ERIC KASHAMBUZI

KWENU! Our culture, our future

Book Review

Oseloka Obaze^*

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Sunday 15 February 2009

Uganda’s Development Agenda in the 21^st Century

And Related Regional Issue

Eric Kashambuzi

(ISBN: 978-1-60388-220-0: Jones Harvest Publishing, Bloomington, IN, USA, 2008, p.592 Price, $25.00)

Available at: http://www.Kashambuzi.com

Eric Kashambuzi’s book, Uganda’s Development Agenda in the 21 Century, is an insider’s and expert introspective and retrospective account of the state of a contemporary African nation, in this case, Uganda.

Perhaps, very few will claim the same bona fides in writing such a book. Kashambuzi lived the subject matters he writes about, studied them and indeed, from the detached vantage point of a former international civil servant, has been able to tackle the issues bearing in mind similar parallels in other countries and instances. In this regard, Kashambuzi surely had the comparative advantage of keen interest, experience and compulsion.

Uganda’s Development Agenda in the 21 Century is historical, political, sociological, economical and reflective. Although strictly about challenges confronting contemporary Uganda, the book is also an excursion into the realities of colonial Uganda, with a sufficient mix of regional issues, and their implications for Uganda. Additionally, there is more than a passing interest in the analyzing the nexus between Uganda’s development and the turmoil in the Great lakes region, where it is situated and notably, the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda.

This 12-Chapter work commences with a survey of the Political Economy of Land in Uganda and goes on to tackle the lessons drawn for the Structural Adjustment Programs in Uganda in Chapter 4., and Food Nutrition and Security in Uganda in Chapter 5. Chapter 7 is an expedition into the similarities, or lack thereof, between Uganda and Medieval Europe. Perhaps, the portion of the book that would be of greatest interest to students of contemporary politics and policymakers, are Chapters 8 to Chapter11. Therein, the author sequentially delves into the Challenge of National Unity in Uganda, Ending the Culture of Domination in the C –Belt Region of Africa, Reflections on the Political Economy Before the Genocide in Rwanda and Understanding Conflicts in the Great Lakes Region.

To set the tone of the paradox that confronts Uganda and many African nations, Kashambuzi asserts, “at the start of the twentieth century, Ugandans were growing enough food and manufacturing a wide range of products... that enabled them to trade surplus in local and regional markets and obtain what they needed. With entry into the global economy, Uganda became a producer mostly of what it does not consume and a consumer mostly of what it does not produce as a result of Ricardian comparative advantage.”

Essentially, Kashambuzi argues and quite forcefully and convincingly too, that Uganda’s economic development aspirations in the 20^th Century, had badly eroded and undermined her development potentials. The rush by design and coercion, to focus primarily on raw materials needs by the colonial masters, unwittingly, but surely, led to the collapse of the manufacturing sector. The evidence adduced in the book, is a clear indication that this is not another employment of blame game and denials, by which some Africans make up excuses for their excesses, while conveniently heaping blame for their failings on their colonial past and masters.

Like most African nations, Uganda had its share of political turmoil during the Milton Obote and Idi Amin years, which culminated in the infamous Asian purge. In this context, Uganda’s need and struggles in a postcolonial era are equally x-rayed. Despite independence, and the pursuit of various programs with nationalist fervor, since 1986 by the National Resistance Movement, (NRM), Kashambuzi regretfully notes that there has not been much of a change or discernible success. Hence, “efforts to build an independent, integrated and self-sustaining middle income economy and society have yet to produce tangible results.” Imported structural adjustment programs, meant to help nations overcome development, became problems rather that the panacea. Kashambuzi has solid grounds on which to base such conclusions. President Yoweri Museveni is quoted as stating in 2005, that, “surrendering Sovereignty over decision-making for money has, therefore been a mistake.”

There were other noteworthy contradictions highlighted in this book. One is that Uganda’s economic revival had demonstrated that economic growth does not necessarily lead to poverty eradication. Despite identifiable growth of “5 and 10 percent per annum and poverty reduction from 55 percent of the population in 1992 to 34 percent in 2000”, the national economy was characterized and still beleaguered “by a wide income gap between the rich and the poor, and the north and the e south” (p.197). Kashambuzi attributes some of the contemporary failings of Uganda to NRM leadership under President Museveni. It is noted that under the NRM, “Uganda has suffered de-industrialization” and that “a large and increasing section of the public has not been impressed with the president’s performance as time has gone by” (p.194).

