Unlike many young people in my country, I do not write with bitterness about Uganda. Torn apart into tribal sects, several indifferent groups, a huge divide between urban and rural dwellers; Uganda is at the tip of its next critical juncture since independence.

No doubt, the factious country has enjoyed a stable political space since the watchful military regime of Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni took over the state in 1986.

Prior to that, the 24 years of our nascent independence were a disorganized period, armed coups, of certainly less serious Heads of State, some of whom administered the country for just a given number of weeks.

The four decades administration of Gen. Museveni however, is not necessarily the best for its political stability. The more stable the space has been – without an armed coup and a major armed conflict, the lesser free his political opponents are, the institutions in the country, and the entire people of Uganda.

In April next year, he will once again swear in for another term – having won or rigged again by a slight majority than his opponents. This is likely to be his last term, the most critical in his rule over the country. He could choose to transition power to his son after that, the current chief of the national army, or give it to a less likable candidate who could respect and accept the whimsical positions of the first family. Or else, he could die in power, and an illegal seizure of the state would ensue – the less plausible occurrence of all.

For a stable future, the country needs to start a public dialogue on transition. The government of Gen. Museveni should work together with the leading opposition parties in conducting the public dialogue. A series of inter-party talks aimed at power-sharing, re-engagement with the population to shift the public psyche to have trust in the institution of the state and holding leaders with less political consequence accountable for the crimes committed under the Museveni regime.

And yes, while it’s not guaranteed what kind of future the country holds for its citizens, a more organized, better administered Uganda needs the effort of every citizen. The choices of our current leaders shall shape the kind of transition Uganda experiences, but what the citizens choose to do with that transition shall define the country. Young leaders in the country need to start early in preparing themselves to organize and lead the country better. Developing more capacity, character and personality; young leaders should move beyond the current hatred for Gen. Museveni’s tight rule and think about what they can do to change the trajectory of the country.

In my circles, fellow young leaders are bitter about our past. They are bitter about the 40 years of a military suppression by a single ruling clique. While their anger is understandable, it is not a good bet for changing the situation. Gen. Museveni will find a way to remain at the helm of the state if he wants to – sponsor covert military groups to conduct abductions, beat up independent journalists and political opponents, and slice large sums of graft to politicians and civil servants in the National Parliament and the Electoral Commission so they do as he pleases

The best way to end such impunity is not to confront it with a blind bitterness, it is to supersede it and take it for what it can be– a wasted period under an incompetent regime. Like the Ugandan public now arose to a higher consciousness and wished nothing than to move forward; the country could agree to be soft to Museveni’s regime in exchange of never going back to such misrule.

Dialogue, forgive, move forward; there could be many more years of a better Uganda than we could seek to correct our past. That is why I think that our young leaders need to change their perspective about the current status quo, from a peripheral anger point to a participating strategic consciousness. From supporting extremists groups that would substitute a Museveni with another suppressive Yoweri to working towards a more understanding, freer, and open political future. Because it has not just been Gen. Museveni the dictator, there is precedent in the first Heads of state – a Milton Obote who failed to organize any elections during his double rule of the country but instead maintained power through sanctioning a fully-fledged war against his opponents, and a savage Amin Dada who brutally bragged in public about killing his opponents.

That past – even the 40 years of Museveni’s misrule – is not so buried in our history, a poor handling of the transition can bring to power more savageness than we have seen. But that can change with a calmer public attitude, a better guided transition phase, with everyone especially our young breed taking part in crafting the country that works for us all.

Ambrose Ngobi is a candidate for Member of Parliament in the East African Legislative Assembly, and a Youth Fellow of the International Youth Think Tank (IYTT). He has been IYTT’s representative in implementing the Uganda Public Leadership Program with Lead Impact Hub, a leadership development program aimed at grooming Uganda’s next generational leaders.