Why African nationalism is still relevant for UPC, Africa today

However, the NDR programme is misleading. Firstly, there are no countries in existence today upholding (Marxist-Leninist) socialism. Secondly, UPC is and has always been a nationalist party, which seeks to gain power and represent the workers and peasants interests alongside others through parliamentary democratic processes. It does not seek to bring about a proletarian or peasant revolution.

For many UPC members, it is not about looking beyond Obote. It is about standing up for what Obote stood for. Obote stood for the African revolution promoted by radical (African) nationalism and pan-Africanism.
Third world nationalism, the movement for self-determination or self-government in Africa and Asia, is the revolt by the oppressed peoples against European colonialism and White supremacy. Uganda achieved her independence in October 1962, led by Obote, in the wave of African nationalism that spread across the continent and Ugandans continue to mark the anniversary because it is an important day.

In spite of the great achievement, the radical (African) nationalists like Kwame Nkrumah, Obote and Julius Nyerere appreciated that political independence is a process and not an event. They knew that territorial nationalism was insufficient on its own. Therefore, they also stood for the age long vision of pan-Africanism to gain total independence or Uhuru in future.

In a speech in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in May 1963, when the OAU was founded, Obote put this vision succinctly when he stated: “...we have gathered here to find a basis as to how we can advance the two revolutions which are running together in Africa. There is a revolt against foreign rule and economic and social domination.”

“There is also the revolutionary upsurge which aims at giving Africa a new creed, a new certainty, a new sense of belonging by transforming the mental attitudes and orientation of our peoples and by giving them a political, economic and social standard which would ensure a better life than we have today anywhere in Africa. To me, these goals can only be achieved through a continental and a joint effort by all of us. There seems to be no disagreement that we should collectively work together to achieve these goals”. (A. M. Obote, speech at Summit Conference of Independent African States held in Addis Ababa, May 22-25, 1963).

Africa has tremendous natural resources, which power modern industry. It has immense potential economic power as a result. However, Africans have not been able to reorganise the order of things to benefit their communities.

Imperialist nationalism remains a vital political force on the world stage. The old colonial powers have not ceased acting together (for example, the British, French, Italians in Libya recently) to promote their own national and political interest. Young nations in Africa cannot afford to drop their guard while older predator nations are still on the prowl on the idealistic belief that others have moved on from ‘nationalism’.
Yoga Adhola cites an American scholar, Prof R. Emerson, to support his view that nationalism is inadequate. However, he has totally misrepresented Emerson’s views.

Emerson also stated in the same article: “The dimensions of the task which lie ahead of the new states are staggering. They cannot rest content with taking their new- found sovereignty and enjoying it, as they might have at some earlier point in history. Both national pride and the imperatives of survival now demand that they move speedily into the modem world, rivalling the achievements of peoples who have long preceded them on the road.”

In the words “the imperatives of survival”, Emerson indicates that nationalism is about more than “national” pride. The imperatives of survival are land, water, food, shelter etc. A nation without land will all but cease to exist.
Nationalism, when it is channelled positively into nation building, is the necessary basis for addressing many vital tasks facing a young nation. For multi-ethnic countries like Uganda, it is indispensable, for addressing the task of social cohesion. With the myriad of nationalities and tribes, conflicting demands of individuals, groups, regions etc., the idea of national unity is key, and plays a pivotal unifying role.

Civic nationalism provides the platform for building democratic institutions. Democracy requires the participation of political parties. Nationalist parties provide the main vehicle for aggregating and representing the various social interests and providing policies to follow.

Other areas which may also demand a nation-wide approach include:
• National civil law and public order;
• Defence;
• Public infrastructure and
• National services - health, education, etc.
UPC embarked earnestly on the nation building path during its times in office with major successes. However, forging a nationalist army, a common identity and a shared vision of destiny remained unfinished business.
Many years after independence, Obote could still lament that “there is an urgent need for all of us to liberate our minds so as to be able to recognise our true enemy. That need is both a challenge and a lesson to all Ugandans. It is a challenge because it is disturbing that after nearly 18 years of independence there are still many amongst us who do not recognise a Ugandan but a tribesman.” (A. M. Obote, speech in Bushenyi, May 27, 1980).
These attendant tasks of civic nationalism are still with us in Uganda, especially the task of promoting national unity, peace, equality and prosperity for all. Clearly, nationalism and nation-building is still relevant for countries like Uganda and has not run its course.

The writer is a UPC member based in the UK