This reviewer found most engrossing, the detailed exposé in this volume about the genesis of the intractable and still unfolding saga of the Tutsi-Hutu conflicts, the reflection of the regional political economy before the genocide in Rwanda. Kashambuzi discusses how “the colonization of Africa coincided with that ascendancy of race science in Europe” (p.510) and consequentially, how the transference of race policies to colonial Africa coincided with the assignment and control of indigenous wealth – land, cattle and other means of production—and invariably, political clout and power, to the detriment of the Great Lakes Region

In addition, Kashambuzi chronicles how, religion, politics and fear of communist domination influenced the policies of colonial Belgium, leading to ethnicity-induced political restiveness and Tutsi-Hutu uprisings. “The Belgian authorities, sensing that the Tutsi leaders were communists or were backed by communists, either did nothing to forestall the Hutu fury directed at the Tutsi”. Furthermore, Kashambuzi documents how through communal and legislative elections, a United Nations Commission for Rwanda-Urundi process, and a coup d’tat in the early 1960s, two states -- the present day Rwanda and Burundi -- emerged and were admitted as UN member states on 18 September 1962. Identifying what seems to be the precursor to the present day realities, Kashambuzi recorded, that “soon after the Hutu took power, Tutsi refugees including those based in Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo (the Zaire), began preparing to regain power” (p.522). The rest of the Tutsi-Hutu mayhem and the attending insecurities visited on the countries of the region are now matters of historical record. It is safe to say, however, that the roots of the present and lingering Tutsi-Hutu crisis in Kivu province of the DRC have their genesis in what transpired in the past, and their correct handling or mishandling.

Students, teachers and policymakers, who peruse Uganda’s Development Agenda in the 21 Century, stand to benefit and gain further insights into the conflicts in the Great Lakes region, granted that the analysis represent just an individual perspective on the issue. What is however more important, is that Kashambuzi’s non-partisan assessment, enriches one’s appreciation and recognition of the fragility and precarious nature of peace in the entire region. It is equally noteworthy, though not an original thought, that Kashambuzi underlined that a dangerous lacuna exists in discussing the conflicts in the Great Lakes, “without a deep comprehension and balanced historical analysis of the conflicts that gave rise to the genocide of 1994 in Rwanda and the genocide of 1972 in Burundi”.

It needs accepting, that discussing a conflict without understanding the root causes would be like treating a patient without a full diagnosis or access to any prior medical history. In both instances, having the full and correct information would facilitate the right solution. Not doing so would mean groping in the dark. As irrelevant as it may now seem, being at least aware of the historical origins of the Hutu-Tutsi dichotomy, as presented by Kashambuzi, would go a long way in helping psychologists, psychoanalysts, political analysts and diplomats, in grasping the residual but dangerous animus and miasma that becloud the thinking and actions of present day Hutu and Tutsi political leaders in the region. Certainly, the picture that emerges is one of divisive power relations, not based on equity but on fear, as those in power –Tutsi or Hutu- seeks to subjugate their influential ethnic opposites. This reality subsists, despite the fact that “Tutsi elite and the Hutu majority shared a common language and common religious traditions”.

The various degrees of separation that sharply divide the Hutu and Tutsi tribes are in the main, economical and social. As Kashambuzi concludes, “in the absence of genuine political will and equitable sharing of economic benefits between the contending groups, peace and security will continue to be threatened no matter what is said in the in the UN General Assembly, or elsewhere,” the UN security Council, included. For now, like the Middle East, the Great Lakes Region once described as “the hottest conflict zone in the world” remains mired in fear of resurgent violent political crisis.

Eric Kashambuzi writes with remarkable lucidity and supports his views with absorbing historical references. He has made a very commendable and invaluable contribution to the existing body of work on African politics and political economy and especially as it pertains to Uganda. Uganda’s Development Agenda in the 21 Century is a book that recommends itself to students, teachers, policymakers and especially those, who aspire to leadership positions in any part of Africa. Parallels of the key issues that Kashambuzi addressed in this book are prevalent in different parts of Africa. It is noteworthy that at the end of every chapter, the author has included recommendations drawn from his rich and varied experience as a policy advisor. The book, which is also rich in bibliography, has as its singular drawback, the absence of an index. Nonetheless, the book is highly recommended to those who have vested or passing interest in the subject matters discussed.

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Mr. Oseloka Obaze is a founding member of the Kwenu.com Book Review Forum, which is dedicated to the promotion of books with Igbo and Afrocentric themes.  He is also a supporting Member of the African Writers Endowment (AWE).  From 1999 to 2005, he served on the editorial board of INYEAKA, the journal of Songhai Charities, Inc., a New Jersey community-based charity founded and run by Nigerians based in New York Tri-state area in the United States, first as its founding Publisher and later as the Editor-At-Large.   He is also on the editorial board of The Amaka Gazette, the journal of the Christ the King College, Onitsha Alumni Association in America.    His collection of poems, “Regarscent Past: A Collection of Poems” was second among the top three finalists in the poetry category in the African Writers Endowment Publishing Grant Program for 2004.   He is working on a novel titled “Happy Eulogy”.  He reviews books and arts strictly as a hobby. © Copyright 15 February 2009.

