“The issue of berets, I always see people putting them on and I haven’t seen anybody arrested, including MPs here, I see you putting them on, but I haven’t seen anybody being arrested, even Joel Ssenyonyi is usually on berets, have you ever been arrested? Have you ever been arrested?” – Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja (07.02.2024).
We have a familiar discussion and it’s nothing new. Not long ago the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) gazetted and made it illegal to wear “red berets” in the Republic. That is public knowledge, that happened as a result of the People Power Movement and the rise of Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine in the political sphere.
However, as time has gone on and it has become normalized. The red beret haven’t been used as a mean to target and arrest people. While in the beginning the authorities has arrested civilians, activists and people for wearing it. The authorities even went after Bobi Wine for wearing it years ago. Therefore, the Prime Minister is lying.
There is people behind bars for wearing an attire. They had the “red beret” and that was enough reason for them to arrested and detained. This is why people are reacting when they are seeing Andrew Mwenda and Lillian Arber wearing military uniform. These high-ranking officials within the regime are allowed to wear military attire, but others are charged, arrested, and detained for doing the same.
This just shows there is a difference between the average joe and the ones who is connected. The ones who has a function and a role within the regime can get off the hook, but civilians and others have to beg for mercy. This is the gist here.
It is not funny that the Prime Minister is mocking this. When we know of individuals who are charged and having trials in Court Martial as civilians for wearing “red berets”. Maybe it hasn’t caused headlines in recent time, but in the last few years there are incidents of this. There are times when the authorities have gone after politicians, activists and civilians for wearing that.
This is why the PM in her arrogance forgets the plights and the hardships of the ones on the frontline. The PM can do this, because she is living the fine life now. She has achieved everything and living in her golden era. That’s why the PM can mock it and laugh at the Opposition for questioning this.
While the PM disregard the citizens who are behind bars for this, but her allies are allowed to cosplay as soldiers or uniformed personnel. So, please step your game up. This isn’t it. We should feel sorry for the ones behind bars for wearing the red beret. They shouldn’t be there, but they are.
These people are prisoners of conscience and out of political affiliation. Peace.
MinBane 