{UAH} Of fraudulent elections and psychology of robbery

Of fraudulent elections and psychology of robbery

Written by DR JIMMY SPIRE SSENTONGO

 Created: 11 March 2016

 

If thieves have ever broken into your house, then it will be easy to understand the post-election behaviour of those who engage in rigging.

The thief is supposed to be right, often proving his correctness by his might. And there is no weak thief; even the most timid of men carrying a yam stem will make you believe that he is armed to the teeth.

In those days, when thieves spoke Kiswahili (today they speak English and wear suits), fungua mlango was followed by lala chini. This was to warn you in advance against identifying the thief. If you turned and were suspected to have looked at the thieves, you would be kicked into yelling: 'I swear I didn't see anything sir'.

When thieves raid a house, the whole environment is made to appear tense and so risky for the victim to manoeuvre. The thieves will make their victim feel that they are present in every corner of the house and watching even the minutest of moves. If their group is big, there will be those that keep walking about every position of expected resistance or alarm – warning their victims at every interval that 'we are seeing you, don't move'.

If they are armed with guns, then they make sure that their victim knows this important detail, flushing their torches in the direction of their weapons. It doesn't really matter if they have an intention of shooting; the sight of the gun is in itself very important.

One of the most painful experiences with such thieves is that they convince you that you must cooperate with them for there to be 'peace'. If you show any sign of protest or resistance, you become a threat to peace. They may even remind you of the neighbours that lost their lives for trying to resist being robbed.

You are made to switch your energies from resisting the robbery to minding about your 'peace and safety'. Never mind that if there was no robbery in the first place, then peace wouldn't be a concern.

I have always tried to understand why thieves often defecate in the victim's house. Some say that it is a juju concoction meant to prevent the victim from following them. My brother and I have been victims of these excreta souvenirs from thieves. My brother, a medical doctor, insists on a biological explanation.

He argues that this is adrenalin at work! That behind the masquerades of their threats, thieves are actually more scared than the victims. Indeed, many reinforce their little courage with drugs.

Thieves know the 'intensity of rage' in the hearts of their victims. Don't be deceived that thieves don't know how it feels being robbed. They know what would happen if the victim got some power; so, every action and inaction of their victim scares them immensely. You see, whoever rides a tiger fears to disembark.

This explains their tendency to overreact and be extremely suspicious. If a night rat started nibbling on a piece of dry cassava, to the thief, it sounds like someone is pulling out a panga. Nani huyo? (Who is that?) They will shout with artificial anger, as they noisily cock their guns!

Fear is actually the number one reason thieves tend to be violent. It is very dangerous to underestimate a thief. Whereas we know that they may even abandon their guns and run for their own safety, we also know that they will not hesitate to torture and kill if that helps their loot and escape.

But the most violent thief is the one whose face has been seen, especially if all along he was assumed to be a man of some integrity. That one can terrorise all witnesses to either shut up or be helped to zip it (mouth).

Also be very afraid when your askari (watchman) has been compromised into the group. The askari job is not an easy one, and many of them are paid peanuts. Isn't a hungry man an angry man? So, the askari will use this chance to empty his heart of all the anger arrears. If he can find some concentrated chilli sauce (some call it pepper spray) around, he will use it to improve your vision.

On departure, again for your own peace and security, they will warn you against following them. Oh, and there is this one. I will not forget the thieves that locked me up in my house with a huge Solex padlock! I later learnt that the head of the gang was my former colleague! If I ever shake hands with him again, I will have to count my fingers after. 

The author works with the Center for African Studies at Uganda Martyrs University.

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Gwokto La'Kitgum

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

"But this I know, UPC believed and still believes in

very high education. We can call Obote all bad names we have, but the bottom line remains that he got more scholarships for Buganda than all previous Uganda leaders combined. That includes Sir Edward Mutesa, President Lule, President Binayisa, up to and into Ssabasajja Mutebi. Who all happen to be Baganda leaders." Mulindwa

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