Interview on the 1st Congress of the Communist League of Uganda

You held your 1st Congress on 22nd and 23rd August in Lira. What was the guiding topic of the Congress?

The guiding topic of the 1st Congress of the Communist League of Uganda and also the theme of the Congress was “Unity of the Party, the Working Class and the People of Uganda.” It is important to note that the Congress is the highest deciding arm or branch of the party, meaning it has representation from all Branches, that is the Central Branch, the Eastern Branch, the Northern Branch and the Western Branch. In the sense of “Unity” as per the theme, representation of all Branch Committees expressed the “Oneness” and togetherness or in broader terms the “Unity” of Comrades in the Party (The Communist League of Uganda).

It is noteworthy that the “Unity” that we spoke of was not limited to the party, but to the Working People of Uganda at large, the representation was majorly an expression of that Unity and that is why the motto of our Party is “Proletarians of all Countries, Unite,” basically meaning “Workers of all Countries, Unite!”. We cannot think of uniting workers of all countries without first considering Uganda as a nation, therefore we need to look initially at the Unity of the working people of Uganda and that is done under the banner of the Vanguard Party which is the Communist League of Uganda.

The theme therefore briefly expressed that as the CLU it is our duty to unite members of the Party and all the Working Class of Uganda.

How do you analyze the current political status of Uganda and your role within?

The current political status of Uganda can be labelled as a military dictatorship, where the ruling class designs and dictates policies and laws under total authoritarian nature in the disguise as a “democracy” in the neoliberal terms and interpretation. A case in point, since 2006 elections have been conducted in the country but there has been no fundamental changes in spheres of leadership, policies and socio-economic conditions of workers and peasants.

The parliament is in place but acting as a rubber stamp, has no power to pass laws and on implementation of laws that positively impact the lives of poor masses on the grass root level. The very laws passed whether new or amendments are discussed by the member of parliament i.e. minority constituency representatives under the tight supervision of the commander in chief and the cabinet but without consultation from the masses, workers and peasants from below at the grass root level. This consistently degrades the quality and integrity of a would be independent institution like parliament up the level of being answerable to the interest of one person on top plus his fellow compradors.

The lack of integrity has been shown in different cases and occasions, for instance the two major amendments of the so called 1995 republican constitution abolished the clause that barred the President to stand on the position of presidential race beyond the age of 75 and the one of the term limits – all these amendments were made in favour of the interests of NRM regime at the expenses of common Ugandans. It’s unfortunate that for over four decades there has been no meaningful reforms and fundamental changes that have been put in place that favours the interest of Uganda’s working and peasantry class.

The degenerated political discipline in the government institutions, which have been contaminated with the habit of shameless corruption in parliament, justice institutions, and security institutions to mention but a few. Terror and fear characterise the politics of Uganda, where by opponents and their supporters are abducted along roads and from their homes, by both armed men and women in uniforms and civilian wears, subjected under torture on specific orders in basements and torture chambers and later presented to cangaroo courts. In these courts the victims have never got and will never get satisfying justice because they are controlled by the military dictatorship regime which is under the control of one family and their royal cronies. A case in point is the recent arrest of former Lord Mayor Lukwago and long term imprisonment of the prominent opposition leader DR Besigye on one man’s orders. The recently concluded elections were conducted not on people’s will and rights to choose their leaders but on fear, corruption, bribery and vote rigging whereby the leader of NUP and other Ugandans fled the country. Up to now their existence and their possibility to return is uncertain.

The militarisation of politics and the political process in the country is on a skyrocketing scale. Currently the political stance of Uganda continues to be at stake, according to the strategies and moves, media engagements of chief mobilizers of Muhoozi’s Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) it’s clear that the CDF will show interest to participate in the forthcoming general elections of 2031. If it happens to be so, torture and oppression and arrests of political opponents and Ugandans of coinscious mind who will not consent to the so-called family rule will be severe.

In summary, the political nature of Uganda is a military dictatorship that rules through authoritarianism on disguise of neoliberal “democracy” whereby political power and political cake ends up in the hands of a few family members and their minority royal cronies who have worked tooth and nail to sustain this corrupt superstructure and the expense of majority Ugandan workers and peasants.

What is the CLU’s role within the existing political conditions of Uganda?

