Rukiga County

Easter 2010: A Message for the Youth

2010-03-31T15:37:00.007-03:00

After a tumultuous three months of lots of activities, here comes the Easter holidays. Allow me to say hooray to you all of you during this Easter holiday. I am not sitting holding my hands down but rather working harder to keep our nation moving forward and focused reach the end with all of you cheering. Dear brothers and sisters, lets us not take this Easter season for granted but rather use it to rise from all the chains of all unworthy reckless actions we may have committed and celebrate the rare beauty of a new life. This is in correspondence with the fact that in Uganda we are a lucky people because we are the only nation that is called the Pearl of Africa because of the beauty of our country…. As the Christians gather at Nakivubo stadium this Friday, allow me to borrow the words of Clarence W. Hall that “Easter says you can put the truth in a grave, but it won’t stay there”. It is a time to learn from our past that we the youth need not to be used during the coming elections for purposes of being a passage to the greater heights. Step out of that cocoon to spread the message of leadership for the future, as members of my fan page… this is the beginning of my message of how we can become a force of this nation to enable a change of fortunes for the better. Today, millions of fellow youth are facing very many challenges ranging from teenage pregnancies, child led families, HIV/AIDS, under/unemployment, corruption to mention but a few. The issue of unemployment is burning seriously as we struggle year in – year out to find meaningful employment and eager to participate in the corporate world. This is a common scene on all the roads of the nation but it is not because we are short of ideas of how we can change it. It is simply a reality of lack of sufficient opportunities to succeed and create gainful working conditions in all parts of Uganda. We as the youth are a precious resource to this nation and it is on this factor that I come forward to seek your support in establishing realistic and specific opportunities that will empower and inspire us in an effort to create a sustainable national economy. Ladies and Gentlemen, now I am here to seek for you support in the coming months in spreading my words to the youth that should be a constant reminder from me encouraging all the concerned young men and women to help shift our attitudes towards building local capacity to generate the vision, commitment and ability necessary to create a ripple effect across all districts of the country. It was Henry Knox Sherrill who once told his congregation on one Easter Holiday that “The joyful news that He is risen does not change the contemporary world. Still before us lie work, discipline, and sacrifice. But the fact of Easter gives us the spiritual power to do the work, accept the discipline, and make the sacrifice”. For the happiness of all of us, hard work, discipline and sacrifice will be fundamental in setting out the outcomes in this year. This long weekend lets all remember that “Easter is a time of reflection and joy. When we emerge from our cocoon of doubt to fly freely on the wings of faith. May you be renewed and strengthened... ...in the promise of our Lord”. Happy Easter Wishes to all of you wherever your. Kiiza Andrew

Can the Lukiiko ‘square the circle’ in the Modern Uganda?

