Hereditary politics not good for Uganda [EDITOR'S OPINION]

Given the circumstances under which he died, the National Resistance Movement (NRM), the political party he belonged to, fully endorsed his son, Samuel Okello Engola junior, to be the party’s flagbearer in the Oyam North by-election.

There’s a possibility that party members innocently felt sympathy for the family and thought embracing the son as the flagbearer would console the family.

It is also possible that none of the party members felt anything but just wanted to take advantage of the fact that Engola would most likely be voted in by the electorate while playing the sympathy card, thus securing another seat in Parliament.

The results, following heated campaigns in Oyam North, have indicated otherwise.

The people of Oyam North voted for Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) candidate Dr. Eunice Apio, much to the jubilation of many who said the electorate had rejected hereditary politics.

Prior to Engola’s defeat in the Oyam North by-election, former speaker Jacob Oulanyah’s son, Andrew Ojok, succeeded his father after winning the Omoro County MP seat.

In 2011, Proscovia Alengont Oromait was elected as Usuk County MP following the death of her father, Michael Oromait, who served as MP in the same area.

Hereditary politics has happened elsewhere in the world. Our Kenyan neighbours have, since the country’s independence, been ruled by family dynasties. The Kenyattas, Odingas, and Mois, among others.

In other African countries such as Chad, Togo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, and Kenya, among others, the sons of former presidents have gone to take power.

The issue of hereditary politics has become too pronounced in Uganda given the continued discussion of Muhoozi, son of President Museveni,‘s likely succession to power when his father eventually retires.

The problem with hereditary politics is that it locks out other members of society who could have unique ideas on transformation, thus undermining the core democratic principle of having everyone actively participate in the country’s politics.

It also keeps power locked up in the same circle of people, which eventually affects the even distribution of national resources.