
“I want to know if there is anyone here who has ever been charged in a criminal offence, among you. None. I guess the answer is no. If the answer is no, the question is, why do you find pleasure in persecuting people? Persecuting, I’ve used that deliberately. Do you understand what it means for someone who is innocent and you even know because the evidence I brought to you and you look at it and you find that there is no serious evidence for the case to proceed to court and you still sanction it and you stand, you keep informing court. Investigations are going on. Do you understand what you have done to that human being?” – Jonathan Odur MP (01.04.2025).
The Erute South Member of Parliament, Jonathan Odur representing Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) dropped some knowledge and begged the state some vital questions. The UPC MP spoke with intent and with a regard for fellow citizens. This is speaking into the void. Not like the state will take it seriously or act upon it. However, the MP brought it to the table and now it is in the public eye.
What the MP spoke about. I have addressed lots of times on my platform. I’m happy to see an MP address the ones in power heads on and without fear. As we know how little mercy or concern of life this government has. We have seen how easily it can apprehend, kidnap, torture and extra judicial kill someone who happens to test them or speak out about them. That’s why this matters, as the drones, the safe-houses and institutionalizing of oppression against civilians continues at a rapid pace.
Just read this!
“I’m sure you have seen in the public, some people have rebranded your office instead of being Office of the Director for Public Prosecution, people call it the Office of the Director for Political Prosecution. Because many of the people who are languishing in the jails as a result of political differences, your office, you have allowed your office to be used and it’s not only at the national level, even at lower levels, these are happening. Political differences are now settled in the Office of the Director and you are happy to be able to do that” (…) “Remember, you have come to Parliament to get money which is collected from Ugandans who are taxpayers. How do you then be happy using that same money to persecute them? It becomes difficult for us to say we are increasing money, we are giving more money. What happened then to your professional ethics and conduct? Because you are both lawyers, trained that if the facts are clear and you cannot, if something is yellow, as a lawyer you cannot argue that no, no, it is green” (Odur MP, 01.04.2025).
These stories we have heard and we cannot forget. We know how easily the state security organizations are operating and using their monopoly of force on civilians. That’s why lives are so quickly taken and they can be kept incommunicado. The state don’t mind the misuse of power or the lack due process. No, it thrives on it and don’t mind people kept as criminal before even have built a proper case or gotten a solid verdict or judgement in the courts. No, there is often no sentencing, and always deferring the case to another time. As the state defence and the authorities are “building” case against their victim. Alas, making the civilian a criminal instead of proven being tested for the conspiracy and proving the alleged criminal actions. Nevertheless, the state rather have people behind bars and kept as state property. Because it sends a signal to the citizens and that they have to obey the “correct line”.
That’s why all of this matter. It is so vital what the MP said and the question he asked of it. This is what the opposition should do and on a regular basis. It is truly testing and undressing the government. Odur MP showed the brutal and the sinister state of the authorities of the state. He spoke with compassion and sincerity. Because the MP most likely knows someone or has seen it with his own eyes. As he knows what fate is bestowed on the ones who dares to challenge the masters of the nation. The MP knows what happens to the ones who goes vibrantly and dares to be loudmouth about it. He knows this and that’s why today matters. Peace.










