How Collectivism Can Empower Uganda's Farmers, Workers, and Entrepreneurs

 

A typical Ugandan worker: No proper protection for his feet. No minimum wage protection! Generally, no protection for his wider interests! Collectivism would give him a proper protection for all his rights 

Uganda’s population stands at 45 million, with 90% engaged in some form of work. Yet, a majority live a hand-to-mouth existence, an unacceptable reality in a country rich in resources and potential.

Across workplaces, Ugandan workers face common issues: poor working conditions, lack of social protection, and exploitation by a capitalist system with no minimum wage. Micro-business owners, who make up 20% of the workforce, are no exception. Known for their entrepreneurial spirit, Ugandans struggle with high interest rates—among the highest in Africa. Many small business owners lose their collateral properties due to an inability to repay predatory loans, ending up poorer than before.

The Solution: Collectivization and Socialism

Socialism, advocating collective ownership and administration of resources, provides an alternative. By prioritizing equality, cooperation, and shared growth, it addresses issues like poverty and exploitation. Here’s how collectivization could benefit Uganda:

1. Shared Resources: Pooling tools, capital, and knowledge reduces costs and risks.
2. Collective Bargaining: Groups secure better deals for raw materials and fairer prices for products.
3. Market Access: Cooperatives offer visibility and negotiation power in capitalist markets.
4. Economic Equality: Profits are distributed among members, reducing income inequality.
5. Sustainability: Focused on shared growth, cooperatives create resilient economies.

Programs like SACCOs under the Parish Development Model (PDM) could enable collectivization. However, the current focus on distributing funds without sustained cooperative frameworks risks failure. SACCOs, though cooperatives, are often used as financial distribution channels and neglected after funds are disbursed. They must be restructured for collective marketing and bargaining.

Lessons from the Past

Under the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) governments, socialism fostered industrial and agricultural growth. Farmers were organized into cooperatives, with cotton ginneries in regions like Lango supporting textile industries in Busoga, such as Nytil. This ensured affordable clothing and economic interdependence.

Cattle-keeping areas benefited from collective centers like cattle dip tanks, where services like vaccinations were provided for free. Socialism also extended to education, promoting national unity by encouraging students to study in regions other than their own, fostering cultural exchange and nationalism.

The Current Challenges

Today, regions like Ankole, known for matoke and milk production, face challenges due to lack of cooperative frameworks. Without mechanisms for preservation or collective bargaining, farmers sell produce at low prices, suffering losses. The story is the same for maize and other crops, leaving farmers vulnerable to exploitation by capitalists.

Similarly, in Busoga region, sugar plantation workers face exploitation and abuse that has relegated them to poverty.

But where is the parliament of Uganda while all these are going on? Why can’t they act while the Ugandan workers face systemic neglect? Parliament has basically failed the Ugandan worker. Our MPs have failed to pass the minimum wage law, leaving workers exploited daily.

The Way Forward

To address these challenges, the government must:

• Promote agriculture and industrialization through collective efforts.
• Empower cooperatives to support farmers and workers.
• Pass the minimum wage bill to protect labor rights.
• Ensure SACCOs prioritize collective bargaining and marketing for sustainability.

By embracing socialism and collectivization, Uganda can transform its economy, ensuring equitable growth and prosperity for all.