When I was growing up, we had unwritten rules, regulations and procedures at family and community levels (I am not talking about the rulers and the ruled because that is a totally different story). Nobody was above them. They were designed to ensure justice and equality, maintain law and order and respect for private property. Everyone had dignity within that community. Individuals and groups had responsibilities. For example, among children, the older one was obliged to take care of the young ones. Preference was especially given to weak or sick members. We did not take advantage of them.
Stealing or possessing something that was not yours was strictly forbidden. For example, when you picked up some money or handkerchief you would take it to the priest who would announce lost and found items on Sunday. People who swindled others would not get away with it.
There were procedures for sharing information and resolving disputes to avoid rule of the jungle. The most important instrument was sharing information. If a neighbor found your child doing something inappropriate, parents would be notified to take corrective steps. If a child stayed with friends or relatives, parents or relatives would be notified. Disappearance of children was unheard of!
When children fought at school or on the way home they would be reported to the teacher and the matter would be resolved at school or when it was serious parents would come together to find a mutually acceptable solution. When goats or cows of one family trampled on another’s garden, the aggrieved party did not confiscate the animals to compensate for the damage caused. The matter would be reported as appropriate and a solution would be found.
These rules, regulations and procedures ensured peace, security and safety for all members. That is why small boys and girls were able to walk long distances between home and school without harassment. Children belonged to the whole community! The period I am talking about was before independence.
Then came 1962 and trouble started and has intensified since then. The main cause is politics. Aspiring politicians have seen politics as an avenue for making a career and money, not a means to serve the community. People that would not make a comfortable living on the basis of education have jumped into the political ring where qualifications are different. People with a diploma want to live like those with a degree. Politics has therefore became the route to prosperity and therefore dangerous. The rule of the jungle has trampled the written and unwritten rules, regulations and procedures.
Those who could not compete in a civilian environment because of demographic minority status or some other reason have resorted to divide and rule tactics along religious or ethnic divides or barrel of the gun. At the national level, it became clear soon after independence that without army backing, power would not be snatched from Obote. Opolot, Uganda’s army commander was drawn to one camp led by Ibingira, forcing Obote to lean on Amin, the deputy army commander, for survival. This is a historical development that must be understood clearly by all Ugandans because it has been distorted to score points.
Both camps were preparing for a military showdown. One group moved faster than the other. This struggle drifted into the 1966 and 1967 political catastrophe and ultimately the 1971 military coup.
Amin launched a human hunt that resulted in an estimated 300,000 dead, accusing Amin of committing genocide on the people of Uganda (John Osborne et al., 1993) using mostly mercenaries from Sudan and DRC.
Museveni and the National Resistance army assisted by mercenaries from Rwanda launched a guerrilla war in 1981 designed to return Uganda to the rule of law and end a bloody rule started by Amin in the 1970s. Democracy, free and fair elections and individual merit would prevail in Uganda and all Ugandans would enjoy a high standard of living.
Museveni made it clear when he stated that for democracy to have meaning it must contain three elements: parliamentary democracy, popular democracy and a decent level of living for everyone. He elaborated that there should be an “elected parliament, elected at regular intervals and such elections must be free of corruption and manipulation of the population”. Some commentators have wondered loudly whether these words were drafted by Museveni himself or someone inserted them into the draft without Museveni’s knowledge before his book titled “Selected Articles on the Uganda Resistance War” went to the press!
What we have now is a breakdown of law and order, personal rule and dictatorship of the highest order. Children are disappearing and fear, frustration and anger have gripped the entire country. There are allegations that Museveni as Commander of NRA and Commander-in-Chief of Uganda’s army has committed genocide in Uganda and DRC (T. D. Whitmore and Human Rights Council reports, etc). These crimes which are being talked and written about regularly these days may catch up with him some day.
Meanwhile, Ugandans have to bring sanity back. None will do it for us. The starting point is to gather and share information as widely as possible. Technology has made the task relatively easy.
Ipso facto, we appeal to all Ugandans to report cases of corruption and sectarianism, intelligence, police and army brutality including torture. Take as many photographs as you can and get the names of those involved. Use the internet and social networks. Be active and contribute to the liberation of your country. We shall use this information to force Uganda leaders to behave responsibly. Together we shall prevail.
Finally, remember that those who commit crimes of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and crimes of aggression will individually appear in the International Criminal Court. The Rome Statute on the International Criminal Court (ICC) states clearly that “The Statute applies equally to all persons without any distinction based on official capacity. Thus a Head of State or Government, a member of government or parliament, an elected representative or a government official [including inspector general of police and army commander] is not exempt from criminal responsibility under the Statute”. So, don’t give up.