By Ndawula Ronald
Liberation means to set free and gain freedom of speech, movement ,democracy, oppression and other civil liberties as maybe ascribed in a society. With the advent of liberation day on the 26th of January its important to reflect whether it’s still important to celebrate or we open a new chapter all over again.
My opinion as a person growing up in Luwero war zone and a ‘refugee’ in my own country, I witnessed first hand, the actions of a government bent on oppressing it’s people.
I grew up hating Swahili and knowing it’s a language for oppressors like soldiers and hated military. Panda gali , fungua murango, kaa chini, kitamburisho Yako wapi, Nyamaza, onakwenda wapi are the few words I knew and still know in the swahili vocabulary.
These words became household lingo and public use was normal because every day was an echo of similar words.
When NRA took power and a sigh of relief and jubilation was the mood.
Kitamburisho on road blocks became less important and the army became a people army because we began seeing our own people and our languages spoken by the military.
Panda gari disappeared and you could hear no one who got abducted or taken by the army without going through police.
The most feared special force vanished to obscurity and those who were responsible for crimes against Ugandans booked their positions in Luzira prison.
Nile mansions the hotel that was famed as the torture chamber became no more and now houses the prestigious 5 star Serena hotel , these were real liberation stories to wit.
Every government critic became a ‘muyekera’ and ended up in prisons.
Now that Drones have taken the place of panda gari, is it necessary to celebrate liberation?
Kireka has become Nile mansions, is it worth celebrating?
The unemployed hawkers are a security threat and poor people struggling to feed and look for school fees are hunted like criminals, is it worth celebrating liberation?
MPs ssegirinya and ssewanyana and scores of others are incarcerated on trumped up charges, is it worth celebrating liberation?
Kakwenza Rukirabashaija was tortured as per UHRC on the hands and orders of the CLF which Akena never did, is it okay to celebrate liberation?
Celebrating liberation when fuel prices are skyrocketing everyday to the benefit of a chosen group in power is sad, unfair and self denial.
The resurrection of SFC to replace Obotes feared Special forces is anarchy reincarnated.
I dont think Tanzanians and Kenyans have a similar meaning of liberty, and peace when they dont fight.
Why does Uganda think being at war everyday aand showing muscles is ensuring peace?
Why do opposition in Kenya not jailed yet are going for elections?
Why doesn’t Uhuru kenyatta change the constitutrrion to stay in power longer, or he has no vision?
Why doesn’t Tanzania and kenya dont have their ADF?
I hope Kenya builds a standard gauge railway through Mbale to soroti straight to west nile to foster trade in Uganda as we’re doing in congo.
I hope one day Samia suluhu builds a university in Uganda to reciprocate what Uganda does in Tanzania.
Our pursuit for liberty is still in vain and lurking in the dark after 40 years.
We were promised a fundamental change not a mere change of guard but the reverse seems true.
Ndawula Ronald, the author is a former Chairperson of Luwero district.