2009-07-30T05:47:00.002-03:00

This month was laden with articles about the standoff between Mengo and the Government of Uganda. Fellow liberal minded Ugandans who in 1993 saw the return of culture organisations such as the kingdoms of Buganda, Toro, Bunyoro and the territory of Busoga as a signal of achieving a measure of unity devoid of giving up the profits of a local socio-cultural autonomy. A disagreement that is being allured to the government courtesy of the Lukiiko, in my opinion, is playing simple political gimmicks with hidden motives that could deny the subjects a chance to realise the advantages of a unitary government. A resolution to hold more talks with the government in regards to all issues that affect the subjects of the Kabaka should have been passed while waiting for the federal discussions to be added to the agenda when the time comes.
Logically, for Lukiiko to single out federal governance as the major issue for discussion with government while putting the rest aside, it is the personal interests (ebyabwe) at stake not those of the peasants/subjects (ebyaffe). Historically, this is not the first and will not be the last because in a modern society, we will not be able to meet a government that is willing to accept the federal demands as is, when the regional tier government can be reviewed and made to work to meet the needs of the masses. It is normal that we are seeing a faction in the name of ‘Federo’ demands since the Lukiiko in the words of Alexander Hamilton is an elite group “united and actuated by some common impulse of passion and of interests; adverse to the rights of other citizens or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community.” It would be under this background that many would call it Feudalistic rather than Federalist demands as evidence suggests that the Lukiiko is made up of successors of a selected class of Baganda and not just everyone. According to the Federation for Human Rights Initiative Land Rights Report of Jan – June 2008, “out of a population of close to one million people only 3700 were allocated land and the rest remained landless .” Such a classification of Uganda citizens created an oligarchy in whom political power in the society was exclusively vested at the time. With civilisation, it is without doubt that today, those who hold and those without land have very distinct in interest in the kingdom vis-à-vis those in and those not in the Lukiiko.
Presently, Uganda is seeking to become a modernised as well as an urbanised society and this needs a centralised system of management rather than Federo due to the great socio-economic problems that are largely nationwide and international in scope. The growth in the different necessities in a civilised nation like Uganda, necessitate an end to the Bulange - Government ‘wars’ because the Lukiiko is a class actuated by different sentiment and views not pertinent to the growth of the peasants. Uganda as a republic and a government of the citizens is better served in unitary because it is a desirable if it is premised upon recognition of the values of diversity as take in the 1995 constitution, simply stated ‘Gifted by Nature’ culturally, ethnically and environmentally to mention the least. To pursue a two pronged war to achieve great modernity interlaced with cultural excellence, it is important not to be blindfolded by simple interests. Thomas Hobbes, an English philosopher, once stated that “our judgments tend to be distorted by self-interest and pains at the moment.” Would the Lukiiko have been influenced by the pains of knowing that there is no more talk about the Federo while making its resolutions? This a question that I cannot answer as a member of the Lukiiko, but in my opinion some of the resolutions are absurd because a boycott of a leading news paper and other media outlets would incapacitate the level of knowledge of the very subjects that serve to keep the kingdom as it is. In the same breath, cultural celebrations such as Ekiggwo (wrestling) should be encouraged more than anything. To make a society culturally impotent under the guise of discussions about Federo is tantamount to disrespect of the need to strengthen a Ganda cultural symbol as well as demise of the cultural growth in Uganda. Any single thing boycotted by the learned and moneyed members of the decision making body affects the subjects in the long run.
Fellow Ugandans, a circle cannot be squared and in a civilised society, war is not the answer to the differences between Bulange and the Government. As Ugandans, we cannot keep living in the ideals of the past century where people’s rights were not deemed important and subjects were always asked to work to satisfy the needs the land lords. The demands of Federo can only be facilitated by the people because they are granted the powers by Article 1(1) of the 1995 Constitution that states “All power belongs to the people who shall exercise their sovereignty in accordance with this constitution.” The dilemma between the two institutions cannot go on unless the Bulange contingent is willing to go against the constitution that is “the supreme law of Uganda and shall have binding force on all authorities and persons throughout Uganda.” The simplistic rhetoric against the government and asking for boycotts of cultural events and knowledge sources like the Newvision is not an answer to the problems the nation faces. Subjects/citizens are encouraged to develop intellectually, economically, culturally and socially, through cooperation between the cultural and government institutions of authority. To achieve political prosperity or security of private rights such as Land and Property, political gimmicks and blame games should halt. We need to grow respect of the constitution of the land for it embodies the principles of a true republican government.

Kiiza Andrew - The writer is political analyst and Pan Africanist in Uganda.

The Digital Cloud: A good rain in the era of corporate economic drought in Uganda

2009-07-15T07:21:00.003-03:00

It would be unimaginable for a graduate of Information, Communications and Technology (ICT) from Makerere University in the 1990s to think of an era when he did all work minus a secretary. Many in Uganda did not anticipate a period when a manager could be multitasking week in week out, with one secretary available for the team. And then comes the economic crisis, a change in heart of many workers, CEOs and Managing Directors has come about putting their jobs in hand before their dreams in the forest. Similarly, in this age of competition, the ICT sectors of companies are deemed to be the most active in order to create a competitive advantage. The American bug of hiring the multitalented most especially in IT to help revive the falling economy is now biting widespread across continents and nations. The burning question now could be that, what happens with the coming of Broadband connection at a time of an economic crisis in the world?

This June, Uganda is joining the much hyped “broadband” and companies will for the first time digitize their systems to access the top most connection speeds ever. However, the government as speculated by the IMF is going to be stiffened by the recession hence a 5.5% growth rate will be expected. Will Uganda be able to utilize this opportunity to role out super-fast broadband, and create many jobs across the country? There cannot be a crisis proof Uganda, under the hopes of the citizens shopping their way through it, but rather, Ugandans can be provided with job opportunities to dig down the digital infrastructure to all corners of the country as they invest what they earn. As for our forward thinking CEOs who are not part of the Telecom industry, there is an opportunity to establish new business models, processes and services that would enable a higher competitive edge over their regional foes in this economic predicament. This will undoubtedly enable a strong outcome at the end of the crisis.

