Statement on the Uganda crisis from AWAAZ

Awaaz notes with concern the recent re-emergence of racial conflict in Uganda.

 
It is indeed sad that the South Asian community in Uganda as a whole has paid the price for the recklessness of a few South Asian leaders who have once again collaborated with the ruling class; this time to rape the country of its natural resource and continue the exploitation of the Ugandan people.

It is the story of the South Asians in East Africa since the advent of independence in the territories. These business tycoons are single mindedly determined to make money in collaboration with the ruling elites. In doing so they portray the entire South Asian community as the ‘visible enemy’; and thus undermine the positive roles that ordinary South Asians have played, and are playing, in the colonial and independent histories of the East African countries.
 
It is indeed disappointing that president Museveni considers environmental conservation a ‘luxury’! We in Kenya are grappling with trying to replace our lost environmental resources and are already suffering from the consequences.

Surely Uganda’s South Asian industrialists should understand this global concern. Their complete inability in Uganda to learn from history and chart a new path of national inclusion and reconciliation, instead of exacerbating the myth of exploitation, is shocking, to say the least.

It is reckless and irresponsible for the Mehta Group to attempt to plunder the resources of Uganda in complete violation of the wishes of the Ugandan people and of international environmental standards.

We do applaud the sentiments of the general Ugandan South Asian community in condemning the move by the Mehta group. They need to link up with the rest of the Ugandan community and struggle for a just, democratic and environmentally secure country.
 
Awaaz once again reiterates that it stands for:

-  The need for the South Asian communities in East Africa to get involved politically and cast their lot with the masses of the three countries. As Awaaz has shown, history is replete with examples of individuals who have participated in the political processes in the region. Some notable individuals are:

-   Uganda: Sugra Visram – MP, 1963 - 1966
-   Kenya:  Pio Gama Pinto – socialist, freedom fighter
-   Makhan Singh - founder of the trade union movement
-   Manilal Desai – party organiser and freedom fighter
-   Tanzania:  Sophia Mustafa – MP, 1958 - 1965
-   Amir Jamal – minister of finance
 
The community has to get involved in the day to day political processes be it at parliamentary or civic levels. We in Kenya have once again the opportunity of getting representation in the body politic during the upcoming 2007 election.
 
Finally we stand in solidarity with the Ugandan people and the Ugandan South Asian community as they struggle against dictatorship and political repression. We have to stand up and be counted - history will judge us accordingly!
 
Further reading:
The Daily Nation - p.17, Friday 13 April 2007
The Daily Nation - 'Africa Insight' report: Friday 20 April 2007