Editor,I wish to respond to Sam Kebongo’s article, “Who sets your agenda?”, published in The New Times on January 3.Well, I do not know the intention of the article but much as there is truth in it, I’m afraid to say that it misses critical analysis: it is blaming the external influences as if there is no role nationals played in all that happened to Africa.First, Africans had an idea of God and were strong believers; hadnt it been the case, Christianity could not have taken root. Colonialism did not take place in Africa alone, but elsewhere like in India. However, the level of resistance and self-determination matters a lot. Even in Africa, colonialism did not have the same gravity; and one should remember that colonialism does not equal Christianity or Islam.I think in the quality of a writer, there is need to make distinction and ensure readers aren’t intoxicated.Why didnt Africa colonise other countries? Why are Africans killing fellow countrymen up to this day? Why do we always have to blame others? Will USA kill Ugandans if they continue to refuse homosexuality? By refusing homosexuality, do we mean it doesn’t exist? Are we afraid to face todays realities or we are just being nationalists without critical mind?The whole issue is not whether USA, UK, or EU dictates on African countries – the big problem is what we are doing to get out of that trap, and what some African leaders are doing to their fellow countrymen.By the way, is there anything we consider “African Values” that we stand and can die for even in the face of some dictators?Let’s not be emotional, and let’s debate the issue at stake.For instance, let’s take the case of Uganda. Let me ask: do we have to kill someone because of his sexual orientation? Human life is sacred and no human being should take justice by his hands even if this person is a criminal.Let Uganda stand firm on both feet and tell the world that whether USA or UK withdraws their “aid”, Ugandans will not accept homosexuality. If this is the value you defend and stand for, let it be and be ready to pay the price for it but ensure you stand for your values.By talking about aid, another question arises: why should we have to always wait for external aid? Maybe because we are selfish, or we do not work hard, or we are just blind or we do value what we have, or we simply want to remain poor! We flock churches and mosques every week, and remain suffering from malnutrition while our political and religious leaders drive in expensive SUVs.To be honest, do we have to always blame colonialism? At least they taught us how to read their English and French; what are we teaching them? Do we invest in any modern invention? I don’t think so.What we only do is just copy and paste. Even intervening in Somalia, South Sudan, Central Africa we had to wait for UN and big powers to request us, as if the issues are not African.Dear Kebongo, dont think I am not aware of consequences of colonialism, but enough is enough; let’s stop blaming others but rather question what we ourselves are doing to our fellows. Then from that perspective, we can take responsibility and indeed be in charge and set our agenda.Innocent, Kigali
