
“What else can we do? If you have got a government which has closed off all other channels of peaceful change…what else could we do, except to surrender and resign ourselves to slavery. We couldn’t do that!” – Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in an interview in the bush in 1985
Laws. Rules. Justice. Rule of Law. Law enforcement and protecting the nation. Is all fine words. However, today. It is just blood on the streets. Yesterday it was blood on the streets. In Kampala, Masaka and elsewhere. As protests, riots and demonstrations was appearing because of the arrest and detaining Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine. Who is detained and sealed off the public at Nalufenya Police Station in Jinja District.
The state and their spokespersons are calling the public who are crying out their grievances “hoodlums” and “hooligans”. Yes, some of them are acting out in spite and endangering their lives as we speak. They are using force and even been undressing people for wearing yellow shirts, which is associated with the ruling regime and party. This is done in anger and in frustration. It isn’t the right thing to do. It is unjustified. However, so is also killing civilians with bullets. Who dares to oppose the government who carries the colour of yellow.
There is a significant difference between the ills. One is state sanctioned violence against own citizens. Shooting and aiming at civilians, throwing tear-gas and ordering soldiers on the streets. This is all to quell the riots and demonstrations. Just like it has been done before. Using huge force against unarmed civilians. Seeing boda-boda riders with weapons on the streets going after civilians who are demonstrating. The ones who might be associated with the likes of Boda Boda 2010 and the ones who the President was supposed defeat. Just like the President was supposed to close the prison facility and torture den of Nalufenya in 2018. He clearly did neither, but hope the people forget.
People are dying. Police and armed officials are raiding homes in Kampala. God knows what else they are doing. Blocking roads and not shielding the public. But attacking them and besieging the city yet again. In Masaka it has already arrested Mpuuga and Mbidde ahead of the NUP campaign visit there. Which seems unlikely to happen at this point of time.
There is reports of 30 dead and 45 injured. Surely the numbers will rise with time. As there some who is hiding and not come forward yet. There is always a grey-areas and stray-bullets can hit at anything.
The state has the fire-power, the equipment and the regiments to hit the public hard. They got the people in office trying fix the narrative and blame the grand public. While these issues have been created by the mere state and reflects upon their misgivings. If the public was satisfied and felt represented… they wouldn’t run to the streets and wouldn’t speak out like they do. However, the state rather silence them. Then listen to what they got to say. As they are arresting their leaders, killing protestors and injuring scores of others.
God knows… lord have mercy… for the whole tally of this. This here shouldn’t be a thing, but it is. Because, one system and one regime has choked the country for ages.
This is injustice, this is impunity and all for one man. There is already a bloodshed. To many people have died over this. Not only during the last 48 hours, but during all the years in the reign of Museveni. People have died for standing up to him and his guards. They have assisted in getting rid of the opponents and activists. Therefore, what is happening now. Isn’t just for the political active, but the general public. The true methods to stay in power is revealed. It isn’t true support from the general public, but by the use of arms. Which was the same way he came in…. He intends to go out as well. He lived by the gun and the system he has created will die by the gun too.
That is why innocent civilians screaming out and taking out their fury is called hooligans and hoodlums. The ones who are just using their one outlet for their grievances and their hurt. The bitterness, which has been created over all these years.
How many have to die before it is enough? How many lives can one man have on his watch before it is too much? What level of impunity and injustice is liveable? I wonder, why is this acceptable and continued?
Will the President and his men ever take accountability and be responsible for this? It is on their watch and they are letting it play-out. Just like it is nothing, because that is what it is to them. They are just buying time and hoping the people let go. These people are hoping the pain, suffering and lack of outlets will soon its course. So, that everything can go back to normal. While they are sheltering in mansions, the others are in the slums trying to find the next gig to secure food on their plate.
Sill, you wonder… why they cry and why their plights should matter. It should, but these leaders have abandoned them for all these years. Why should they suddenly start to listen now? Unless, they want to make a publicity stunt together with some UN Organizations or Multi-National Organizations to pay for the development to appease the general public.
Expect it to get worse, before it gets better. This rulers doesn’t care. If they did. They wouldn’t send soldiers and police officers to shoot at the public. They would have found ways to talk and act upon their suffering, which they clearly not intending to do at this given time. Peace.











