Politics, Governance and the Price of Leadership

There are three constants in life; death, taxes and you can all guess the third, politics (you all guessed right). It is written all over, ticks most boxes that affect us, and like a big bully is always stamping authority even in places it is most undesirous, we can feel it and we can almost touch it. For the few who find it nauseating, the options are not many! We have nowhere to hide, like a hound tracking down its prey the domineering influence of politics always catches up.

I cannot attempt to belittle the work of many of our country men because I am aware of the sacrifices made for any individual to occupy these spaces. A place where you are rarely appreciated, accept even those from the lowest economic stratum to toss about your name as if you were a little pet but still accept to remain a servant of the people.  

As a matter of example, when the British Prime Minister was leaving office after seven years of hard work but also of uproar, furore, and the tumultuous decisions, Phillip Stephens described him this way,

“The Tony Blair who spoke to that slightly bemused audience in Sedgefield in the spring of 2004 was scarcely recognizable from the fresh-faced young man who had become his party’s leader a decade earlier. Seven years in Downing Street, the burdens and battles of office and the angry controversy over the war against Iraq were etched deep into the lines under his eyes. His hair had thinned. The grayish hue of his skin had for some time told of stress and exhaustion.”

The truth is that office can wear you out, for those who are unlucky it can even reduce your life span, it can also cast you as a lonely and tired figure well past their sell-by-date.

The past two-three weeks have been unsettling not just for Makerere University but for many other institutions of higher learning. The university has been all about colours and slogans, about affiliation and loyalty, the surprises were not many. The search for a new set of leaders, responsible and enterprising to spur their respective constituencies to higher grounds has been ongoing and it still continues. I will not make mention of the ugly side that the campaigns took because some things are best left in the past but for the greater part will focus on the after period.

Two things have always informed my view of student and youth leadership but also by default any kind of position of service. That first of all we can choose to take these places of leadership and responsibility and make them count but second and most importantly we can use that opportunity to show everyone why it was important that you are in that place.

One of two things can happen when you are elected. You can either be that once in a generation leader whose election heralds an earthquake that alters completely the contours of how the others look at the politics of that position. Alternatively you can be that drab, dreary and spineless leader that we quickly make reference to when we need quick and evident examples of ‘nothing doers’. Some things should not be about politics, they are simply a matter of willingness to learn, focus and intention together of course with a little dose of good upbringing.

Even when the storms begin raging it shouldn’t be much of a concern. That is the moment to display true character, the moment to show your mental adeptness and why it is you and not someone else in that office. In the words of Tony Blair when asked whether he wanted to continue being Prime Minister of the UK after the Iraq invasion that had turned out a complete disaster, he had this to say; “It is always a privilege to do the job. You have to be resilient in this because you have to believe in what you are doing, and, in the end it is for the people to decide.  

If anyone took up a leadership position today we expect their job to be simple, to serve and to simply serve us well. That is the price of leadership and it is not a big ask!

On a personal note, I take the opportunity to congratulate all those that have been lucky enough to take up positions of leadership in the past few days and those who are still waiting in the wings. It is by no means a small feat having a group of people fully vesting their trust in you. We look forward to good service in the coming days.

Blessed week ahead!