EDITOR’S NOTE: NOBODY BUT YOU CAN BEST NARRATE YOUR EXPERIENCE

Our February Edition features two polar views on whether ethnic slaughter occurred in both former Yugoslavia and Rwanda in the 1990s. We welcome readers who might have been in similar situations to share their views on the two horrific events. They are the ones who can best narrate their experiences.

Last week, the International Justice Court issued a new ruling on a case brought by the Democratic Republic of Congo’s accusing Uganda of looting and plundering her natural resources and killing her citizens. Previously, Uganda was ordered to pay the DRC $10b. To date, not a cent was paid. Now, the court revised the reparation to $325m. While not addressing this particular case, the article by Mpanga and Ddungu offers a way to resolve disputes between two or more countries instead of resorting to war as a solution.   

While it is true that fiction novels are the products of the imagination of the authors, it is equally true that fiction imitates life and vice versa. Last week, the Ugandan media was awash with news of the Speaker of Parliament being flown to Seattle, USA, for treatment at the cost of $500m. Prior to that, the Governor of the Bank of Uganda died in Nairobi, Kenya. Even before that, many other officials were flown to India, USA, Europe, South Africa, including one of the president’s daughters who was flown many years ago to Germany to deliver her baby.

Though nobody questions the desire of the sick to seek the best treatment, ordinary citizens are asking whether the health of the big shots is worth more than their own. They wonder why, despite being the ones paying taxes to foot the bill for healthcare for the big shots outside the country, they themselves have no options but to go to whatever health facilities is accessible to them within the country.

Rounding up the rear is a review by Professor Henning Melba of an interesting book titled “White Malice: How the CIA Strangled African Independence at Birth” by Susan Williams. The book gives a glimpse of why one of the most naturally endowed African countries continues to struggle to create the kind of country which would be beneficial to her citizens.