A Washington based Think Tank, Brookings Institution once noted that “every percentage point increase of broadband penetration at state level (country in the case of Africa), employment increases by 0.2% - 0.3% per year.” In Ugandan terms, we would be looking at cases of IT related industries developing in areas out of Kampala, while companies that get hooked to the broadband would be able to introduce positions in that field. The case of job growth is not isolated to US, for the European Union, the German based Micus and Wik-Consult Think Tanks projected that “greater availability of broadband internet connections could create more than 2 million jobs by 2015.” So what is the case of Uganda going to be in June 2009 at the whistle of the Broadband train?

My prediction is that Ugandans will get along fast enough because of a hig h literate percentage in African terms, which is an important tool when well harnessed by the government and corporate bodies. We are going to see a growth in the IT industry of Uganda because people will be able to adjust fast enough to the changes that come with the economic crisis. A first-rate dependable policy of social and economic transformation in the education and health sectors will profit handsomely from the coming of the broadband information highway. Companies, institutions and ministries should be able to create standardized records that are shared fast and efficiently across the nation in all aspects. There should also be smart technological investments in the energy and water sectors creating a ‘new dynamic domestic environment that will lead to a surge of confidence that is necessary to ascertain [Uganda]’s claim to its own future.’ In the age of broadband, Ugandan intellectuals stand to play a commendable role in the shaping of the socio-economic status of Uganda using their valuable skills and knowledge on the broadband platform.

Although there is no timely research on Uganda as a nation, the coming of broadband is a good stimulus for research and development which should be able to translate into a considerable improvement in the employment and productivity percentages as a whole. With a consideration of the sectors of Education, Energy, Health, Trade and Industry; the introduction of broadband this year will be a blessing since the digital infrastructure will stimulate the economy like ‘the roads and the bridges and the railways that were built in the previous times.’ Many citizens stand a chance to re-invest their savings since fees especially in the Telecom and Internet industry stand to be lower with cyber competition from the likes of the less priced Skype and other VOIP services joining the fray.

A fully fledged E-business market allowing the Small and Medium sized Enterprises to incur lower costs on many of the services from logistics to marketing and best of all, customer care is long overdue. A fairly good customer care is the single most lacking ingredient in most of the Ugandan enterprises whose complete turn around could see Ugandans play a bigger role in East African Markets.

Finally we are in a period where the global markets, services and products are going to be brought closer to the individuals than ever before. The communications revolution of 2K9 courtesy of the coming of Broadband is set to be one of the most effective means of tapping the socio-economic potential of this nation. As Kofi Hadji would say, “the stakes are high. A revolution in culture [and communications] is one of the strongest liberation of the mind. New images, a new language and new symbols will also bring a new audience with a new outlook. Out of such changes will be born the New Africa,” [most especially the Pearl of Africa, Uganda]. Will the Digital Cloud hovering over Uganda save us from the economic drought with an eternal trickle? Fibre world,... we are waiting

Kiiza Andrew Odwedo
aokiiza@gmail.com
0752466995

Is Hope getting Hopeless in Africa?

2009-01-13T20:01:00.009-04:00

It is common knowledge that a number of Ugandans are living in abject poverty as orphans, displaced or landless. In such dire conditions, many NGOs, churches, governments have embraced the act of giving in return for development. As it has become part of my routine, to read most of the Ugandan and British dailies, Jan 12th New Vision had the astounding story of Gill Hope. Gill Hope aka Gill Edwards was apprehended by the Uganda Police and Sheraton Hotel security for defrauding the hotel on her bills. On the other hand, she was having a story of development for the nation courtesy of Ugandans, Americans and Canadians trying to build shelter for the orphans. So this made me wonder, in this age of globalization, how can a daughter of our colonial masters, the British, come to Uganda and fake an organization without raising any red flag? Is the ministry of Internal Affairs really doing its duty in conducting a through background check on these mushrooming NGOs in the country? Aren't the rural citizens like in Rukiga County being put to risk of being conned by such characters like Gill Hope? (Released as a I pen this blog, Jan 14 @7pm Atlantic time).

