The Struggle for Socialism in Uganda: An Interview with CLU’s Chairperson

 

Recently, a comrade from Europe sat down with one of the founding members of The Communist League of Uganda (CLU), Mr. Sozzi Joseph, to discuss a range of issues. Sozzi is also the Chairperson of the CLU. Below is the first part of a two-part interview series.

Q: When was CLU founded, and what were the circumstances that led to its formation?

On October 2, 2024, we conceived the idea of establishing a strong communist party in Uganda based on the principles of Marxism-Leninism. However, we realized that achieving this in the short term would be impossible due to the prevailing political circumstances in the country. Instead, we saw it as a long-term goal that required full mobilization of the masses, political education, and sensitization to raise their awareness and consciousness about socialist principles and doctrines.

As a result, we resolved to establish a political pressure group first to carry out this task, naming it the Communist League of Uganda (CLU). We needed a platform to bring together people with communist ideologies and aspirations, which led to the creation of a WhatsApp group named Communist Ideologies on October 2, 2024. This platform was designed for sharing Marxist literature and engaging in discussions and debates.

On November 15, 2024, we established our first communist office in Mukono District (Municipality), in Goma Subcounty, Nantabulirwa Village.

The motivation behind our formation was the widespread poor working and living conditions in Uganda, affecting the majority of the population. After assessing the country’s political landscape, we found it to be unfairly structured in favor of capitalism, which concentrates resources in the hands of a few. We also observed that both the ruling party and opposition parties do not differ ideologically, as most claim to be social democratic but ultimately align with neoliberal capitalist policies.

Recalling the role of socialism in political and economic progress—taking lessons from Mao’s China, Joseph Stalin’s USSR, and the Common Man’s Charter by Dr. A.M. Obote—we deemed it necessary to establish an alternative movement with an independent socialist ideology. The CLU was founded to provide a clear socialist alternative to Uganda’s current political system and work toward achieving a socialist state that ensures equitable living and working conditions for all citizens.

Q: What role did the Uganda People's Congress (UPC) play in your formation?

The UPC served as a role model for our formation, particularly through its Common Man’s Charter, which contained socialist principles aimed at creating a socialist Uganda. We built our foundation while contextualizing it within the current local environment, using it as a reference point.

Under the leadership of Hon. Jimmy Akena, the current UPC has played a significant role in grooming us as potential leaders through its ideological school. These ideological engagements helped us realize that the original socialist stance of the first UPC in 1969 has been largely neglected. This realization fueled our desire to reclaim the legacy of Dr. A.M. Obote by forming the CLU.

Our primary objective is to establish a revolutionary platform for the liberation of oppressed and exploited peasants, workers, and poor people.

Q: How did people react after your formation?

The public's reaction has been mixed. Many Ugandans, both in and out of active politics, lack knowledge about ideological politics. Few can deeply engage in ideological discussions and provide informed perspectives. However, most people are aware of the worsening economic situation and are eager for initiatives that promise meaningful change. When we simplify socialist principles and ideologies into language they understand, they pay attention and show interest in joining.

On the other hand, due to limited awareness about ideological politics and the prevalence of political propaganda, some individuals falsely claim that our movement is influenced by prominent figures in the ruling government. Additionally, due to widespread pessimism, some people react negatively to our activities through insults or outright dismissal without listening to our message.

Q: What is your ideological outlook?

Our ideological outlook is socialism, guided by the classic Marxist-Leninist principles of collectivization of the means of production, a planned economy, and collective leadership. We draw inspiration from the works of Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin, Chairman Mao, and Dr. A.M. Obote.

Q: How do you assess the current economic situation in Uganda?

Uganda’s current economic situation is undesirable. While the country’s GDP has grown at an average of 6%, this growth is not equitably distributed. There is a significant income inequality gap between the rich and the poor.

