A special thanks to the UN for that special dedication. Acknowledgement and recognition, as members of this global village, especially as a group of people that are making strides in the form of development, goes a long way. But more than a continent of people with pride in our traditions and cultures, we will need to improve our morals in order to uphold our global citizenry.
For starters, our traditions and cultures will need embracing, as is. But it is only when they are rightfully fused with morals, that the true spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood around the world can be manifested, no matter what religion, education or politics that one adheres and subscribes to. Then when traditional, cultural and moral values work beside each other and for everyone, that will be the moment that our beautiful continent with all its resources and resourceful people can see the fruition of what potential we possess as a people.
We need traditions that allow for our cultural history to be remembered. We need traditions that promote the revision of our ethics and morals to be in accordance with the demands of the global citizen of today. We need traditions that encourage a culture of peace, love and understanding for all humanity. We need traditions that are all for building a culture of self development, for all our citizens, through learning and education. A culture that enables and encourages us to educate and learn about all the cultures around the world. Educating ourselves to learn how their survival and ours depends on how well we work with each other.
People of African descent, as global citizens, the whole is definitely more than the sum of parts of the global community. It will require the contribution of each individuals’ traditional moral values more than their traditional cultural values that will enable us to transcend our differences. It is our kindness, compassion, selflessness and the need to see a better future for the world we leave behind that makes us positive proponents to a continually changing world. In terms of development, as the generation here now, that we strive to not be left behind any more by the rest of the world, literally and figuratively. Who birthed you, raised you and where you grew up are no longer excuses for how you relate to the civility practiced in our politically correct world of today that can be so unforgiving, uncompromising and unrelenting in dealing with the practice of ignorance, selfishness and backward cultures that infringe on any for of human rights and freedoms. And by freedoms and human rights, to some of our learned brothers and sisters in charge of our governments, I mean people being free to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. And by human rights, as if it isn’t self-explanatory enough, here they are as outlined by the United Nations Universal Declaration of Universal Rights.
On December 10, 1948 the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights the full text of which appears in the following pages. Following this historic act the Assembly called upon all Member countries to publicize the text of the Declaration and “to cause it to be disseminated, displayed, read and expounded principally in schools and other educational institutions, without distinction based on the political status of countries or territories.”
Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,
Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,
Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,
Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations,
Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,
Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in co-operation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,
Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge,
Now, Therefore THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY proclaims THIS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.
Article 1.
- All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Article 2.
- Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.
Article 3.
- Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.
Article 4.
- No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.
Article 5.
- No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
Article 6.
- Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.
Article 7.
- All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.
Article 8.
- Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.
Article 9.
- No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.
Article 10.
- Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.
Article 11.
- (1) Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence.
- (2) No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed.
Article 12.
- No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.
Article 13.
- (1) Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.
- (2) Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.
Article 14.
- (1) Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.
- (2) This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.
Article 15.
- (1) Everyone has the right to a nationality.
- (2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.
Article 16.
- (1) Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.
- (2) Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.
- (3) The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.
Article 17.
- (1) Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.
- (2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.
Article 18.
- Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.
Article 19.
- Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
Article 20.
- (1) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
- (2) No one may be compelled to belong to an association.
Article 21.
- (1) Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.
- (2) Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country.
- (3) The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.
Article 22.
- Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.
Article 23.
- (1) Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.
- (2) Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.
- (3) Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.
- (4) Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.
Article 24.
- Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.
Article 25.
- (1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.
- (2) Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.
Article 26.
- (1) Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.
- (2) Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.
- (3) Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.
Article 27.
- (1) Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.
- (2) Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author.
Article 28.
- Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized.
Article 29.
- (1) Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.
- (2) In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.
- (3) These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.
Article 30.
- Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein
The annoying thing is that the truth is there for all to see. All you have to do is open the right book, newspaper or magazine. Well, like it or not, the only way forward nowadays is to keep yourself informed and educated on all the world of today has to offer.
Yes, the world of today where universally, we have come to accept movies made in Hollywood, California, USA. But since we are believers of this american dream the world over, I wonder how much appreciation goes to the beautiful job this does to endear and ambassador the american way of life. The love for brand names around the globe is also something to be celebrated. Be it shoes, suits or handbags. Whether they are from London, Paris or Milan. But, also these brands have an underlying strategy of traditional morals built into the strong business empires that are the fashion powerhouses just like the movie studios in the US. There must have been a few mountains that have been climbed to build the foundations onto which these successful business empires were built upon. Starting with all traditional values of hard work, initiative, innovation, invention originality and ingenuity. However what has enabled these enterprises to keep growing, keep employees working for them over the generations and have worldwide appeal to date. More than keeping themselves updated and educated on business knowledge, it is the ability to keep themselves revising their company traditional moral values to be in alignment with every cultural values of country they set up shop in and every individual they hire not only to work for them but also on behalf of them. Theirs is a blueprint of how when everyone and their feelings, rights and contributions are included then everyone benefits. I guess the same would be true, of companies or countries that choose or insist upon excluding a few groups of people, that their growth is also guaranteed to be slowed, impeded, fragmented or hard to come by.