Hope, as Gill would prefer to be called, had crafted a neat message, gullible to the AID hungry Ugandans, as well as the ignorant donors out there. Despite the amount of pity that Africans deserve, there should be an increase of studies about the social, economic and political status of the continent. This would be helpful in limiting fraudulent people in the name of aid for development. The founding African liberators such as Kwame Nkurumah, Julius Nyerere, Patrice Lumumba & our very own, Milton Obote should be rolling wherever they are when they realise that their struggle for independence and vision of enlightenment has not materialized, half a century later. The need for AID has rather overshadowed the age-old struggles and bloodshed to create African nations able to feed and educate their citizens independently. The original struggle of Hope in African by Africans, leave a question of whether the HOPE of living in a better continent, has been turned HOPELESS by the egoistic persons not habituated to hardship.

This hag, Gill Hope, is a halitosis in the sphere of development, a world where people breathing fresh air to the failed economic policies of the gluttonous world, are constantly failed by her risque stories about HOPE & Help. Christianity tells of a story of false prophets out there. People pretending to do good for those in pity while siphoning even the little that they have been able to make. It is however prudent to understand the warning of Matthew, that "a good tree cannot produce bad fruits, a rotten tree cannot produce good fruits." With Hope being a rotten tree in the garden of development, she needs to be incarcerated and have her rotten twigs pruned in order to leave the work of development to the organizations and people that care and are genuinely looking for results. It is here that i commend the work of the Ministry of Internal affairs and the police, in pushing to regulate the number of NGOs in Uganda. Limiting to the ones that have some work to do and removing the ones that are profiteering on innocent people. The likes of Hope and Dutch International as noted in the weekly Observer this week. "Any tree that cannot produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.". It is about time that we put substantive legislation in play to guide the work of NGOs and people in the field of AID & Development. The need to help the orphans, displaced, hungry and homeless is genuine, but this work can be done with a good heart.

By, Kiiza Andrew Odwedo

A specter is Haunting Rural Uganda, a Specter of the High Fuel Prices

2009-01-04T04:35:00.007-04:00

As i put out this piece for 2K9, many Ugandans have already made their feelings known to the public about the injustice of the continuously exorbitant fuel prices that we are facing. Down south in the Hills of Rukiga county, it just seems like the day Marx & Engels wrote the opening remarks of the manifesto "A specter is haunting Europe -- the specter of Communism".

Uganda is a country blessed with fertility, resources and intelligent people. The potential of the nation in my opinion is not fully utilised by present leadership. It is completely naive to neglect short-term bottlenecks to the growth of the country by using the excuse of the free markets as was stated by His Excellency during the State of the Nation.

In 1986, Amal Kumar once wrote an article in the Wall Street Journal on how the US Auto Makers had "spent billions making factories of the future to produce at lower cost and compete with Japanese Autos." They set up these machines while ignoring the people who operate them and this backfired later, and the Auto makers acknowledged that "they underestimated the importance of pairing technology with people". This simple anecdote from 1986, the year my party came to power is very important in shaping a market economy that serves the needs of the people rather the needs of the profiteering petrol station.

The case of Rukiga county is what i would call an alternative alley for my president in terms of advice from a well rooted NRMO constituency. Politics put aside, the high fuel prices are affecting the rural areas a lot more than is reported in the daily briefings. It is important to note that Uganda as an agricultural country is highly affected by a simple rise in fuel prices since it creates high prices in everything most especially food. In essence, with less food on the table, many people are going to be turned into less productive citizens since over the course of time, it is there seeds they are eating rather than growing, or with only one meal a day they are not able to complete a piece of land they have always been able to plant. His excellency will argue that high food prices are good for the citizens, but with high fuel prices and inflation, there is a negation in the balance of trade in that people have nothing in their pockets despite longer hours of work. Imports are cheaper than exports, fewer people are willing to buy beyond the necessary needs.

Contrary to the belief in the self regulated market economy, it should be taken understood that Lack of food, health services, low morale to work etc are fundamental issues that cannot be "solved by individual participants operating in a free market economy". The idea that businesses are socially responsible and they will do what is right when the people are missing on their social obligation is long founded propaganda and will not work in the situation we are in today. It is important that the government takes a lead in saving the society the pain of paying $4 a little while working for $2 a day. Remember small business and individuals are still by far the backbone of the Ugandan economy and this consistent rise in fuel prices irrespective of the Suppy - Demand factor will be killing important steps achieved in the past years of our Government.