Despite the fact that in the country we have numerous organisations, be it civic organisations, political organisations, non-government organisations or activists that are struggling to liberate the Ugandan oppressed Workers and peasants,. They fight for the same cause as what the CLU is fighting for. The CLU with great enthusiasm recognise their role and contributions in its struggle and journey. However much the overall objective may be the same, the approach and methods or means of achieving that objective differ sometimes. It may be due to differences in experience, ideology and opinions or beliefs. In the same case, most of the above-mentioned organisations have been fighting consistently but the rate of achievement is very low though promising but still the results may be short term. For example most of the leaders of this organisation are trapped in the capitalist mindset that reforms and dialogues can lead to change which is not a perspective that CLU has.

The CLU’s perspective is deeply rooted in the Marxists point of view which clearly expresses that reforms are only short-term solutions. The class struggle and contradictions in Uganda and around the world are long-term problems, so the CLU calls upon all oppressed and their representatives to apply an appropriate answer to this problem. We should learn to employ long-term solutions to long-term problems of the world. The permanent solution to these long-term problems is uprooting the capitalist economic substructure with its corresponding political superstructure and plant a new system, the socialist economic superstructure and its corresponding political superstructure.

To achieve full liberation of the Ugandan proletariat and peasants class, it’s also important to note that capitalism can never peacefully transform itself into socialism but only through revolutionary means.

The role of CLU in summary is the organisation of the masses, support and active participation in the struggle lying before us, sensitising the masses and raising their consciousness, uniting all the available classes and stratas that are standing for the same cause and that whose interests are compatibles with our ideology, principles, policies and organisational discipline under one banner guided by one united front, one ideology, one vanguard party and fighting for the same cause then we shall work upon implementing the theories of Marxism-Leninism-Maoism in regards to the African context and environment, more specifically to the Ugandan environment. This is what we are aiming at and we believe that can lead to full liberation of the proletariat and peasants class of Uganda forever.

After achieving a socialist state in Uganda that runs on power and decisions from below, power by the masses to recall evil and incompetent leaders whenever it is necessary to be done with a purely socialist economy running on cooperatives and state-owned enterprises under a centrally planned economy. This envisions a self-reliant and independent country, both politically and economically. Otherwise without corruption and definitely without exploitation of one class by another as well no oppression of one race or tribe by another.

This is the country that CLU dreams to achieve; all our activities are guided by this collective socialist cause.

What are the set tasks for the upcoming development of the CLU?

The tasks can be summarised in three block points which can be elaborated at a later stage:

1. Mobilisation; 2. Sensitisation; 3. Take action (implementation, putting into practice).

For over a year and a half CLU’s major task was self-establishment. Now after full establishment and having succeeded in holding the First Congress, having elected and presented the Leaders of the Central Organising Committee we believe that right now the CLU has now fully developed its embryo.

We are looking at expansion by mass mobilisation, we aim at recruitment of potential and legit members who follow the class target in all regions and subregions, all districts, all counties and subcounties and in all villages or cells of the country. We want CLU to be the first mass political party in Uganda that unites the workers and peasants in all corners of the country regardless of tribe, religion and color. There shall be numerous strategies and tactics that will be employed by the COC on different occasions depending on the environment that we are working with and the concrete circumstances but one of the so far laid strategies is having at least a functioning office in each region. This goal has been almost achieved since right now it’s only Western region that is without an office and to the best of my knowledge we also already have committed members in Western region who are working on it. Within a longer period of time CLU’s mobilisation program will descend up to the village level whereby each village in Uganda shall be expected to have an office for achieving mass recruitment at grassroot level.

During and after recruitment, these members and masses shall be required to undergo serious education and training for purposes of sensitisation and opening their minds about the capitalist system, imperialism, neocolonialism and their ways of exploitation plus their shortcomings. Wherever they are and whenever they exist, people need to clearly know and understand what they are fighting for and how they should fight and when to fight for which purpose. With a conscious mind they get the means to overcome oppression and capitalist propaganda to always engage and fight earnestly against the emerging opportunist and revisionist habits as well reactionary forces. For the purpose of winning a battle, we need fighters with a conscious mind who can differentiate between the enemy of the struggle and real friend of the struggle¹ who can adopt tactics and strategies according to the prevailing circumstances and environment. We have hope that this is a mindset that can win the battles of class struggles and contradictions and that is a mindset that CLU has been molding amongst its leadership and it will keep moulding amongst its members.

