As we continue headlong into the regurgitating inanity that’s Uganda’s rollercoaster elections, the excessive contradictions that embody our governance and politics continue unencumbered.
Dear reader, permit us to review about a conditions that must hold us questioning why we remain overly yoked to the incumbent ruling regime. For here’s now not about whether that you just may very successfully be blood red for Other folks Vitality or witheringly yellow for the lumbering bus, however be taught how to attain that Uganda that capabilities for every Ugandan.
On April 6, Police Constable Suleiman Chemonges, 28, used to be deployed on the burial of forty eight-year-faded Lazarus Kahangire in a village in Ibanda district. About a hours later, Chemonges lay ineffective, even ahead of the burial of Kahangire.
Kahangire, who used to be on remand facing charges of attempted assassinate (over a land dispute that ended in physical difference in step with The Day-to-day Video display), died on April 4 whereas in detention middle in Ibanda district. Records of his death whereas on remand sparked madden and suspicion internal his community.
On April 7, the Uganda Prisons Carrier printed a put up-mortem that confirmed Kahangire died as a outcome of illness (lobar pneumonia and anaemia), adding that he had been susceptible for the rationale that launch of his incarceration. Inevitably for Chemonges, when he turned up for responsibility at Kahangire’s burial, he stumbled on himself amidst an adverse and suspicious crowd.
The video of the mob chasing him down as he makes an try to apprehension them off by firing into the air is distressing. You may per chance survey the creeping escalation, the inevitability of being hunted down enjoy vermin as the trickle of of us chasing Chemonges grows precise into a mob, that at closing clobbers Chemonges to death.
Given the madden and suspicion surrounding the circumstances of Kahangire’s death, many netizens rightly wondered why the police despatched a lone Chemonges on any such lethal mission. Investigating the events that resulted in Chemonges’ killing, the police disclosed that Chemonges had been deployed alongside one other officer, however finest Chemonges ended up on the burial.
Commendably, the police indicated it is miles continuously investigating its maintain genuine conduct to name any lapses that will per chance wish despatched Chemonges to any such violent finish. Interior days of Chemonges’ death, the police reported that it has arrested on the least 40 of us over the death.
Again, here’s commendable that the police are working fleet to lift the culprits to e-book. Yet, the save is that this effectivity for the family of Julius Ssemwaka? On December 23, Ssemwaka, a truck driver, used to be en route turning in jerrycans to a client. The festive season used to be in excessive tools; Ssemwaka used to be potentially relishing spending about a days relaxing with family and mates over sumptuous feasts that dot Ugandan households for the length of Christmas.
Alas! On that fateful day, the festive season got here to a brutal finish for Ssemwaka and his liked ones in plush Nakasero in Kampala. Nile Put up reported that police constable Charles Bahati who used to be atop a police patrol automobile, shot ineffective Ssemwaka after the truck driver failed to crumple for the police automobile.
An eyewitness, a boda boda rider known as Kassim Kasumba told the Day-to-day Video display that Bahati used to be now not by myself in that police patrol automobile. Thus, I continuously wonder after I revisit this tragic killing, about Bahati’s fellow law enforcement officials who had been with him that day.
What went through their minds as a charged and armed Bahati jumped out of the police automobile to confront the unarmed civilian, Ssemwaka? Kasumba talked about the other officers attempted to chilly down Ssemwaka however failed.
This day, Ssemwaka’s family aloof waits for justice, over 120 days later (Day-to-day Video display columnist Nicholas Sengoba, is faithfully retaining tally). Bahati is aloof on the flee. Perchance, within the hobby of effectivity and ensuring all lives matter, shall we aloof all change into law enforcement officials. To be lovely, the police work laborious; however for whom?
On April 28, the opposition Nationwide Unity Platform (NUP) used to be to open a campaign to serve young of us to grab part within the 2026 elections by casting a sigh vote. Successfully, that went south fleet and predictably.
The police, kitted out and heavily armed, responded by besieging NUP’s birthday party headquarters. The police had earlier warned that it would now not permit NUP to set the match “in the interest of maintaining public order.”
The police see posted on its social media legend on X, didn’t effort itself with citing any guidelines in beef up of their directive. For why would an illegality want legality? Dear reader, may per chance hold to you neglected it, on April 24, the ruling birthday party, the Nationwide Resistance Movement (NRM) through its Place of work of the Nationwide Chairman (ONC) headed by Hajjat Hadija Namyalo Uzeiye/Chief Muzzukulu, launched the 2026 NRM campaign slogan.
The open of the slogan, “Settle for the Best, M7 is the Best” (certain, that’s the slogan – we hear, we don’t judge) used to be amidst significant fanfare as young of us from universities round Uganda pledged their beef up for the NRM presidential candidate, the incumbent President Yoweri Museveni.
Label in without cost AllAfrica Newsletters
Salvage the most fresh in African news delivered straight to your inbox
Supporters danced, ululated, frolicked of transferring cars emblazoned with Museveni posters, twerked here and there as they displayed their happy vigor. It used to be a excellent day within the NRM camp, for such is the fine impunity of the incumbent ruling birthday party. They win to birthday party as and after they please – since 1986.
There hold been no police or thuggish- wanting security deployed “in the interest of maintaining public order.” No one is disappearing and torturing their supporters as has change into the calling card for youthful NUP participants.
Dear reader, we return to the starting. This may aloof now to now not be diminished to the political shade that sends your patriotism racing. Satisfaction your self, however please, for the sake of Uganda, fight for a Uganda that capabilities for every Ugandan. Identify for Uganda, which is the ‘bestest’.
*******
Olivia Nalubwama is a “tayaad Muzukulu, tired of mediocrity and impunity” [email protected]
THIS ARTICLE WAS FIRST PUBLISHED IN THE OBSERVER
