Circulars significantly tarnished our image
By Athian Mayen
During my recent trip to Uganda, I noticed that the ever-friendly Ugandan weather hadn’t changed one bit, however their mentality and attitude towards us had soured greatly.
Obviously, two circulars of 2014 played a big role, and somehow our character. Firstly, the Interior Ministerial orders directed at foreign public motorcyclists (Boda bodas) but as far as I am concerned, the Minister meant to establish culprits who were snatching women handbags and also give home boda bodas a chance.
Secondly, just when they were about to forget about the first circular, the second one comes out, a Public Service decree, ordering the FOREIGNERS sitting in the small offices like reception, office messenger and hotel staffs etc to vacate positions for Nationals. This, the government explained clearly and repeatedly, but I guess our Ugandan brothers need more explanation.
Uganda offers South Sudanese education like no other, to which many of us are grateful. Additionally, Ugandans are levelheaded and hardworking people. But what do they think of South Sudanese? Violent, hostile and primitive people. Okay that’s their opinion, but to claim that South Sudanese are not big-hearted and free-handed is equally wrong. All along we accommodated everybody, but now those students buying their education have begun returning, with sleeves rolled ready to work.
To make matters, they think we are incapable, because of deployment of their troops as result of conflict; they talk as if they’ve married us. Our image needs effecting efforts follows, plus diplomats to explain our policies thoroughly.
In line with the same false notion of laying-off ONLY Ugandans working in the country, it is alleged that, the Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi pounced on the misinterpretation, which cost him his dear position. Though the reason behind his sacking is unknown, many people say, the Former Prime Minister was interested in contesting in the next Ugandan general elections for Presidency. Therefore, he took advantage of the misinterpretation of the circular to rally Ugandans behind him.
Another incident was the famous Ugandan Artist Bebe Cool, a popular figure on the East African music scene, who “banned South Sudanese” from his shows through his facebook page. But it seems like his bitterness stems from not getting more bucks from his few gigs he’s done in South Sudan.
Additionally, it so happened when I visited Uganda that I bumped into him in the club, and due to the crowdedness, we slightly knocked each other, he then took it as a ‘deliberate push’, pushing me again in retaliation I guess. But why would I be looking for trouble when we were only three? I stopped to ask why, he couldn’t let me speak. Though I heard him later on murmur, “You Sudanese feel big”.
I wondered why an accomplished artist by standards of Africa, be pulling publicity stunts like that; influential people like Amama and Bebe should realize that very few South Sudanese are wild but we are at the end of the day grateful. I think the circular needs to be drummed in one more time before implementation, this time in their own language(s) so they understand that we got high unemployment as well. Forever lots of love for Uganda
Contact: mayenathian@gmail.com
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