The Republic of Uganda recently celebrated sixty one years of independence. Independent from who and what you may ask. Between the late 1800s and 1962, Europe systematically took control of Africa’s social and economic systems. They took authority over our people and colonized them through the heads of authority like Kings ands Chiefs.
They used religion to mask their clever strategy of taking authority. They converted African power houses of education like Kings College Budo and Achimota College in Ghana to indoctrination centers of the British way of doing things. Besides education, they introduced their healthcare systems, governance and trade. By the time Africans woke up it was late. The Europeans were here.
The fight for independence started; claiming many lives through resistances like the Mao Mao rebellion in Kenya and Maji Maji rebellion in neighboring Tanzania.
We were free! One by one we regained independence. Or rather did we regain any independence?
Being independent means being free from outside control; not subject to another’s authority.
Is Africa free when the education system is still based on Western values? We espouse certificates like ACCA, our lawyers are proud of Justice systems based in United Kingdom disregarding systems like Gachacha in Rwanda.
Let’s get it to a personal level. Are you really independent? Let me revisit the definition of independence: being free from outside control; not subject to another’s authority.
You’re not independent if your job is your god. When you can’t go away on leave neither can you be yourself because it’s your only source of income.
You’re not independent when you’re educated more than your parents but you’re worse than they were at your age. If you still live in their house, contribute nothing at home you need independence.
You’re not independent when you feel jealousy over other who are doing better than you. Learn to celebrate others. In this world there will always be someone richer, more handsome, wiser, more beautiful and someone poorer, etc. Celebrate people.
You’re not independent if you’re constantly broke: no savings- leaving from pay cheque to pay cheque.
You’re not independent if you have no plan for at least the next 10 years or 30 years. Enslaved people have others thinking on their behalf. How can a company have a 5 year strategy and Emily people who don’t even have plans for at least two he year? How? I don’t understand!
Lastly you’re not independent if you got offended by this blog post.
It’s never too late to live an independent life. Get a job, grow yourself, save invest and when time comes to leave the job , say bye and go help other people.
Happy Independence Day!
