By Dr. John Mary Odoy (PhD)
Uganda is making history today. A long serving and experienced president is being sworn in for another 5-year term. Celebration? Jubilation? Happiness? What is it?
The said “winner” of the recent presidential elections in Uganda swears again. Swearing in the “winner” amidst all controversies is not a matter that should be perceived as business as usual. It is just outrageous, unreasonable and lack of good sense, so to say. It is an abuse of people’s intelligence and ability to make choices. It is a reflection and a reminder of the agony associated with electoral process and will certainly open so many wounds in people’s hearts. Human rights abuse was and still at its peak, human dignity at the lowest, and people’s wellbeing poorest, legislation the worst ever recorded in the history of the country and so on. If sanity were to be a value and virtue, no swearing would take place.
As it were, it is only those with stone hearts that can bravely accept to be sworn in when aware that the occasion does not deserve. How can this happen when the electoral results are not anywhere near authentic? How can this happen when people are rotting in prisons having been arrested for holding dissenting views. How can this happen when people are subjected to abject poverty.
How can this happen when for the last 40 years in power the country’s economy remains shattered, systems and services are in shambles, death is at the doorstep of every household and people are still mourning the death of the justice system. One wonders where the person being sworn in gets the audacity to do so. And now for another 5 years the people have to brave this catastrophe. Is it not right to say 12th May 2026 is a dooms day?
The greed for power has defined the political climate in Uganda and unfortunately has shaped it to be dominated by tension between state power and civil liberties. Uganda’s political climate has long been synonymous with suffering, death, deprivation of freedoms, and lack of solid and meaningful democracy. This swearing in ceremony in not a mere routine event carried out every 5 years; it is fundamental reminder that misery is ahead, hence the doomsday.
It is doomsday because of the fear that Uganda is approaching a point where institutional checks have been weakened and wrecked to the lowest, human rights have been eroded and laws are increasingly serving the politically anointed individuals. What is being observed and experienced is a catastrophe resulting from sustained poor governance patterns which are dictatorial and authoritarian. This is orchestrated by intensification of human rights abuses including restrictions on freedom of assembly, freedom of expression and freedom of political participation among others.
It is also a channel of controversial laws which challenge constitutional freedoms and a failure of democratic institutions to keep independent especially the parliament, judiciary and the election commission. Furthermore, it is a consequence of the increasing pressure on suffocating the voices of the Church, civil society and civil society organisations, the media and journalists, activists and opposition leaders. This implies that to have life and the way to live it is a determined by those in power much to the contrary of the global and national laws, and principles of human rights.
What is critical currently is the passing of controversial laws that are serving the interests of a single individual who thinks that the right to govern Uganda begun with him 40 years ago and will end with him. The forceful enactment of a law on sovereignty not only exposes the selfishness of the people ruling the country and the insensitivity and shallow mindedness of the people who shouted “Aye” coupled with the biased “princess of darkness”, speaker of Parliament, but puts the wellbeing of the people at crossroads.
Similar laws like that of the recent UPDF law on the military court, law on coffee and laws restricting NGOs from operating. The laws are merely strengthening the authority of the executive, entrenching then in power, enhancing abuse of freedoms and human rights, and increasing the levels of oppression and suppression.
Referring to this day as dooms day resonates well with deep anxiety and fears of no return to democracy and good governance. It also means that the hope of ever having a “Uganda we want” – democratic, peaceful and with people centred governance, is a mere dream. Quite predictable is that more people will be lost, incarcerated and pushed into a life of no dignity. This should not be allowed to go on endlessly and what will change the current gloomy and hopeless situation is a determined and resilient human force ready to become martyrs of democracy.
The dead democracy must resurrect. A Buganda proverb says, “nannyini muffu yakwata awawunya”. Uganda is experiencing a political crisis (dead and filthy democracy) and the solution to this crisis must be made in Uganda and by Ugandans. Stand up, speak up and take action. Dr. John Mary Odoy (PhD), Senior Citizen and Human Rights Champion. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
