Ministers are not above the law
What you need to know:
- The issue: Bank clients arrest
- Our view: Exclusive bank preference requires pre-arrangement between the client and the specific bank. Otherwise, as long as you are also paying the same banking fees of Shs2,000 like other customers, please join the queue like the rest of the customers.
On Wednesday, Daily Monitor ran a story of how the Teso Affairs state minister Agnes Jaff Akiror, caused the detention of two dfcu Bank customers at Soroti branch, for having interfered with her business.
The minister, who allegedly found other bank customers in a queue, allegedly attempted to dodge the long queue in the bank much to the chagrin of the two men, who reportedly protested against such moves. Disappointed, the minister called the East Kyoga regional police commander, Mr Maxwell Ogwal, accusing the two bank customers of attacking her.
The police subsequently arrested the duo bank clients and detained them for five days. Upon their arrest, the minister without making a police statement and have the men charged in court as was expected, drove to Kampala.
The human rights violation cited in this inequality scenario is the police detaining the two bank customers for more than 48-hours without taking them to court or releasing them on police bond pending the conclusion of the investigations.
Legally, everybody is equal before the law (Constitution) with the exception of the President, who takes precedent over all of citizens as he is the first among equals - the Fountain of Honour.
However, the good manners of our society, demand that priority be given to certain groups of people like the elders, senior citizens, leaders, respectable members of the society, People With Disabilities (PWDs) to be served first.
These categories of people are part of the culture, customs and norms of Uganda. It is also good upbringing to give way to a minister, an MP and other leaders where necessary.
However, the Ugandan culture of being good mannered should not be abused or taken for granted by a minister or any other government official, for instance, when they are in a bank. Besides, while some banking rules and regulations on equality allow certain categories of customers such as ministers not to queue in order to get bank service, this does not give a minister room to call for arrests of those who protest.
This is because exclusive bank preference requires pre-arrangement between a client and the specific bank. But as long as you pay the same banking fees of Shs2,000 like the rest of the customers, an understanding customer should join the queue in the bank in order to be served.
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