Now, after the two have been achieved whether partially or fully, the last but not least overall task will be to lead this conscious mind on the principles of organisation discipline guided by the Marxist-Leninist-Maoist theory to implement what has been studied and applying the viable Marxist principles and doctrines into practice so as to achieve real liberation and struggles against the oppressors and exploiters. All of the masses, the workers and peasants in the united front, shall have to fight with one aim to achieve total liberation but not concessions and reforms like what our predecessors have been agitating for all along and never achieved.

And lastly as well the most important task ahead of CLU is raising sufficient resources to mobilize nationwide and internationally, educate the masses and sensitising them as well as empowering them to be in position and capacity to resist and fight against all forms of exploitation and oppression. Wherever they are and whenever they manifest, women and youth can be ideologically emancipated but also financially emancipated. Women and youth are vital in the struggle against the exploiting classes. Every comrade has the characteristics of forming a viable force. This is looked at being achieved through membership and monthly contributions by the confirmed members, self-support projects and funds from international comrades and well-wishers because in poorly developed countries like Uganda where the majority of the people are stuck in abject poverty. Because most of our members come from the working class, it’s very hard to realise a self-reliant objective in the short run, so we pursue self-reliance alongside the support from international comrades and well-wishers.

The tasks set before CLU are summarised as “mobilise – educate – recruit – implement” which are all run on finances that are expected to be raised locally through self-reliant means and nationally or internationally by international comrades or well-wishers under the spirit of national and international solidarity.

What is the ideological line you adopted?

The ideological line we adopted is Marxism-Leninism-Maoism and Obote’s Outlook of the Common Man, which is deeply rooted in the Common Man’s Charter of 1969. We are ready to read, analyse and logically choose what can be applied to Uganda’s current conditions and circumstances. It’s the above-mentioned ideological line that will always guide our policy, activities, strategies and decisions as well as all analyses and presentations that are made, will be made and shall be made at any time possible.

What are the major points of your adopted Program?

Centrally planned economy built on purely state owned enterprises, cooperatives and collective ownership of strategic means of production as well as strong workers’ unions.

1. Agrarian land reforms including occupation of vacant land without compensation.
2. Universal free and meaningful education from lower classes up to university Level and all higher institutions of Learning.
3. Universal Free and standard health care program at village level up to national level.
4. Public housing program to provide housing and shelter facilities to the most vulnerable workers and peasants in Ugandan society.
5. Massive industrialisation, in key strategic sectors in for a self reliant and independent socialist Ugandan economy.
6. Upholding the national objectives and principles as well policies of the 1995 constitution that intend to create a conducive livelihood environment to the Ugandan working class and peasants and promoting social justice in Uganda. society.
7. promoting and upholding people’s democracy backed up with people’s dictatorship. The majority class of workers and peasants shall have the mandate to make , design and implement laws and policies at the expense of minority class in the Ugandan society.

What were the foreign comrades attending the Congress saying?

Actually, the Congress marked a great milestone in the journey of CLU towards her socialist cause, for anonymity purposes allow me to be general, we hosted international comrades from Kenya from the CPMK (Communist Party Marxist Kenya). These have been our long term allies comrades in struggle since we share most common characteristics of the struggle, as well Comrades from the International Leagues of Philippines, Comrades from Germany also attended online and their congratulatory messages were received and read by the National Chairperson and many other international comrades attended but online.

Is there a message you have to the Ugandan working people and comrades around the world?

I want to send a clear and direct message to fellow Ugandan comrades, proletarians and peasants as well all oppressed classes around the world to be firm, active, determined and bold, just like comrade Mao said a “ small match can spark the prairies fire”². The struggle in Uganda can be meaningful for the world revolution. Socialism around the world can not be achieved in isolation, we need to unite. “Workers of all countries, unite!” Just like the French Revolution despite the fact that it was a bourgeois revolution, it changed the whole of Europe and the world at large. Later the October Revolution would once again change the world and give an example for a socialist development. We should maintain this hope that a socialist revolution which can lead to successful establishment of a socialist state somewhere in the world can change world history. And we should not forget that imperialism is the last stage of capitalism and it’s at its verge of collapse. Socialism and communism will triumph and its successfulness should start with the unity of workers of the whole world. Thanks.

Long live the spirit of the revolution!

Long live world socialism and communism!

Long live the CLU!

Workers of all countries, unite!

By the COC of the CLU