I recently wrote an article “Violent policies violent laws in generating and sustaining violence in Uganda”.
I wanted us to begin focusing on violence in the non-physical form so that we redesign our view of the national security budget, which currently emphasizes physical violence, to include non-physical violence.
I detailed the various forms of non-physical violence, which have greatly compromised the health and security of our population. However, I settled on violent policies and violent laws, which together with other physical and non-physical forms of violence have contributed to the bitterness of our people.
We have given poverty far more concern and nothing about the bitterness of the nation. I have received many responses to the article. However this one below from a seasoned member of the Fourth Estate caught my attention:
“Society is increasingly becoming violent. Violence at individual level, family level, community level, state level. No sympathy and empathy. Ubuntu has collapsed. We look at each other as enemies and with suspicion. Hatred, bitterness, anger.
Our minds are toxic. The other day, someone posted a picture of Capt Francis Babu’s son soliciting for urgent support to have a heart transplant worth Shs 1.5bn. This attracted cold, callous mass cyber bullying…
the netizens celebrating Cedric Babu’s helplessness at ICU, and eventual death. The question is: How did we end up here? The country is bitter and deeply divided. What can be done to reverse this worrying trend?”
For God and My Country
Oweyegha-Afunaduula is a member of Center for Critical Thinking and Alternative Analysis
