As a Ugandan, my biggest challenge has been to
identify as one in a pool of sects that lie across the divide and have been
ingrained in the population of this land.
We are divided by language, tribal orientation,
political belonging among other trivial aspects like football most especially European teams. In as much as
society is made out of belonging, the bigger face of our identity would be “Ugandan”.
We are supposed to be first Ugandan before we subscribe to any other sect of
our society.
Peculiar of us, is that we are more Ugandan abroad
than home. We identify more with our nationality away from home and the thirst
to escape this land keeps on growing by the day.
This is the first discussion point in the long
journey of creating progress in most of the initiatives for transformation
in Uganda. We need to unite as a people raised in diversity which for the better part should be good, because everyone ultimately has something to offer to the transformation of our nation. I have seen Ugandans unite and come together and express their "Ubuntu" on many occasions. Ugandans have supported the National teams unconditionally.
Ugandans run successful health drives to help the ailing Ugandans in our society.
And so it is in that spirit that one can arguably conclude that the sense of
oneness and community is not alien to us.
Therefore; in the vie for development and
transformation of our country, we as the people need to push for patriotic
oneness embedded ever so strongly in our heritage as Ugandans. It is of great
importance because everything else that we are to accomplish as Ugandans lies
in our ability to realize our duty as Ugandans.
The truth in the slogan, " Together we stand, divide we fall" is evident in our history as a nation from the colonial times, when the colonialists implored divide and rule to conquer Uganda. Our strength as a people lies in standing united, in bringing our diverse heritage and forge away forward as one people, in taking pride in our diversity and Ugandaness.
We need to unite and push for Nation pride and be supportive
of home grown products and services. We need to support initiatives that put Ugandans at the forefront of their development and governance. In loving our country and uniting for its
betterment lies our ability to work together, prosper together and progress
forward as a Nation.
In the words of Jesus Christ, "And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand". Mark 3:25
