By Ndawula Ronald
For some time now I have been pondering about the fact of deaths on why it has remained so scary and unfamiliar since the beginning of time.
Deaths has taken our loved ones from our children, wives, To Adam and Eve, Moses Prophet Muhammed Magufuli, George Bush senior and Hitler.
African societies have maintained a narrative that death is always manufactured as a result of ulterior motives by haters, friends , state and probably enemies.
For every death, a number of conspiracy theories are drawn to justify the work of the witch , the Mafia or the village old woman and the step mother.
It’s like God is no longer doing his business of sustaining lives and taking them because he delegated this function to the above group with sinister motives to do the work for him.
It Is insane to imagine that every death that occurs in Uganda is engineered by someone especially those with competitive views!
The unfortunate bit is that this narrative has been bought wholesome by even the educated whose opinion shape debates, laws and political views of the country.
A debate which in normal circumstances would have been left to the uneducated and insecure sections of our society because of lack of knowledge is now rife in corridors of power and echelon .
The death of Speaker Jacob Oulanya has unravelled the worst in our society’s mindset. It’s a society which believes in witchcraft , nepotism and one which doesn’t know and believe in the presence and power of God.
What makes anyone think that Oulanya was a special being who was not supposed to die of sickness but poison?
What makes my society think that Archinishop Lwanga, my inlaw Kaddu Ronnie, or my mother Namuyomba had a different day for their death other that which God called them?
What makes everyone insinuate that Sheik Muzaata , Gen.Oketa , Mbaalu Jjunju and Canon Wagaba must have been bewitched by their haters ?
What makes others who die from the same ailments like them in this and other countries be right to die and not these particular Ugandans?
Covid 19 killed about 300,000 in USA and over 1,000,000 in Europe and over 300 clergy in Italy alone but it took a cruel person to concoct a poisonous drink or food to finish the life of Archbishop Lwanga of the Orthodox church!
Does it mean that Big people no longer die of natural causes or cancers, Diabetes, hypertension, blood clots , liver disease, and other perennial killers are a preserve of us the inferior in society?
Putting a twisted narrative to every death that occurs in the country is another way of promoting witchcraft, supporting witches, praising them and offering them a demi god status in determining our fate.
Why should people believe that every death has to be masterminded by someone?
When you’re born it’s trite to know that you will die at some stage. Some die on the first day others grow a century old and I believe God has all the rights to our lives and no mistake happens.
Death is a divine design just as birth and should be embraced as such. None can escape it and it comes in different fashions delivered by the angels of death.
Even those who kill will ultimately die and taste the bitter pains of losing a loved one.
The Americans, Russians , Rwandese and Sudanese die just as Baganda, Acholis, langi and Basoga.
If those who lose big people should be rewarded then the Baganda lost Nasser Sebaggala, Kafeero , Basudde, Mayanja Nkangi etc died and no one said a thing.
President Lule, Binaisa, and Muteesa11 were Baganda Presidents but no one talked about giving Baganda Presidency because they were also probably poisoned if that’s the parameter for rewarding regions.
I invite everyone to stop fingerpointing, and start living because we shall all die the weak and the powerful , just be prepared for your time and your style.
Ndawula Ronald, the author is the former Luwero district Chairperson
