Grapevine

Our Independence is still provisional, says Ruzindana

You will be making 79 in November. With the benefit of hindsight, has Independence been worth it?

Independence was a positive development that came at the right time. Colonialism was no longer viable. But, I am not sure whether we have successfully utilised Independence to the advantage of the majority of the people.

What was the excitement like in the masses at the time?

There was apprehension among the public on what Independence meant. I was in Senior Two and living in rural Ntungamo. The ordinary people sought us out to inquire about Independence. Even at the Senior Two level they thought we knew something they did not know.

They asked, ‘But you young people, if the Bazungu go away, what shall we do? We cannot even make a needle or a cloth. Will we go back to the ways we used to have?’ Although there was a lot of anxiety, there was no opposition to Independence.