The Ugandan Communists need to know Uganda´s national conditions well

Marxism-Leninism is a scientific world outlook, therefore universal. That is a truism. The universality is the generality meaning that it can be internationally applied; the particular implementation on the national conditions of a single country is the concrete. Both exist in a dialectical connection, inseparable. Stalin once said: “Theory becomes purposeless if it is not connected with revolutionary practice, just as practice gropes in the dark if its path is not illumined by revolutionary theory.”¹ If there would be no concrete practice, the theory would be just dead ink and paper; if there would be no universal theory, the practice would be blind and lead nowhere.

As I have already shown in my class analysis of the Ugandan society² of today and the glance into the Ugandan pre-colonial feudal society³, historical materialism did not and does not step around Uganda. These were two relatively small, though fundamental steps into the application of the Marxist-Leninist analysis of society on the Ugandan national conditions. Further ones with more detailed topics have to follow. Socialism cannot be established by repeating general phrases but by applying the scientific theory of Marxism-Leninism with the concrete conditions of Uganda. By going from the realities in Uganda, our feet will find a ground to walk on.

If we do not ground ourselves on the concrete national conditions in Uganda – its society, history, geography, economics, culture and political situation – we will just get stuck in academic ivory tower discussions the left in the Western countries too often gets stuck in. Then we will end up like the Trotskyite renegade Mahmood Mamdani who recently⁴ even regarded Idi Amin as better than Obote despite claiming otherwise in 1981⁵. Such an amount of renegacy is only possible for someone being separated from the actual living conditions of the working masses, for someone who only reads figures written on paper and not their actual results.

Kim Il Sung said in 1943 in regard of the revolutionary struggle in Korea:

“A good knowledge of our country and our people is essential for us to discharge our duties successfully as patriots and communists and carry out the Korean revolution with honour.

In order to carry the responsibility for the Korean revolution, we must be well versed in the history and geography of the homeland and be well informed about its brilliant cultural traditions. This is indispensable to us in fostering ardent patriotism, increasing our readiness to serve the country and the people with devotion, and in educating our people by understanding their preferences and so persuading them to become actively involved in the revolutionary struggle.

At the same time, a good knowledge of our history, geography, economy and culture is essential for us communists to apply Marxist-Leninist principles creatively to the realities of our country, take an independent attitude and form our own views with regard to the revolution in our country.”⁶

We should do the same in our Ugandan fatherland and study the conditions of our country. In our case it will also help to achieve national unity by studying the national conditions of Uganda holistically, with all its ethnic groups instead of only taking local narratives into consideration. We have to break with tribalism by education and friendship among the ethnic groups of Uganda, turning them into one big national family united under one national lingua franca and one leadership formed jointly by the working people of all ethnic groups.

We need to find suitable solutions for the national conditions in Uganda based on the tools and teachings Marxism-Leninism gives us on hand. Only on that way we will win over the working masses of Uganda of all ethnic groups and avoid grave mistakes in our practice.