De-register UNAA as they cannot stay off politics of Uganda

By James William Mugeni

United States of America – 30 October 2020: Editor, as one of the council members on the Uganda North American Association (UNAA), I have decided to act differently from the tradition. I cannot keep silent any more under the disguise because the organization has become more of a political organization and all its operations, including leadership are controlled by the Kampala regime.

The threats of tearing us apart out of the association is real; the council has an invisible hand that keeps leadership in chaos that is dependent on Kampala politics. Conditions in Uganda are increasingly getting worse that we the so-called political association cannot stay clear of leadership in Uganda, we are forced to keep silent on the dehumanizing conditions in Uganda.

The conditions that force us to become refuges in America or asylum seekers in America can only be addressed if we take bold steps that we pretend not to see by commission or omission. This association ceased serving our interests in America but is designed to serve interests of highly connected individuals, businesses and political interests of the regime in Uganda.

Politicians in Uganda and in America actively participate in influencing the elections of leadership of the association that takes political innuendos from Uganda. One would have imagined the many Ugandans who are enjoying the freedoms in America should have loved this reflected in their native country.

Government of Uganda has systematically penetrated America and created rowdiness in UNAA. Conflicts dominate the UNAA leadership and the council held at ransom by designed programs that borrow a leaf from Parliament of Uganda.

We in America must now live with extended fears from Uganda as UNAA is said to be booby-trapped. We who have risen to leadership in the association find it literally impossible to get new membership, as there are no values to impress on the apprehensive Ugandan population in America.

Ugandan communities both in America and at home have grown weary and have gone for individual pursuit in silence, as they fear the high handedness of the Kampala regime.

America offers fundamental freedoms of expression and values that we should be able to extend this freedom not only to Ugandans in America but also to Ugandans at home. UNAA created from Kampala is systematically turning people who have moved to America into idiots.

UNAA at incipient had genuinely started as an organization that would bring together Ugandans in America to help them face the many challenges of living in the diaspora.

However, like all institutions in Uganda, the failures in UNAA is characteristic of Ugandan institutions that have collapsed due to political interference. The 35 years of President Museveni made UNAA a target.

Naturally, you would say Ugandans in America are the hope of Uganda. This is something one must sparingly write about.

Government of Uganda has pushed its hooks with direct funding through the Ugandan Embassy to ensure control of UNAA activities. Government of Uganda determines who comes to the helm of UNAA leadership.

As a council member representing the central plains, I have little faith left but to call for US government to de-register UNAA to allow us Ugandans get back to the drawing board and start on a new chapter as elections every two years will not help matters.

The author is a Medical Clinical Officer/Certified Public Manager.

Phone: 515-346-5317