If I were president: I would nationalise foreign-owned banks, telecom companies

Uganda was created at a time when the main ideology was nationalism, which had started towards the end of the 18th Century.

This led so many to believe in the idea without knowing what it is. Today, nationalism seems to be fading as we see the creation countries such as Slovenia, and the yearning of Scotland and Catalonia to secede.

Uganda per se is an amalgamation of nations as we see the respective emblems at the parliamentary gate.

As far as the economy is concerned, that time called for the Keynesian model and Harvey’s manifesto of the American system of 1930 (protectionism), nationalisation, social welfare and America to print its own money rather than a private federal reserve.

Nationalisation, protectionism, social welfare were adopted until the late 1970s, but printing of money was left to the private bankers. This is what has ruined nations and inflation which these bankers charge.

It should be noted that there was an opposing economic ideology of Friedman, the free trade and privatisation. This, however, took centre stage with the coming of US president Ronald Reagan and UK prime minister Margaret Thatcher in the early 80s. This created disastrous capitalism.

Steps I would take;
Governance
1. Print money and pay the army, police and other security organs, teachers, medical workers and existing cultural leaders. This will not in any way create inflation as only enough money to cater for that will be printed. It does not have to be backed by the dollar.

2. Reorganise all leaders of nations who were considered at the time of independence i.e. Buganda, Tooro, Ankole, Bugabula and other nations now called Busoga, Bugisu, Acholi, Lango, etc.

3. I would change the status quo i.e. Parliament and the current British system of governance.
4. Establish federal governments where each will have a house of commons elected by the people and house of lords selected (Abataka) by each federal state.

The current Parliament will comprise only federal representatives elected by the people and above them a house of lords represented by the kings of each nation or their selected representatives.

Areas with no kings like Karamoja and Sebei I would consider elders as per their culture.
With this I shall have resolved the governance issue. Through this arrangement a new Constitution would be made.

Economy
1. Print money as highlighted above.
2. Nationalise all foreign-owned businesses, especially banks and telecom companies without compensation.
3. Establish foreign exchange control and suspend direct foreign investment. Direct foreign investment exposes an economy to speculators who have ruined us as you see the dollar today.
4. Take back all government land, buildings, businesses which were fraudulently taken over in the 1990s during privatisation.
5. Suspend all foreign investments repatriation of profits.
Foreign policy
1. Strengthen security and economic ties with Russia, Iran and China. Encourage Russia and China to set up military bases in Uganda.
2. Suspend Uganda’s membership at the East African Community and the Commonwealth.
4. Visas of US and British citizens entering our country would be charged at the same rate they charge citizens going to their countries.