In the hills of Rukiga county, there is great worry that with this broad day light thuggery at the pumps in the metropolis Kampala and an increasing consignment to misery and poverty across the rural terrain of the nation will make the NRMO look like a party with less regard to the majority. It would be reasonable for the government to save the people from the petrol sharks that are demoralizing the entire country. I do believe in the free markets, but like one man once said, "the free markets are many things but cant claim to be moral". A reasonable government intervention is essential to bring back some fundamental business ethics.

Like Friedman noted in his article to the New York Times, "the discussions of ... responsibilities of business are notable for their analytical looseness and lack of rigor. Only people can have responsibilities, a corporation is an artificial person and in this sense may have artificial responsibilities". To leave the present situation to the markets is irresponsible, it leaves my 80 something year old grand mother unable to grow her gardens, it brings hunger to the families and the petrol stations will continuously deny the people the right to happiness through their immoral and irresponsible hoarding tactics. Collectively, consumers are losing billions of shillings a year through being overcharged by the dealers.

For Uganda to continue looking at the future, a commission to regulate prices of fuel should be set up so that we are bale to have the dealers follow the basic rules of society. It is undeniable that markets have no hunger, don't see poverty or poor health service, it is us the human beings that see all that. Philosophically, it is wrong to let the markets determine the better social being of the masses for they can have "no idea of what is morally good if we do not have some idea of the proper functions of human". As the unofficial Rukiga County spokesman, I will simply ask, What do the markets know about the families eating their seeds for the next planting season? What do the markets know about my sick grand mother (village mate) unable to get cheap reliable transport to the hospital or take care of her coffee plantations?

I do believe in Adam Smith's invisible hand benefiting the society, but this is not always right when the profits override the fundamental problems of the society. This is the problem the government should step in and address through the Ministry of Ethics. Business is at its best in an equal and ethical environment of operation but not when it is acting "to the degree that tends to decrease the sum of total happiness in the country and it is judged as immoral" like now. A well organised Business ethics department, can watch over the actions of the dealers not "by putting emphasis on the rules and principles to guide specific actions" but rather on the characteristics of long term patterns of behavior from which unethical actions arise. Simply put, I was born in a period of peace and i support the party of my birth. But Action today from that party will save our nation and my Rukiga County hundreds of millions of shillings, as well as motivate the citizens with increased consumption, affordable services and commodities hence the happiness of the massess - a topic i will be writing about soon.

By Kiiza Andrew Odwedo

Fulfillment of Rights of the Vulnerable in Uganda: The Communities Challenge

2008-12-25T22:37:00.000-04:00

Uganda has made a significant progress in fulfilling its commitments to promoting the rights of children, women and other vulnerable persons over the past decade. However, in many of our communities, the rights of vulnerable groups are still inadequately fulfilled. Such rights include the right to health, education, a healthy environment, and protection from sexual exploitation and abuse.

Many of these rights have been abused due to negative individual and family care practices such as refusing to take children to school, forcing the girl child into early marriages, violence against women such as sexual and gender based violence. These poor family care practices are the major causes of the problems found in communities that include high infant and maternal mortality, poor water and sanitation, high school drop out rates, high HIV/AIDS infection rates especially among young people.

The above situation therefore has raised the cause of stakeholders to mention SOVHEN Uganda university graduates and student volunteers from Uganda Martyrs University Nkozi and Makerere University to get concerned. These concerns are made visible through Community Dialogue which is the continuous exchange of views, opinions and ideas among people or groups of people about an issue or concern in order to build a common understanding and promote individual, family and action.

Community dialogue is a tool for enhancing the community mobilization and empowerment process for the various communities to collectively participate in the development process. Using community dialogue, planning, implementation and monitoring of programmes can lead to sustainability of the initiatives. This is the reason why in development work, community participation has become increasingly important and is recognized by the Government of Uganda. The 1995 Constitution and Local Government Act (1997) have enshrined the principle of participation, which provides for the state to take all necessary steps to involve the people in the formulation and implementation of development plans and programmes which affect them.

The major strength of Community Dialogue is the recognition of knowledge, skills and values of the community and by working through existing community structures-channels. Channels are utilized to ensure there is continuous and sustained dialogue in the communities on issues or concerns and challenges to enhance community development efforts. Examples of channel include Faith Based Organizations like Catholic Church of Uganda, Uganda Moslem Supreme Council and Social Cultural Organizations like Uganda Girl and Scout Guides Association.

It is therefore beneficial to use Community Dialogue and engage all the existing channels in our communities. This will make it possible for us to have a national wide impact through promoting the participation of various stakeholders in the fulfillment of the rights of the vulnerable groups.

