Don’t forget Covid-19, but here’s the real pandemic!

Uganda, the Pearl of Africa, where even the mosquitoes seem to hum in harmony with the rhythm of life. A youthful country that dances to the beautiful beat of its diverse cultures, with wildlife in its savanna grasslands roaring louder than a lion, and a warmth that rivals the equatorial sun.

But, ah, my friend, even paradise has its own twists, and in the midst of nature’s beauty, there lies the curious case of corruption. Corruption, the crafty chameleon that has perfected the art of disguise, seamlessly blending into the colorfulness of Uganda.

Lately, corruption is the uninvited guest at the national feast, snatching more than its fair share of delicacies while many look on in hunger and anger. Where corruption sits, poverty and not prosperity thrives.

Corruption is that sneaky village neighbour who borrows your mortar and pestle but never bothers to return them.

Only, in the case of corruption, it’s the hard-earned money that is taken and not given back. Believe me when I tell you that corruption steals from you, it steals from all of us. It plunders the nation’s wealth.

In Uganda, corruption is not just a problem; it has graduated to a dance partner in the political tango. A dance where the corrupt waltz their way into our pockets while singing the national anthem.

If corruption were a movie, it would be a tragic comedy indeed, leaving the audience in stitches while the characters line their pockets.

The script? A mix of grand-scale theft, greed, a splash of manipulation and a dash of deceit. It is a performance that would make Shakespeare turn green with envy – a tale told by idiots, full of sound and fury.

In this grand theatre, elites play a lead role, dressed in costumes woven from the threads of dishonesty.

Some will even promise change, but probably the kind of change that can only jingle in their pockets. It is a classic shell game, and ordinary wananchi are left wondering if the pea of progress is just a myth.

Corruption has become like that annoying pop-up ad that will not go away – persistent, intrusive, and utterly infuriating.

It is the flat tyre on the road to development, leaving communities stuck in the mud while the corrupt comfortably speed away with impunity, many times in the latest, state-of-art heavy-engine station wagons.

Imagine corruption as that cunning fox, always one-step ahead of the law, weaving through loopholes, potholes, and dancing with legal technicalities.

It is the reason why justice may sometimes feel like chasing a mirage – you see it, but quite often it is out of reach.

Worry not, people, for in this epic saga of corruption, there emerge valiant champions. The tireless warriors combating corruption armed with integrity, the authentic whistleblowers, and the citizens wielding truth and determination like mighty swords.

These unsung heroes stand firm in the battle for transparency, confronting adversity with the bravery of a lion and the sagacity of an owl.

Corruption is not just a personal matter. It is worryingly a culture. A way of life, not just for individual people, but even for communities, governments, and nations.

It is the thorn in our side, the itch we cannot quite scratch. It is the puzzle we are determined to solve, the riddle we are eager to unravel.

As we try to navigate this maze of malfeasance, we must always remember that even the longest journey starts with a single step – a step towards accountability and a nation where corruption is a distant memory.

Therefore, my fellow explorers in this Ugandan journey, let us march forward with more resolve to reclaim this Pearl of Africa from the clutches of corruption.

For, in the end, it is not just about the destination; it is about the journey we undertake to build a nation that shines and reverberates on the global stage.

The writer is a member of the Uganda Human Rights Commission