Rakai killing: A reflection of Uganda’s value system

When Nebanda passed on, a lot of publicity was accorded to her unfortunate demise both on local and international media platforms. This in itself was a correct way of demanding an inquest into the circumstances that led to her death.

The tragic end of 2012 saw the shocking death of the Butaleja Woman MP, Cerinah Nebanda, the catastrophic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School that left 28 Americans dead, and the brutal rape and eventual death of an Indian girl.

When the above incidents are juxtaposed with the recent murder of nine family members in Rakai District, Uganda’s societal dynamics are clearly unveiled. We have lost the essence of valuing life or if we do, it is done discriminatively.

When Nebanda passed on, a lot of publicity was accorded to her unfortunate demise both on local and international media platforms. This in itself was a correct way of demanding an inquest into the circumstances that led to her death.

Considering the American incident, the Obama government vehemently condemned the killings of the school children and staff. The President, in his words, promised to “take meaningful action to prevent more tragedies…regardless of the politics.” Proposals restraining the misuse of guns have come forth following his statement.

In India, the government has accepted to redress the rape predicament against women. The Ugandan government should not wait to be South Africa where 50 people are murdered per day, according to statistics from the BBC.
We need to emulate how other countries value life. For instance, Rwanda has embraced this reality principle owing to her ugly past.

We have heard stories of how the latter has airlifted her citizens from accident scenes in Uganda and rushed them to hospitals back home. I am certainly sure she has learnt this from Israel. Our politicians can as well imitate Connecticut’s Dan Malloy who tirelessly attended the vigils of those killed in the 2012 December school shooting.

On the flipside, the Luzira horrific episode has left me startled, what do Ugandans really want? Some residents expressed their support for a soldier who allegedly gunned down three people last month.

In fact, their obsession nearly interrupted the Court Martial proceedings. Why on this land should we congratulate assailants for allegedly committing murder? And again, why do we yell if another is allegedly killed in a different occurrence?

In my view, this absurdity is at its fullest, killing is not a right to right a wrong except if it is endorsed by a legal framework.

Although the pastor and his family were wrong, the thugs had no right to kill them. I will not be surprised if we are treated with another twist on Agataliiko nfuufu (local news) that goons were right (by public opinion).

Instead of singing patriotic tantrums unsandwiched with actions, a static position must practically be orchestrated by the citizens themselves and the government in protecting each and every life.

The Rakai horror deserves a thorough forensic investigation and I am looking forward to seeing an official statement from the government to that effect. Remaining silent will affirmatively aggravate permissiveness, and these intolerant and inhuman notables will go on slaughtering more Ugandans.

Odur Anthony

odurathony@gmail.com