Community Dialogue trough existing channels makes it possible for us to tap and harness the existing potential. We shall promote increased participation of various duty bearers in the fulfillment of the rights of the vulnerable groups. It will strengthen the partnership between the communities and development partners and provide a supportive environment that empowers the weak and vulnerable to express their views and thus their voices will be captured.

It is acknowledged now that Community Dialogue is one way of ensuring effectiveness by duty bearers to fulfill their responsibilities. This is because Community concerns can not be solved by outsiders but through a collective thinking and action by the responsible community. This can only be achieved if we put value in the Community Dialogue principle of a two way behavior change that requires the development facilitators to recognize existing knowledge, skills, experience and capacity for onward utilization.

Richard Bbaale, The writer is the co-founder and director of SOVHEN Uganda and can be reached by email on sovhen@yahoo.com or by phone 0412231517

Generational Relay Ends with an Obama Gold

2008-11-05T00:17:00.002-04:00

Following the creation of history for almost two years, I count myself grateful for having witnessed the Americans elect someone based on his talents and abilities. It is an American dream as the land of the Free & Blessed fulfilled. President - Elect Barack Obama has closed a campaign that has been run flawless from the day he announced his intention to contest for ONE of the highest elected office in the world. As a Ugandan, i find this is a phenomenon political incident when the Americans have looked beyond colour, race and ethnicity to elect a president that combines the Reagan & Kennedy abilities to connect to the masses.

President Obama lacked the so called 'killer punches' during the debates as the pundits would have wanted, and he moved past different accusations and unwarranted associations of being too socialist & inexperienced. Obama may do nothing during his term as the president but by being elected as the 44th President of USA, he has re-written the books of history of that nation. It took decades to allow the blacks to vote, and fulfilling the dream of winning the presidency gives hope to every young child witnessing this moment or born to read the road to success by Obama that with spirited and disciplined performance, anything can be achieved. If one can realize his abilities, then the journey to achieve his/her dreams has been cleared by the ascendancy of Obama to the white house.

To predict the success of President - elect Obama now, i would be wrong, but by appreciating the organization of his whole campaign, there is a chance that USA Inc, will be slowly and gradually brought back to the green zone. With America in green, it is self sufficient and more secure than when it is dependent on the the competing nations including Brazil, Russia, India & China in terms of borrowing to spend on energy. The possible biggest challenge forObama's first years alongside the crumbling economy is going to be achieving good foreign cooperation and diplomatic respect from the rest of the world. With the war in Iraq, America expanded its influence in the world beyond its abilities while leaving the rear in the mess. He will have to first correct the poor image created under the poor leadership of George Bush and Dick Cheney since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Judging from his vice - presidential selection of an experienced foreign relations Senator, Joe Biden , there is an opportunity of the children who are a proof of the struggling and hustling middle class, to lead from experience and bode well with the rest of the world in establishing a foundation for economic development worldwide. There is a chance that this leadership might create a long lasting impact that could re-establish a leading American empire by the end of eight years.

Brothers & sisters in Uganda and Africa as a whole, today, our children can be told that they can be anything that they want. So why can't we strive to move out of poverty on our own? It is a slow journey but slowly and united, our countries in Africa should use the opportunity created by Obama's success to motivate towards achieving economic independence. By now, dependence on aid should be a foregone factor, we rather should start looking to create a good and formidable economy meeting the needs of local citizens first. Having seen Obama keep the spirit for 21 month, it is prudent to call this the end of a relay race to the white house, anchored by Rosa Parks, with Martin Luther King, Rev. Jesse Jackson and Barack Obama receiving the baton each generational change until the cheers and support of all Americans despite the color, race, age, education and ethnicity united to propel them to the gold medal based on their abilities and willingness to serve the cause of the entire nation.

A win by a team is a win for all, and the support of the majority has created "a government of the people, by the people and for the people". The presidency of the Senator Barack Obama & Joe Biden has moved entire America from the verge of history to rewriting history with nationwide wave of change committed to return a unified USA once forethought of by Abraham Lincoln who once said that "A House Divided Against Itself, Cannot Stand."

To the doubting Thomas, this November 4th victory has demonstrated that there is nothing stronger than a unified force of committed and disciplined citizens, "young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled". Citizens united for one common cause can transcend the divisionary borders of the nation due to ideological misconception to create one state that will always be able command respect, trust and integrity from the rest of world.

By Kiiza Andrew Odwedo