The economy is expanding, but the majority of people are not benefiting. A significant portion of the country’s wealth is controlled by foreign investors and a small group of politically connected individuals. There is no meritocracy, social justice, fairness, equity, or equality in the allocation and distribution of resources.

Despite annual GDP increases, the cost of goods and services continues to rise, while tax burdens disproportionately fall on low-income citizens. The largest portion of the national budget is allocated to debt servicing rather than productive sectors. Mismanagement, corruption, and lack of transparency further exacerbate these issues, leading to poor service delivery in education, healthcare, and agriculture.

Q: What are your ideas regarding industry and agriculture in Uganda?

Agriculture

Agriculture is the backbone of Uganda’s economy and employs the largest portion of the population. However, it is underfunded and neglected despite being prioritized in policy documents like the National Development Plan III. For instance, Uganda has failed to meet the Malabo Declaration’s target of allocating at least 10% of the national budget to agriculture.

Our vision for agricultural transformation is based on three key pillars:

1. Collectivization: Farmers should form cooperatives to transition from small-scale, low-yield farms to large-scale, technologically advanced farms. Collectivization will also facilitate access to agricultural extension services, machinery, quality seeds, and fertilizers, ensuring price stability for inputs and outputs.
2. Modernization: Agriculture should be technologically driven, with increased investment in research and development. This will boost productivity, ensure food security, support agro-processing industries, and create employment opportunities.
3. Sustainability: Agricultural policies must ensure environmental conservation. Issues such as insecure land tenure and deforestation must be addressed to prevent environmental degradation and ensure long-term food security.

Industry

Uganda’s industrial sector is growing but faces numerous challenges. While the government aims to increase industrial contribution to GDP to over 35%, much remains to be done. Our industrial policy focuses on establishing state-owned industries in strategic sectors to facilitate economic planning and development.

A strong industrial base requires:

• Investment in technology and knowledge-based industries.
• Research and development to enhance technological innovation.
• Establishment of machine-building industries to support precision production.
• A planned economy that ensures state control over critical resources.

Electricity and Environment

Environmental degradation is a critical issue. Over 90% of Ugandans rely on biomass (firewood and charcoal) for energy. Meanwhile, industrial emissions continue to rise due to inadequate environmental regulations.

Our policy aims to:

• Reduce the cost of hydroelectric power from UGX 1,000 per unit to UGX 200 per unit.
• Invest in clean energy sources like solar and geothermal power.
• Implement waste-to-energy projects to convert garbage into energy.
• Halt industrial encroachment on wetlands to preserve biodiversity.

Uganda needs a socialist industrial and agricultural framework to achieve sustainable development and equitable wealth distribution. These policies will ensure economic self-reliance and improve the lives of all Ugandans.

Interview with Comrade Sozzi Joseph

QN: Do you have a proposal to overcome tribalism in Uganda?

In Uganda, the presence of numerous tribes and indigenous communities has posed a challenge to national progress. According to the 1995 Constitution, by February 1st, 1926, there were over 65 indigenous communities. The most complicated task has been how to organize and mobilize all these communities into one cohesive nation. The influence of tribal identity in Uganda’s political landscape has fostered division, identity politics, and tribal favoritism, thereby hindering national unity and progress.

The rise of tribalism in politics has led to the emergence of leaders who prioritize tribal interests over national interests. To counter this, we propose the following measures to promote proletarian internationalism and socialist patriotism for national unity:

1. Community Mobilization and Sensitization: Through the efforts of progressive intellectuals in our movement, we aim to educate people in their respective communities that we are one country, one people, and one Uganda. This is the only path toward unity and nation-building.
2. Ensuring Social Justice in Resource Allocation: Fair and equitable distribution of resources is essential. Uganda has a history of preferential treatment of certain tribes, dating back to colonial times. By ensuring equal access to resources, we can eliminate the perception that some tribes are favored over others.
3. Balanced Power Distribution: National unity can only be achieved when there is fairness in power distribution, as political power influences resource allocation. Power should be balanced across regions, tribes, and districts through fair appointments in administrative and political positions. This fosters a sense of ownership, shared responsibility, and national cohesion.
4. Encouraging Ethnic Integration: Promoting cultural integration through national policies that uphold human dignity, as well as fostering inter-tribal marriages, will create shared values and harmony among communities. This approach will also enhance reconciliation whenever conflicts arise.
5. Developing a Common National Language: We propose adopting a common language from Uganda’s numerous local languages. This would serve as a unifying factor and facilitate better communication among different ethnic groups.

