Ethics minister Lokodo wants Dr Nyanzi arrested for stripping in public
State minister for Ethics Fr. Simon Lokodo (R) has ordered police to arrest Makerere Institute of Social Research (MISR) research fellow Dr Stella Nyanzi for stripping in public.
State minister for Ethics Fr. Simon Lokodo has ordered police to arrest Makerere Institute of Social Research (MISR) research fellow Dr Stella Nyanzi for stripping in public.
Dr Nyanzi on Monday morning undressed and took pictures and videos of herself, which she then posted on her Facebook wall in protest of MISR’s decision to lock her out of ‘her’ office.
According to Mr Lokodo, Ms Nyanzi allegedly violated the newly signed Anti-pornography Act when she undressed in public, in view of the police.
“Yes, I am looking for her. How can she go to the police in her underwear? It is her right to protest, but not like that. I have talked to the people in charge to bring her to book. Once we take her through a mental test and ascertain she is normal, we shall arrest her,” Rev Fr Lokodo said.
Dr Stella Nyanzi strips naked in protest of the MISR’s decision to lock her out of ‘her’ office. Photo by Alex Esagala
He added, “She also committed a crime by sharing the pornographic content on social media, I have not seen it myself but people say it is everywhere so that is a crime as well. It is illegal.”
However, Dr Nyanzi, a medical anthropologist born in June 1974 just shrugged off Fr. Lokodo’s directives saying after all there are no ethics in this country.
“ He should first go to Moroto and arrest those karamojongs walking naked before he comes for me. If he [Lokodo] is that ethical, then he should have arrested MISR’s executive director Professor Mahmood Mamdani who had locked my country,” she said.
“Where is the ethics, integrity and morality in Uganda? Lokodo is just not serious,” she added.
Makerere Institute of Social Research (MISR) executive director Professor Mahmood Mamdani
Undressing as a form of protest is not a new thing in Uganda.
In April 2012, some women activists in Kampala stripped to their bras to protest the Uganda Police’s Force’s personnel fondling of the breasts of FDC official Ms Ingrid Turinawe in full view of television cameras.
In May 2015, women in Amuru District in northern Uganda undressed before the Lands minister Daudi Migereko, Internal Affairs minister General Aronda Nyakairima (rest in peace) to protest what they said was a government ploy to grab their customarily–owned land.
The government, some say, usually disguises such land grabs by claiming it is for investment, which will lead to job creation.
Now, almost a year later, another woman, this time Dr Nyanzi has undressed to protest against the violation of her rights.
