Why Self-Criticism is vital

“We have the Marxist-Leninist weapon of criticism and self-criticism. We can get rid of a bad style and keep the good.”1 – Mao Zedong Already Paul wrote: “Test all things; hold fast what is good.”2 This idea, as we can see, goes very much along with what Mao said. It is a good principle to critically review practice and theoretical reflections, especially when it comes to oneself. There are comrades who have a hard time exercising self-criticism, they have the

For an Organized Working Class! – Remarks on the prospects of trade unions in Uganda

Trade unions are no new form of organization in Uganda. The National Organization of Trade Unions (NOTU) is the largest trade union organization within Uganda and exists already for more than 50 years. But they are insufficient. They might have over 900.000 working people organized among their ranks, but only very few industrial workers. It is good that over 100.000 transport workers are organized in their ranks, over 160.000 teachers about 130.000 agricultural workers and more than 50.000 workers in

Can the Workers and Peasants rule themselves?

There is that common cliché as if the working people would be incapable to rule and administrate themselves without the ruling exploiting class and pro-capitalist “experts”. It is true that the capitalists, feudalists and their “expert” servants know how to run a state according to their interests. But does that really mean that the workers and peasants would not be able to get organized to rule themselves? Lenin replied to such claims over a century ago: “We are not utopians.

Science or Dogma?

We all know that Marx said about religion: “It is the opium of the people.”1 But this shall not be the main topic here. Instead the topic here shall be about cases where religion actively interferes negatively in the spread of scientific knowledge and cognition of the objective reality, the materialist world. There are some ignorant Christians that like to quote this verse by Paul against scientific cognition: “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.”2 They quote

Social-Democracy or Socialism?

The UPC has one main ideological problem: It’s ideology is not very distinct from it´s main competitors NRM and NUP. I am not saying that the UPC would be the same in practice as the NRM or NUP, but at least in proclamations they are. According to the 2008 Constitution of the UPC the party is a “social-democratic party”1. The thing is that the NUP also claims to be a “progressive, social-democratic organization”2. Even the NRM calls itself a “social-democratic

Is the South African Communist Party still on the track of Marxism?

On the African continent there are some communist parties as old as those in Europe and East Asia. The South African Communist Party (SACP) is one of them. Formally the SACP still upholds Marxism-Leninism to this day1. So are they reliable comrades of us? Before answering that question in final, the better question is: What is their understanding of what Marxism-Leninism is? There the answer is quickly found: The falsified, social-democratized understanding of the Khrushchev type. Nobody else than Joe

Remarks on the UPC´s “Aims & Objectives”

The UPC has ten points on its website titled “Aims & Objectives”1. This can be seen as a sort of short program. These points are too less to be called a “program of socialism”. From our perspective the question is if these points are suitable to rally the people for the transitional phase from capitalism to socialism. The Bible says: “Test all things; hold fast what is good.”2 So then, let’s check these ten points up. To build the Republic

How a Communist has to be

All of us want to have the honorary title communist. But how do we live up to that title without devaluing the term? Mao Zedong set some clear quality demands. First of all, a communist has to be a role model towards the masses. Mao said: “Communists in the Eighth Route and New Fourth Armies should set an example in fighting bravely, carrying out orders, observing discipline, doing political work and fostering internal unity and solidarity.”1 Without the role model

FRICTIONS IN OPPOSITION PARTIES IN UGANDA AND HOW THEY CAN BE ELIMINATED

Political parties are formed for the purposes of achieving a common good or a common objective. And the strength of the political party is derived from its ideology, history and propaganda as well on the strong and united internal leadership structure which leads to a large mass base if the are well designed. And it is believed that political parties may split due to some internal and external factors but within the structures of the party, it could

Was the Obote II Government not following the socialist path anymore?

In September 2006 Patrick Rubaihayo made the following claim, which is reproduced on the UPC´s party website: “When the parties were allowed to function again after the fall of Idi Amin in 1980, UPC shifted its ideological position from socialism to a free market economy.”1 When this would be true, Obote´s second government would not have pursued the path of socialism anymore. But is it the truth? For that let us look at the 1980 UPC Manifesto. The UPC Manifesto

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