How Peaceful is Uganda after the Application of Brutality as a Means for Restoring Order and Peace?

Riots have been a common means of expressing discontent in Uganda very recently. Historically, riots were first successfully organized in central Uganda against the British. Its fame dates back in early 1950s –when the Buganda demanded secede from the rest of the country. The British responded by deporting the Kabaka in 1953 –an incident which attracted riots in Buganda to enforce his return. And, indeed, he returned in 1955.

Defective decision making regimes have always the culprit in the outbreak of violent confrontation –leading to loss of life and property. The nature of decisions made in both pre-colonial and post colonial Africa has been those that completely lacked consensus.

At that level, it also means that either parties have failed to listen to each other, or in their best understanding they are both right. But the question remains: who is responsible, for whom, and who should listen to the other? The centuries of authoritarian leadership rationalized violence from the state.

Despite emergence of new philosophize on governance, the governance system has never been altered –even by the same leaders that in liberation doctrines, promised to do so. The last three years have been marked by a bitter piece of history.

Even the ordinary Ugandans that are alive today will have that piece to tell generations to come. It has always been told that history provides best lessons for the future. But this time round, it is evident that the lessons can be worst –so much that they provide solutions for leaders to generate new problems –hard for the citizens to rid them-selves of in short run. By the time citizens adopt effective solutions to counter new problems, the leaders would have achieved enough in terms of long stay in power.

Such events as; the 2009 Buganda riots, isolated state-related killings through the years, and arbitrary arrests, and this year’s walk-to-work and the inhuman treatment from the state agents against the same civilians they are obliged to protect are some of such historical moments.

Unarmed civilians were at ease sent permanently to their grave –which raised more questions about legitimacy of the regime in power (one that preys on the same people it is implied to protect) than answers. Who will the people turn to if the police and the army turnout to be the truthful enemies of Uganda? Is it a show of courage by shooting at unarmed people, a well held value in the military or just fearfulness and unprofessionalism, or just a new security norm?

It is unbelievable to note that some of the murders were justified by influential government officials –without remorse. And they went on to politicize it as an opposition agenda to cause violence rather than the real issues like high food prices and unemployment of the youth. It was horrible seeing the security agents shoot at people as if at a shooting practice. Like Gadaffi, officials in government labelled protestors –youthful drug users.

Even shooting live bullets at trees would turn a soldier into a fool. On the same day, they switched to beating up of civilians –using bone-breaking sticks, while stealing and sexually harassing women. It was indeed police and army riot against civilians. Will the image of the security forces in Uganda ever change in the eyes of the public? Was the brutal suppression through killing and bone-breaking beating a viable solution?

It might have been a complete success against those killed so that they never regain life. But, when the conditions that caused riots are still eminent, when the relatives and friends of the dead have never recovered, and those beaten have never understood why they were beaten, it was nothing to nod about. From here, It is rather a much deem future for Ugandans to contemplate about.

Most saddening were the reports that those killed were going about their businesses when they got caught up by stray bullets, while those beaten were either returning home after the dead working day or just residents of the security-frozen areas.

It is only true that violence leads to violence and unresolved conflict will lead to revenge by the aggrieved –even centuries after and between inheriting future generations.

And the generations of the perpetrators that will come, be subjected to national and international rejection. In fact, if those reflections were clear in the eyes and ears of the perpetrators they would breakdown to renegotiate through life.

It is only unfortunate that the dead were not prominent enough to be remembered as heroes, only those they struggled for are. It is just unfortunate the several of such violence scenes only concretize a future of violence, and a deem Uganda to plan happiness and harmony in –as politics of revenge and the language of the gun in conflict control become eminent.