Yes, you do reap what you sow. The progress of any society depends largely on how moral its citizens are willing to be.
I was inspired to write the above after reading this article in today’s daily monitor by Mr. Robert Kalumba:-
Common Sense: Why only Nasser Sebaggala?
Al-Haji Ntege Sebaggala being interviewed by journalists after his vetting at Parliament. He was rejected by the Parliament Appointments Committee for the post of Minister without Portfolio as his moral record was questionable.
Here is a joke; Hajj Nasser Sebaggala was rejected by the Parliament Appointments Committee for the post of Minister without Portfolio. Reason for the rejection? His moral record was questionable.
Now, if that’s not the biggest joke you have had from the Parliament then can you please supply me with more jokes? I’m in the mood for a serious rib cracker. Moral record? When have our society and morality been bedfellows? We don’t even know what is moral and what’s not.
Because Sebaggala served time in an international jail for money laundering, he had to have his head chopped off by the Appointments Committee? How about someone who was accused in 2005 by the International Court of Justice for being part of a Ugandan gang of the elite who stole from Congo? That same fellow in 2006 and 2007 was accused by the then Inspector General of Governmnet, Faith Mwondha for improper conduct of office that ranged from violating procurement procedures to stealing. So didn’t the so-called Appointments Committee fail to catch that when they “vetted” this fellow who has been appointed to a very sensitive ministry?
Now, there has been this argument doing rounds that since Sebaggala was convicted as compared to other ministers who have been merely “accused”, his fate is much worse than theirs. In other words, the others have not been caught yet for their misdemeanours, so they have a higher integrity standing as compared to Seya, right?
When was integrity for a position to serve a community based on such maddening arguments? If one’s accused of embezzling billions, isn’t that person’s integrity already in question or do you have to first wait for them to be arrested? Isn’t that short-changing we, the people, who rely on these thieves for services from government? To put it more crassly, isn’t that idiocy?
Sam Kutesa was impeached by Parliament in the 1990s for blundering with the privatisation process. He was later dropped out of cabinet, but brought back. Ever since then, in almost all big corrupt scandals, the latest being Chogm, that rock Uganda, his name has to be on the list of those “accused” of misappropriation of funds. It’s a “surprise” of sorts when his name misses on a corruption expose.
Now let’s talk integrity. Thrown out of Parliament, dropped out of cabinet, accused numerously of embezzlement… isn’t that proof enough that this fella has some honesty issues? Doesn’t Kutesa’s story resemble many of our ministers’ stories in relation to corruption scandals? So why play the morality card with us?
Our society lacks morality. We are a bunch of thieves who masquerade around as God-fearing Christians with lovely families. Our sins of stealing from the company’s coffers to buy our wives a second car are well hidden away from scrutiny. Our insatiable appetite to squander tax payers’ money to pay for our six-storeyed building on Kampala Road is locked away from any inquisitive eyes; hence we remain “accused” despite the obvious evidence that points to our thieving.
What suffers with all that hooliganism of ours? It’s our moral standings. Do we care about that? Not really because, in our thinking that’s been ingrained in us for decades.Morals don’t get you a new Mercedes Benz. Morals don’t get you apartment blocks. Morals don’t get you that sexy campus lady in Nana Hostel. What gets you all that? Ill-gotten money and crass behaviour.
Sebaggala is like me and you. Sebaggala is a product of who we have become as a society. The same parliamentarians who judged the former mayor, are the same fellows who on their first day in office requested for Shs50m from our coffers in terms of tax breaks, salary advances and an upward review in their salaries-despite the biting inflation, high food prices etc. Who then has the moral standing to judge the other in terms of integrity?
Is Sebaggala fit to be a minister? Only on Planet Mars. But who in our political class is fit to be a minister? Look at all the government programmes from Naads to Univeral Primary Education (UPE). All have been shambolic, not because they are not thoroughly thought out but because of this thieving nature that’s infested all of them from the minister in charge right down to the LC1 of the village. It’s one big mess.
Let’s not be hypocritical in the way we judge Sebaggala. Here is a question directed to the appointing authority who had the nerve to include Sebaggala on his list of ministers. If one of the ills detestedby you is corruption, why in God’s name did you include a man who failed to do his job, with the evidence being the potholes riddling our city, and building wrangles he was involved in? Who was part of your organisation committee for your re-election bid?
Isn’t that disturbing in terms of values, morals and integrity? That question is not directed to the Parliament Appointments Committee.
rkalumba@ug.nationmedia.com
