A good Ugandan is a silent one
DICTATORSHIP: AUGUSTIN RUZINDANA (Monitor, Kampala)
The levels of intolerance are rising ever higher and higher. The methods for silencing different categories are diverse but they are aimed at the same outcome: stop talking.
Religious leaders must stop talking unless their talking is in support of the regime, generally meaning the president. Since when did land become such a partisan political issue that religious leaders cannot address without being threatened with fire and brimstone?
In earlier times the president would have called land a factor of production but now he considers it a hot political potato that must be out of bounds for the leaders of the long established religious organisations. Yet they are stakeholders in land since they own substantial landholdings and their followers similarly own land.
These religious leaders have really gone beyond bounds. How dare they challenge the gagging of members of parliament? When did it become their business whether ruling party parliamentarians are allowed to speak or not?
How can they talk about democratic processes and rights? Perhaps these religious leaders have been inducting political cadres since there is now a standing threat that religious induction procedures of baptism may be carried out by the state.
You know this is not so far-fetched. Mobutu actually banned the use of names given by these religious leaders and Joseph Desire was dropped in favour of Kuku wa Zabanga etc. The cultural leaders, including their officials, must not speak too. Yet one of the major cultural leaders is the “Ssabatakka”, which is the main basis of his cultural role.
“You are cultural leaders and land is political, so don’t talk about it”. Why don’t you recall who restored you and be grateful. Just like you were restored, so new cultural leaders have arisen in your realms. Worse may yet happen. How can you keep the wrong company of oppositionists? Security agencies might no longer be restrained from taking action, you know.
The Movement supporters of the life presidency have not been spared either. Those in parliament must be mum like the 10 listening posts unless so authorised, otherwise disciplinary measures would be taken against them.
Some specific individuals have been indeed frequently threatened with dire consequences, including possible expulsion from the non-party ruling organisation.
The opposition must not speak otherwise they will be charged with incitement, criminal libel, threatening to burn Kampala or treason. Many indeed have been charged with various criminal offences. There must be something sinister for the opposition to hold rallies in Kasubi tombs without an audience. What are they up to?
They have even enlisted the support of cultural leaders. There is a government in this country, you know. We have so much support in the country that we shall not even need to use big guns, tear gas will do. They are joking. I hunted and killed my animal, I am going nowhere.
These former Movement fellows, good riddance, they were even non-performers. They are traitors, they are nothing. They will be crushed. Whatever they say is because they are just disgruntled.
Of course it is true they are disgruntled about corruption, repression, violation of human rights, abject poverty for the majority, poor education standards, poor health facilities, poor sanitation, low salaries for the public service, unemployment of the youth. Yes, they are indeed disgruntled by being in the league of least developed countries after more than 20 years under a self acclaimed visionary leader.
Ordinary Ugandans are told not to speak since they can sleep peacefully, their children are going to UPE and USE schools, they have mobile telephones, they wear second-hand clothes, they have a disciplined well armed army and of late they have unregulated micro-finance organisations which are making them landless. How can Ugandans be so ungrateful as to begin asking questions about the direction the visionary leader is taking?
The media, particularly FM radio stations and newspapers, must not speak because they mislead the people. Radio stations upcountry are not expected to air educative programmes because they mislead the rural supporters of the visionary one. In fact a radio station in Tooro was raided and its equipment destroyed just for airing an educative discussion programme.
The culprits are not likely to be brought to book. Some journalists can now hardly work because of their frequent reporting to the police and courts. Others have lost their jobs or have been exiled by their employers in order to save their jobs. Thus the most preferred Ugandans are the mute ones.
The writer is the FDC party secretary for research and policy
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http://www.monitor.co.ug/artman/publish/opinions/A_good_Ugandan_is_a_silent_one.shtml
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