I also ask Ugandans to stop religious sectarianism especially in elections
Currently things are changing when it comes to choosing someone to represent you:
Instead of looking at his or her qualities, some look at his or her tribe and even worse at foreign things like religion.
For tribes, some bring it on decentralisation and schooling in one district. In the good olddays, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda from Kabale was head boy of Mwiri in Busoga, Omony Ojok from Karamoja was in Ntare school, Gen. Aronda Nyakayirima, was in Kitgum high school, Abed Bwanika from Masaka to Kigezi high school, Adonia Tiberondwa was head teacher Teso college Aloet, and many westerners went there, and the list is endless.
As long as your services were good, nobody would inquire about your tribe. I for one in
giving people water there was no segregation. In the 80s, I was the LC3 chairman lake Katwe in Kasese district when Hon. Dr. Cryspus .B. Kiyonga won as UPM Member of Parliament.
In Yumbe and Moyo, I was referred to as the “Aringa” born in Kabale. During the Kony war in Lango, Aloi (IDP) camp people knew and referred to me as “Macho Dong” like my late Minister friend. I commuted for 42km from lira to Aloi everyday surviving Kony narrowly. I later learnt that his spies whom I used to buy booze unknowingly in lira at night had given him my vehicle number plate, and that’s how I used to survive. One time he hit our soldiers when I had passed: this is another of my survival stories as our soldiers thought I was his ally.
Now when I hear of religion, I laugh. Imagine three blood brothers one meeting an Arab and becomes Muslim; another a British and becomes a protestant; and the third meets a French or an Italian and becomes catholic. This is when sectarianism begins in this family.
When opening my office in Kicumbi as an M.P Ndorwa west (Kabale) by the head office delegation, I told them how after St. Paul’s seminary (Rushoroza) I was made prefect at Kigezi High school, a protestant founded school. I went ahead and told them that we had two prominent doctors in Kabale; 1) Hon. Dr. Nkwasibwe an eye specialist, 2) Dr. Ruhemurana (agynecologist). Dr. Nkwasibwe was a former Obote minister and a protestant. Dr.Ruhemurana was FDC and a catholic.
“I asked the people,” if you had a pregnant wife and you are a protestant, would you take her to Dr. Nkwasibwe an eye specialist? If you had eye problems and you are catholic, would you go Dr. Ruhemurana?” They all clapped.
Another issue is voting under duress. Imagine your wife and children who know you very well will be forced to line behind you.
In a nut shell, a secret ballot would be the best.
The above article was written by Eng. Biryaba.B. Serapio
