What Is Africa’s Problem

Appendix: The National Resistance Movement Ten-Point Program

APPENDIX The National Resistance Movement Ten-Point Program Background Over the five years of the protracted liberation struggle (from February 1981 to January 1986), the National Resistance Movement, together with the High Command and senior officers of the National Resistance Army, under the chairmanship of Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, worked out proposals for a political program. This formed the basis for a nationwide coalition of political and social forces that could usher in a better future for the long-suffering people of Uganda. This program is popularly known as the Ten-Point Program of the National Resistance Movement. 1. Restoration of Democracy Since Uganda's independence in 1962,Ugandans have not enjoyed "government of the people, by the people, and for the people.'" Although the National Resistance Movement believes in free and fair elections held at regular intervals, it asserts that democracy cannot be meaningful without a reasonable standard of living for all people. 2. Restoration of Security Over the first twenty-fouryears of Uganda's independence, Milton Obote and Idi Amin between them were responsible for the deaths of over 800,000 Ugandans. 257 258 Appendix The NRM pledges to restore security of person and property to all Ugandans. 3. Consolidation of National Unity and Elimination of All Forms of Sectarianism Politics in Uganda have been manipulated by past politicians along sectarian , religious, and tribal cleavages.The NRM asks: "What enmity can there be between a Muganda peasant and a Langi peasant? Or between a Christian peasant and a Muslim peasant?" These manufactured divisions have ensured that people could not unite to confront their common enemy—underdevelopment. The NRM will not tolerate any sectarian opportunists of any shade. The fundamental causes of Ugandan people's suffering must be ended. One's religion, color, sex, or height is not a consideration when new members are welcomed into the National Resistance Movement. 4. Defending and Consolidating National Independence Although there were many external forces that hindered real African national independence, postindependence politicians in most of Africa were intellectually, ideologically, and morally unequal to the task of consolidating it, even given the odds. Many merely used their offices for self-enrichment, thus making a mockery of the very idea of African self-determination and political development. The NRM concludes, however, that provided a country like Uganda has a clearheaded leadership— given its considerable resources and a dynamic people with traditions of relative civilization—it can deal profitably with countries of divergent social and political systems. 5. Building an Independent, Integrated, and Self-Sustaining National Economy This point involves the structural reconstruction of the present asymmetrical economy. Most African economies are dependent on the export of one or two crops like coffee, tea, or cotton, which are not even processed in their countries of origin. There are very fewmanufactur- Appendix 259 ing industries, and the few that do exist are heavily dependent onforeign inputs. To compound all this, primary commodities are always losing value, while manufactured goods become ever more expensive. (For example, a pound of coffee was worth 340 U.S. cents in 1977;in 1986 it was worth 280 cents; and by January1992,it had fallen below 60 cents.) Also, there is no linkage between the different sectors of the economy. The following steps must, therefore,be taken to change this situation: (i) Diversification in agriculture away from the present narrow cash crop base. (ii) An extensive process of import substitution in order to reduce the import bill, especially of basic consumer goods. (iii) Processing of export raw materials so that more value is added. (iv) Building of basic industries like iron, steel, and chemicals. On this point, the NRM concludes: "Without an independent, integrated, and self-sustaining national economy, Uganda will never stabilize. Much of the present turmoil is as much due to political mismanagement as it is to a narrow economy that cannot accommodate the aspirations of the many groups within our society." 6. Restoration and Improvement of Social Services and Rehabilitation of War-Ravaged Areas Because of the backward condition of the continent, the majority of African people live wretched lives. They are illiterate; they have no clean water or adequate housing; and they have low levels of calorie andprotein intake. In the case of Uganda, many of the required social services are within the country's means, provided it has the right kind of leadership. 7. Elimination of Corruption and the Misuse of Power The prevalence...