{UAH} The poor orange seller of Kampala and the madman of Lwengo

The poor orange seller of Kampala and the madman of Lwengo

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By Asuman Bisiika 

Posted  Saturday, November 22  2014 at  02:00

The High Commission of the Republic of Uganda in Kigali is 'supposed' to be on Avenue de l'Umuganda. Don't start developing ideas; the Kinyarwanda word 'Umuganda' has no relation with the Republic of Uganda or her citizens.

That is why Uganda's High Commission in Kigali (to be built soon by the way) is not the only Foreign Mission on Avenue de l'Umuganda. There is the High Commission for La Grande Britagne (Great Britain).

And oh yes, the eye-catching neo-arab architectural art piece that houses the Embassy of the United Arab Republic of Egypt is also on Avenue de l'Umuganda. Ditto for the Embassy of Payes Bas (The Netherlands) housed in the picturesque building owned by former President Pasteur Bizimungu.

The Kinyarwanda word "Umuganda" is the equivalent of Bulungi Bwansi (community self-help or voluntary community service). And every last Saturday of the month, all Rwandans renew their collective loyalty to the Urwatubyaye (motherland) by participating in 'Umuganda'.

Which brings us to the kiboko-induced Umuganda in Lwengo District.
The particulars of this story are that Mr Mutabazi (no need for his first name), the District Governor of Lwengo, was captured on national TV whipping people with a cane. Reason: forcing them to do what would be classified as voluntary community service.

I hear he has been summoned somewhere to answer some questions over the incident. But the District Police Commander for Kalungu should also be asked some questions. Where did the Mutabazi procure the police officers who accompanied him?

A district leader (woman or man) who menacingly whacks (or threatens to) a pregnant woman needs an ambulance to Butabika or a process that would lead him to the adjacent hill on which Luzira Maximum Security Prison sits.

The only circumstances under which such an act could take place and go unpunished is known: state failure. Which is the only reason we are concerned; otherwise we know that men holding power (no matter how limited) are more disposed to demonstrate what that authority that power confers on them.

And now, those responsible for upholding state integrity should be obliged to process Mutabazi for Old Port Bell Road (whether he goes to Butabika or Luzira, he will still use the same road).

Murder at City Hall
A breast feeding mother was arrested by Kampala Capital City Authority on Monday for vending oranges in Kampala Capital City. She spent a night in detention at Kampala's Central Police Station pending court appearance the next day.

Madinah Namutebi's breast feeding baby (Ryan Ssemaganda) was taken to court by his grandmother. At court, however, Ms Namutebi was denied the chance to breast-feed the baby despite pleas by its grandmother, Grace Nakintu.
The story is that after being denied the opportunity to breast feed, the child strayed and was knocked by a KCCA vehicle and died shortly.

For me, with the single act of denying a mother to breast feed, I already have my murder convict. But the blessed Police Spokesperson Fred Enanga is quoted as saying the driver of the killer KCCA vehicle would be charged with reckless driving.

Daily Monitor reported that 'by press time (Wednesday evening I guess), Madinah was still holed up in discussion with officials while the baby's body still lay at the gate'.

Dear reader, just imagine the poor orange seller of Kampala (now bereft of her baby) negotiating or discussing with City Hall authorities?
I have been imprisoned in three African countries for being a 'security nuisance'. But there was always the good sense that I don't deserve to feed off taxpayers' money in prison: I always got released and deported.
And you ask: why should an orange seller be detained in the first place?

___________________________________

Gwokto La'Kitgum

"Even a small dog can piss on a tall Building", Jim Hightower

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