Don’t tie kidnaps to only poverty

Kidnaps should not only be tied to poverty. COURTESY PHOTO

What you need to know:

  • The growing culture of impunity and corruption, which is entrenched by the negative conduct of many of our leaders that leave a lot to be desired.
  • Then there is the proliferation of illicit drugs and their consumption in society.
  • For instance, many of education institutions and slums have become drug havens.

Much of the discussions on the current wave of kidnaps and murders in the country tend to limit the cause to unemployment. Yet to arrive at plausible reasons and solutions to these crimes, we must broaden this discussion. The following might be some of the other causes:

The growing culture of impunity and corruption, which is entrenched by the negative conduct of many of our leaders that leave a lot to be desired. Then there is the proliferation of illicit drugs and their consumption in society. For instance, many of education institutions and slums have become drug havens. Who is behind the trade in these drugs?

Besides, there are violent and pornographic movies, literature and social media influence that encourage the commission of crimes in the country. Further more, there are religious institutions that seem to have absconded from their cardinal role of building and guiding society’s morals, ethics and desirable social norms.

Today, church leaders, especially from the Pentecostal churches, encourage people to spend much time praying rather than engage in productive activities in the false hope of attaining prosperity. But how can you prosper without working hard? Impossible.

The evident injustice in our society is arising from, among others, the growing chasm between the rich, political/public service elite and the poor. For instance, the gap between the rich and the poor continues to widen every other day. Add to this an education system that churns out largely half-baked graduates, who find it difficult to compete favourably on the job market. This is compounded by widespread cheating at national examinations at all levels, incompetent teachers and an entrenched culture of course work as well as research for hire.

Part of the problem is also the infiltration of some of our security forces by criminals, a fact that has even been decried by President Museveni. This is on top the poor remuneration and welfare provisions for, especially low-ranking security officers. We should also not forget the challenge posed by militarily trained returnees from Middle East countries; who remain largely unemployed.

There is also the global illicit trade in body parts alongside the demands for the parts for witchcraft purposes that are wrecking havoc in society.
Therefore, unless the country urgently addresses the above challenges, we may not see an end to the absurd situation characterised by murders and kidnaps.
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