Prime
We should rise above violence
This photo taken on an unspecified date and location shows FDC presidential candidate Patrick Amuriat engaged in an exchange of words with security forces. PHOTO/FILE/RACHEL MABALA.
What you need to know:
- The issue: Violence
- Our view: We can and should rise above this brute force and have the wisdom to uphold the principles of human decency.
This week marks the end of 2020, a year that has been universally labelled as very difficult due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the challenges occasioned by the virus. Beyond the rapid spread and high fatalities, Covid-19 has led to massive job losses and it has crippled economies.
For Uganda, this is also a period of high political activity as the country prepares for the General Election in January, 2021. Election seasons in Uganda are usually marred by violence. This election is not any different.
Since the campaigns kicked off, there have been many incidents of violence. On November 18, riots broke out in Kampala and other towns after the National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine, was arrested by security forces while campaigning in eastern Uganda. More than 50 people were killed in the riots.
According to police, the musician turned politician was arrested for violating Covid-19 Standard Operation Procedures. Throughout the campaign period, candidates Bobi Wine and Patrick Oboi Amuriat of the Forum for Democratic Change, have been routinely teargassed and roughed up by security forces.
Yesterday was not any different. During what police described as “violent confrontations with the NUP candidate and his supporters at a check point in Kyabakuza after they defied the route plan agreed upon to Kyotera District”, a member of Bobi Wine’s press team, Mr Ashraf Kasirye, was shot. By press time, he was in critical condition.
Another journalist, Ali Mivule of NTV-Uganda, was also injured in yesterday’s violence. Many other journalists have fallen victim to police brutality in line of their duties during this campaign period. As witnessed during the riots, innocent citizens going about their business in the city and other towns were hit by bullets.
It is sobering that violence has become habitual to the extent that in this year’s Christmas message issued last Thursday, Catholic bishops appealed to security forces to desist from shooting and teargassing people in election campaigns as a Christmas gift.
In essence, the bishops are making a desperate appeal to security forces to embrace love and spare citizens, at least during Christmas time. This message is telling and reflects a state of helplessness. In reality, there is no need to shoot and teargas Ugandans. It should not just be a Christmas gift. There are amicable, non-violent ways of resolving issues.
We can and should rise above this brute force and have the wisdom to uphold the principles of human decency.
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