*For Immediate Release**

EDITORS:  For review copies or interview requests, contact:

Kimberly Dutour

Tel: 1-812-323-2330; Fax: 1-812-323-2339

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(Please provide a shipping address)

Jones Harvest Publishing is honored to introduce Eric Kashambuzi’s Uganda’s Development Agenda in the 21st Century & Related Regional Issues, a landmark work about Uganda’s past, present and future. Uganda’s Development Agenda delves deeply into the challenges facing this turbulent African nation and suggests what needs to be done to improve the country. As the author poignantly notes at the beginning, this book is “Dedicated to Ugandans: Past, Present and Future Generations.”

Uganda’s Development Agenda in the 21st Century & Related Regional Issues is full of hope and Eric Kashambuzi believes in positive change. As he wrote, “The state together with the private and civil society sectors as well as development partners need to pull their resources together to make the necessary changes and bring about the desired results.” Clearly the author’s main focus is to explain to the reader the current situation in Uganda; to illustrate its History, and explain why it is so vulnerable now. He also discusses geographical location as well as food and nutrition, security and structural development issues. Kashambuzi then offers his own vision of what could be done to change Uganda for the better and then provides new development strategies for the 21st century. Quoting from the book’s introduction: “The tenor of the book is more about action to produce tangible results than on visionary speeches.”

By reading this book, the reader will learn about Uganda and even more importantly how history, society, and culture can lead a nation to greatness. Eric Kashambuzi wrote an exceptionally detailed and fascinating portrait of the fragile Nation of Uganda. Any reader looking for historical facts, deep reflection, analysis and a new vision for Uganda will be enthralled with this ground-breaking book.

Eric Kashambuzi was born in Uganda. He graduated from college after significant study in Geography, Economics, Demography, International Law and Diplomacy, and Sustainable Development. Eric Kashambuzi is based in New York but works around the globe as a consultant with international organizations, state and private organizations. As readers will clearly see, the author is extremely concerned about the future of his mother country, its place in the world, its strength, the conservation of its uniqueness and the emphasizing of its culture.

Eric Kashambuzi’s Uganda’s Development Agenda in the 21st Century & Related Regional Issues is available through Author Celebrity Associates and Jones Harvest Publishing at 1-877-400-0075 or online at www.jonesharvest.com.

**For Immediate Release**

EDITORS:  For review copies or interview requests, contact:

Kimberly Dutour

Tel: 1-812-323-2330; Fax: 1-812-323-2339

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

(Please provide a shipping address)

Jones Harvest Publishing is proud to introduce World Leaders at the UN General Assembly; And What They Said in the General Debate in 2007, by Eric Kashambuzi. This landmark work did for the UN what Bob Woodward did for the White House. World Leaders is about the United Nations, it’s History - its birth and its evolution into the institution we know today. More importantly, Kashambuzi covers the topics the U.N. deals with and their related issues. This work gives us a very detailed account of what they said during last year’s General Debate -in 2007.

These debates occur every year in September in New York City, the headquarters of the United Nations. World leaders from 192 countries -the member states, meet there to discuss global topics. During their debates, the wide range of issues discussed can range from peace and security, to human rights and development, as well as to climate changes. And as a result, the establishment of new international guidelines has been facilitated by what member states have recommended.  

World Leaders at the UN General Assembly is a must read for anyone concerned with politics and what is going on around the world. The structure of the book is very clear: it is divided in thirteen chapters which enables the readers to go directly to the topic that interests them most. The chapters are themselves divided in smaller parts -all titled- which makes it very easy to follow. Furthermore, each segment is quite thorough; but not long and heavy.  Kashambuzi goes right to the core of the subject which makes it a fast read anyone will enjoy.

Eric Kashambuzi, Ugandan, graduated in Geography, Economics, Demography, International Law and Diplomacy, and Sustainable Development. He lives in New York City. He is also a consultant to international organizations, states and non-state actors. Moreover, Eric Kashambuzi is the UN Liaison for Millennium Promise and Principal Advisor to the CEO. Previously, Mr. Kashambuzi served the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) as a focal point for intergovernmental affairs involving work of the General Assembly, Economic and Social Council and Security Council.

World Leaders at the UN General Assembly; And What They Said in the General Debate in 2007 by Eric Kashambuzi is available through Author Celebrity Associates and Jones Harvest Publishing at 1-877-400-0075 or online at or www.jonesharvest.com.