What happened to the prosperous Ugandan peasant?

When Hegel and his disciples argued that reality only exists in the human mind, history was to later verify his claim- to an extent. The classification of the Ugandan peasantry as a mediocre caste of society is testimony to this.

About a decade ago, there was debate in the Ugandan media on “who is a peasant”. Commentators almost rhymed in characterising the peasant as a penurious, underfed, and semi-literate segment of society, plagued by superstition. Singers as well as advertisers hint on okudda mukyaalo (back to the village) as a sign of failure; to cite Ragga Dee’s “Gwojje mu kyaalo yayagala odde mu kyaalo”. Students and other common folk normally categorise uncivilised behaviour as amaalo (village mentality). President Museveni once commented on peasants as a people unable to tell their left from their right.

The average village youth is sensitive to this denigration. The socio-economic conditions in rural areas are not in the least favourable. Hence the ambition where one will undertake hook and crook endeavours to escape the arduous village life and take to other (intermediary or employment) ventures in centres. That is why the selling of land legacies to acquire boda bodas is rampant.

Village schools are performing very poorly. In 2004, the Uganda National Examinations Board had to manipulate (lower) the P7 exams standards, so as to ward off criticism that the Universal Primary Education system is producing failures. One of the liabilities in the programme is the failure of poor peasants to provide lunch for their children. Read More