QN: How do you see BRICS and the Belt and Road Initiative?

The formation of BRICS has both political and economic motivations. Ideally, such alliances should be based solely on economic interests, provided they operate on fair terms and create a mutually beneficial (symbiotic) relationship rather than an exploitative (parasitic) one, where rich countries become richer while poor countries become poorer.

• Economic Perspective: Exploitation within economic alliances can manifest in imperialistic tendencies where wealthy nations extract resources—both physical and human—from poorer countries on a massive scale. This often leads to a "zero-sum game," reinforcing capitalist modes of production that benefit only the privileged few.
• Political Perspective: Powerful nations like Russia form these alliances to counter geopolitical tensions and the influence of superpowers like the USA and its allies. However, vulnerable developing nations end up as "prey" in these power struggles, experiencing conflicts that serve imperialistic interests rather than their own development. In my view, this represents a modern form of colonialism.

View on the Belt and Road Initiative

On the surface, analysts claim that this global project will increase global GDP and ease trade by reducing transportation costs. However, a deeper analysis reveals that China, as the primary financier, is driven by profit maximization.

• China invests in global infrastructure to connect developing nations, particularly in East and West Asia and Africa, facilitating the exploitation of their untapped natural and human resources.
• China also seeks global dominance by lending beyond sustainable limits, pushing countries into a debt trap that prevents them from developing their own technology and financial independence.
• This strategy mirrors British colonial economic policies in Africa, such as the construction of the East African Railway in 1902—not to develop the region, but to facilitate mineral extraction for British industrialization. Similarly, China’s long-term objective with BRICS and the Belt and Road Initiative is economic imperialism, ensuring perpetual dependency of developing nations.

QN: What’s your stance on America, Russia, and China?

We do not align with any of these powers. However, we acknowledge that Uganda cannot operate in isolation, especially in today’s globalized and technology-driven world.

Our guiding principle is respect for national sovereignty, independence, and our socialist vision. We reject all forms of hegemony—whether at the national or global level—as well as imperialism, neocolonialism, and capitalist exploitation. We are committed to self-determination and will only collaborate with those who genuinely support our socialist goals.

QN: How could comrades from the West help you develop?

1. Providing Space for Activism and Mobilization:
• We request that Western countries provide an enabling environment for Ugandan and African comrades abroad to carry out mobilization work, activism, and peaceful demonstrations against state repression in Uganda.
2. Offering Asylum to Persecuted Comrades:
• Many comrades face persecution under Uganda’s anti-communist regime. We urge Western nations to grant them asylum and legal protection to prevent forced deportation and repression.
3. Standing in Solidarity with the Communist Movement in Uganda:
• Western comrades can support us through social media activism, media coverage, and public awareness campaigns highlighting human rights violations against Ugandan socialists and political activists.
4. Providing Knowledge and Skill Support:
• A strong and ideologically sound movement requires skilled comrades. Support through scholarships, training workshops, and knowledge-sharing with experienced communist leaders will strengthen our foundation.
5. Financial Support:
• Financial resources are essential for mobilization, community projects, and effective organization-building. We plan to raise funds through:
• Organizational projects with products sold at fundraising events.
• Donations and grants to support impactful community initiatives and socialist mobilization efforts.

By Comrade Sozzi Joseph
Chairperson, Communist League of Uganda (CLU)
Long live socialism!