A Country Adrift, A President Amiss

摘要

When Uganda's president, Yoweri Museveni, came to power in 1986 after a long bush war, he promised a sea change for his landlocked country: peace and security for all, democracy, prosperity and frugal governance. He made a point, then, of lambasting the "pathetic spectacle" of rotten African leaders flying to summits in executive jets. In 2001 he promised to serve only the two terms provided for by the constitution. In 2005 he reneged by changing the constitution so he could serve a third term. He is likely to run again in 2011, and win.rnJudged by his original promises, Mr Museveni has been a failure. The north of the country, terrorised by the rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), has been a blood-spattered mess for two decades-and still awaits a real peace. Democracy has been corroded by the army's continuing power, as well as by Mr Museveni's refusal to relinquish office. The economy is stumbling. Frugality has been trumped by corruption.