Not many Ugandans are familiar with Erik Prince, but for those keen on current affairs and international news, he’s a former US Navy SEAL and founder of Academi, previously known as Black Water, a private security firm infamous for its past activities in Iraq.
In a recent interview on February 8, Prince’s controversial remarks about Africa and Latin America needing (re)colonization went largely unnoticed by mainstream international media. He claimed these regions were failing to govern themselves effectively, citing issues of corruption and mismanagement.
While Prince’s statements are a broad generalization, it prompts reflection on challenges within African countries. Simple tasks, such as paying utility bills, pose problems for institutions like Uganda’s national referral hospital, Mulago, and other public hospitals, accumulating a substantial debt of Shs 14.9b for government entities.
This issue isn’t unique to Uganda. South Africa, considered Africa’s most advanced economy, grapples with electricity shortages, owed debts of $26b (Shs100 trillion), and malfunctioning power stations, according to the BBC.
Travel across Africa remains a challenge, with bureaucratic hurdles making it difficult for Africans to explore their continent freely. Visa processes are cumbersome, and outdated embassy websites contribute to the frustration, as described by a Quartz article in 2016.
The recurring theme of inefficiency extends to institutions like Makerere University, where basic inquiries yield inadequate responses, raising questions about organizational effectiveness despite being established for over a century.
While some defend Africa’s challenges by citing its relatively young age as independent nations, the counterargument arises. South Korea, once behind Uganda in many aspects during the early 1960s, serves as an example of rapid progress and development.
In a May 2018 interview, South Korea’s ambassador to Uganda, Kim You-Churl, highlighted the remarkable transformation, emphasizing that a country doesn’t need a century of independence to achieve organization and prosperity.
