of lies and manipulation which presented Chinese as insidious spies, Russians as evil mobsters, Muslims as terrorists, and Africans as murders and dictators. They present themselves as world heroes fighting for justice to save humanity. To survive and triumph, Africa collectively must strengthen and coordinate internal resistance” (OO, 19.08.2023).
In true Nollywood or Hollywood fashion, OO ends up with the utmost clichés. His speaking like everyone does this and believes these things. It is like he has found the villains in movies and thought this was facts. While fiction is fiction. Yes, there are political realignment and new diplomatic responses. There are undermining factors and a bigger picture at play. We know OO wants to defend dictatorship and his Boss Museveni. That’s his life work at this point and his livelihood. So, I cannot blame OO for trying.
While that was being said… his defence is weak. Only smearing the West but coming with hollow words… and sounding like he has read Hollywood scripts for action movies. Yes, the West has struggled with “white man’s burden” and that’s a legit thing to question. Especially, the real motives or ambition behind the funds or the aide in general. There is a need for broader conversation about that and what’s the purpose in the end. As there has been lacking results, but a huge payout of currency from the West to the African continent over the years.
That OO asks for resistance is brave. If the Africans was resist and do as he asks. That would mean the public would rise up and create revolutions. Revolutions that would target NRM and overthrow it. That’s the resistance that can end the addiction of foreign aide, grants or loans. This is the only way the measures or mechanisms of World Bank can loose it’s relevance… and OO doesn’t want to poke at that dragon. The “walk to work” proved that the NRM or Museveni couldn’t carry it forever, if people obeyed or tried to push them out. However, they where able to keep afloat and get by. That’s why OO has a job still and the NRM is in power to this day.
OO really stunned with this one. His trying two things at once. Trying to sound reasonable and be aggressive towards outsiders. His only partly reasonable and that’s when he used opposition talking point. When he was aggressive was when he grievances and addressed the World Bank or the West. Nevertheless, I didn’t buy it and he isn’t cutting it. Surely the NRM will be happy about this piece. Though it is a slap in their face, as the government spokesperson spoke ill of their gerrymandering ways or duplicated government organizations created by his Master, Museveni. Peace.














