Towards a Socialist Uganda: My Revolutionary New Year Call!

 

Warm revolutionary greetings to fellow countrymen and women, especially peasants and workers. I take this opportunity to congratulate you all on reaching the 63rd year of our motherland, Uganda.

When we stand together—whether physically or spiritually—we reflect on our past (where we have come from), our present (where we are), and our future (where we are going). These reflections occur on individual, societal, and national levels, measured through material achievements and cultural progress. While life is full of imperfections and uncertainties, these should not deter us from planning and working towards self-set goals and national development objectives.

Reflecting on Uganda’s history, from the 1960s to the present, the daily challenges of ordinary citizens have remained largely unchanged, particularly in maintaining living standards and improving social welfare. Between 1962 and 1969, efforts focused on uplifting people's standards by channeling resources to ordinary Ugandans. The state provided basic needs like education, healthcare, and food affordably, promoting sustainable economic growth. This socialist foundation aimed to create a self-reliant economy. However, these efforts were disrupted by the 1971 coup and Amin’s subsequent regime, which devastated Uganda’s economy and global standing.

When UPC returned to power in the 1980s, interventionist policies under Dr. Milton Obote’s leadership spurred economic recovery. Between 1980 and 1984, the economy transitioned from negative to positive growth. Uganda’s currency stabilized, and the nation began moving steadily forward. Unfortunately, progress was hindered by conflicts, including the NRA’s guerilla war, which undermined these efforts.

The NRA/NRM government, which took over in 1986, promised fundamental change through its 10-point program. However, the neoliberal reforms it adopted turned progress upside down. Programs like PEAP, YLP, OWC, NAADS, GLOW, and PDM have been marred by corruption and embezzlement, leaving Uganda’s economy dependent on external institutions. Corruption has plagued both public and private sectors, further deepening economic vulnerabilities.

This dependency has exacerbated hardships for ordinary Ugandans. The privatization of education, healthcare, and industry has driven up costs, making essential services unaffordable for many. Challenges such as high poverty rates, school dropouts, and unemployment perpetuate a vicious cycle of poverty, with no sustainable measures in place to address them.

Looking ahead, the future under this system remains bleak, with continued exploitation of peasants, workers, and the poor. This will lead to intergenerational poverty and oppression. Therefore, we must create an environment conducive to unity. Unity is strength and power; through it, we can demand a collective socialist objective. By mobilizing revolutionary activities step by step, we can achieve qualitative change for our motherland.

The questions of what, why, when, where, who, and how have guided past struggles and must now find answers from our generation. The time to act is now. Since Uganda’s independence in 1962, the struggle against imperialism and neo-colonialism has persisted. As Kwame Nkrumah stated, “A state in the grip of neo-colonialism is not a master of its own destiny.” We must determine our own destiny through a socialist path, as envisioned by Dr. Obote in the 1969 Common Man’s Charter, which outlined the roadmap to a socialist state.

Capitalism, with its unfair laws and exploitative practices, has entrenched inequality in Uganda. It exploits workers by undervaluing their labor while capitalists reap the profits. Neo-colonial agents, such as foreign investors, have further drained Uganda’s economy without sustainable contributions. This exploitation, combined with the excessive control of resources by a few, has deepened poverty and unemployment.

The solution lies in scientific socialism, which abolishes class exploitation and promotes a planned economy with communal property ownership. This will reduce unemployment, eliminate exploitation, and transform Uganda into a modern, industrial, and prosperous country. As we enter the revolutionary year of 2025, the theme is: “Arise and Shine, the Exploited Masses, Workers, and Peasants.” Inspired by Dr. Obote’s 1980 manifesto, “The Pearl of Africa will rise and shine again,” we must mobilize for a collective socialist objective.

Revolutions do not happen overnight; they require preparation and collective mobilization. As Chairman Mao emphasized, “If there is to be a revolution, there must be a revolutionary party.” The path to full “Uhuru” in Uganda lies in a revolutionary movement led by a Marxist-Leninist vanguard party representing peasants, workers, and progressive intellectuals.

The Communist League of Uganda wishes all citizens a prosperous and revolutionary New Year of unity and collectivism. Rise and shine, oppressed masses, workers, and peasants!

Workers of all countries, unite!
Long live socialism!
Long live the Communist League of Uganda!

By: Comrade Sozzi Joseph
Chairperson, Communist League of Uganda (CLU)
For God and My Country