{UAH} The law of unintended consequences

By Amos Kasibante.

The law of unintended consequences affects us all and the consequences are the more adverse if our sins of action or omission were borne out of arrogance, cocksureness, intransigence and refusal to listen to criticism or correction. The trait is often very marked among political leaders whether elected, military or former freedom fighters like Robert Gabriel Mugabe. 

In the case of Uganda, Facebook posts have revealed the recurrence of politicians' words and actions of impunity blowing into their face at a later stage.

I have read the case of former Vice President and Defence minister Paul Muwanga how he had responded to head of prisons, Joseph Etima's request to parliament to increase the prison budget so he could buy blankets for the prison. Muwanga has asked him whether he wanted prisoners to live in Sheraton. A few years down the line, the ageing Muwanga was sent to prison and was given a test of his own medicine.

The cases of Grace Ibingira (Detention without trial) and Patrick Amama Mbabazi (POMA and tapping telephone calls) has been cited. General Kayihura can be added into the mix. He would not listen to Besigye's warnings either.

We may get drunk with alcohol, but alcohol does not have the monopoly on causing drunkenness. Power is another intoxicant whose deleterious effect is often ignored. Power intoxication is the reason why history repeats itself, as we say. It's the reason why we don't learn from history. Once we have been bitten by the bug - that's it.

The most dangerous people to a nation's health are those who endorse or sanitise the evil actions of political leaders especially where the violation of human rights is concerned. These need to learn that criticism of the government does not always come from hatred or from opponents. It's also often made out of concern for us all or for victims of injustice.

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