Hajjat Medina NRM Director , Finance $ Administration Speaks on Uganda's Political Development

Hajjat Medina Director for finance and administration for NRM

KAMPALA-UGANDA,  October 9, 2023

On October 9, 2023, Uganda celebrated its 61st independence, which it attained from Britain on October 9, 1962, and Today Africa News interviewed Hajjat Medina Naham Ojale, the National Resistant Movement's (NRM's) director for finance and administration, on the political development of Uganda since independence.

Today Africa News: How would you describe Uganda's political development since independence?

Hajjat Medina: I think between 1962 and 1980, I would say that was a period of struggling and turmoil that characterized the political history of Uganda. There were a lot of bickeries among the political players at that time, which retarded Uganda's developments.
As a young child-baby who was learning how to crawl and walk at the same time, things were not smooth for Uganda, and it was like Uganda had not fully prepared to be independent. We saw the coming of Dr. Milton Obote as the first prime minister of Uganda, and a year later we saw the coming of Kabaka, who became president and was later exiled by Dr. Milton Obote.
Because of all those political bickeries, there was no national unity and no sense of oneness in Uganda, which led to a poor economy with bad infrastructural developments, especially roads.
But I want to thank the wise and very intelligent president Yoweri Museven, who ushered in peace and freedom after taking over the power in 1986. Fresh air came into the politics of Uganda as he brought fundamental change and ushered in the ten-point program that restored democracy, where we saw steps in building the country.

Today Africa News: Do you see any future for Uganda after the National Resistant Movement (NRM)?

Hajjat Medina: So much, I don't see the future of Uganda without NRM! I see the future of Uganda with NRM, because, as I told you earlier, we have come a long way, and you remember in our history where we had presidents like Yusuf Lule and Banaisa, who served for only a few months and one served for about two months, but someone who has served 37 years consistently with all the challenges tells you that our future is bright under the leadership of President Yoweri Museven.
However, I have just told you that Uganda is endowed with natural resources (oil), and we need a leader who can tap into the natural endowment like oil, since the prospects are clear that by 2025 we will have our first barrel of oil, Ugandan oil, with the expectation that speedy developments will increase drastically.
All these developments have taken place under the presidency of Yoweri Museven, who is the chairman of the National Resistant Movement. NRM has also nurtured young people who are now productive; we have seen great improvements, and we expect more in the year 2025. NRM has ushered in peace in the country, freedom of expression, freedom of belongings, freedom of worship, free education, and health care services where we don't expect our children to die of killer disease any more, and these elements give me hope for our country to develop.

Today, AfricaNews: What should Uganda do to uplift itself?

Hajjat Medina: I think self-sustainability in Uganda is the best option, and we need to love ourselves as Ugandans because if we are to tap our natural endowment, we need to have peaceful coexistence.
So for me, the most important aspect is patriotism, which I see as lacking, and as long as our mindsets do not change, looking at ourselves as Ugandans and loving one another, we may have a long way to go to achieving our dreams.

Today Africa News: You have rated President Yoweri Museven as the most experienced and respected leader in the region; would you recommend him to be the president of East Africa if it becomes one state?

Hajjat Medina: Why not, of course! The moment a unified currency, a unified system of leadership, and a unified governance are achieved, you look around to see who is the best fit. Obviously,  President Yoweri Museven's name in terms of experience comes in handy; in terms of respect, his name comes in handy; and as a national leader who has led efforts in pacifying not only Uganda but pacifying Africa, even the globe,
Recently, you heard Uganda send a delegation to Russia to mediate peace between Russia and Ukraine. You have seen our troops entering DR Congo to pacify that country, and in Northern Sudan, the UPDF is also trying to bring peaceful coexistence between the leaders. I think President Yoweri Museven is a total package for what we may term president if East Africa is to become one state.

Today, AfricaNews: What is your last word?
Hajjat Medina:  I want to thank Today Africa News for the opportunity to view me, and I want to congratulate our President Yoweri Museven for giving us peace. I also congratulate him for his great job of pacifying our country, and I am proud of him for giving us a private sector-led economy that has increased jobs for our young people.