I’m 
... on This article and this article both cite a movement by the NRM to make military service obligatory for all Ugandans. Though the proposal still has to be passed into law, and there isn’t really a discussion of either how likely or unlikely this will be, it seems like soon more Ugandans will be donning fatigues.
The Monitor article says this:
The national service resolution, Mr Mbabazi said, will call on Sections 8A and 17 of the Constitution which require Ugandan citizens to participate in the common good as well as undergo military training in order to defend the country. He did not state whether there were threats to the country or why the provisions of the Constitution were being operationalised at this time.
It also quotes some opposition to the movement as saying this:
“Compulsory military training is not relevant for Uganda today. Nationalism cannot be measured by military training,” said CP President Ken Lukyamuzi.
The changes that would take place in society if there were a nationalized draft would be substantial. Anyone who has visited Israel knows that the military is one of the cornerstones of the society – does Uganda want to be that kind of society?
There are so many details that aren’t mentioned – like who would be excluded, and who would be able to get pardons, and would people go before university? and if so, would that prevent more people from going to university when there are already so many challenges to going?
This policy clearly needs not just some serious thought but more detailed planning if it is going to be put into effect.
The 27th Comrade says:
You know what I don’t like about having to comment on a post like this? Because I end up sounding like a government propagandist. Which I’m not. I’d just not comment, but I figure it is still okay … ;o)
`I’m curious if this has any relationship to the increased aid Uganda gets from the AU for sending soldiers on peace keeping missions to places like Somalia. Hmm…’
What, you are sure the AU `aid’ could be a reason? I don’t think it nearly is.
But the training doesn’t make soldiers. It doesn’t make a militant people. It only makes people who have ripped and assembled an AK-47.
Also, it is often used (abused?) to disseminate government propaganda. But that’s not something I worry about, as the press in Uganda doesn’t consider anything classified enough not to be published. (Not when the Scarlett Lion still roars around … (o;)
Israel has compulsory military training. As do countries like Italy, and (I think) Canada.
Of course, the above-mentioned countries are militant outposts of menacing soldier populations.
And there are some model countries that do not have compulsory military training. They are vanguards of peace, and they do not threaten anyone. And massive nuclear war is not on their plan. They don’t have thousands of nukes waiting to be tossed around. Like Switzerland, like Canada, like Swaziland, like South Africa, like Kenya, like Uganda (for now). They are good countries. They are not the very thing you express fear of in this post.
And the U, S, and A.
[Reply]
— July 20, 2007 @ 3:32 pm
livefromkampala says:
Comrade, in your comment you have named Canada as a country that both does and does not have compulsory military training.
Let me assure you, to avoid any confusion, that Canada does not have, never has had, and isn’t ever likely to have, compulsory military training. The last time we had conscription was World War Two,and it wasn’t popular even then. Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conscription_Crisis_of_1944
[Reply]
— July 25, 2007 @ 6:13 am