Media Siege in Uganda: The real question behind it...

The question is not whether or not there is freedom of speech in Uganda. The question is, now that there is no freedom of speech in Uganda. What next? How shall we hold our leaders accountable?

With the recent media siege that involved the closure of the two top “objective” media houses in Uganda, lots of questions have been raised. Is there freedom of speech in Uganda? Will the media houses report objectively? Who will speak for the oppressed Ugandans? Are all the other media houses state controlled? Are Ugandans free to say what they want within their country? Is current government falling apart? Is media freedom a threat to the current government’s existence?  I believe that these are surface level questions that will lead us on an endless rabbit trail; they do not answer the fundamental question that is at the root of Uganda’s problem.

There is an Acholi proverb that states, “When the beat changes, so does the dance.” The beat in Uganda has changed, so what next? Shall we dance to the music or not? Will the government determine what pastors say at the pulpit? Will pastors speaking against government evils be silenced? Will churches that speak against the evil in government be closed? Will church leaders emulate this by chasing away whoever speaks against them? Will the police continue to be used as a means of suffocating freedom of speech? Shall Britain and America continue donating money to fund this type of “freedom”? The music has changed, what happens to the dance?

After all is said and done, I believe the root question in all this is, “HOW WILL WE HOLD OUR LEADERS ACCOUNTABLE? Without accountability we are building on sinking sand. How will we hold our leaders accountable without the freedom of speech? How will we hold our leaders accountable in the 3^rd most corrupt country in Africa? How will we hold our leaders accountable in a country where over 1 million children die every year from Malaria? How will we hold our leaders accountable in a country where 16 women die each day in child labor? How will we hold our leaders accountable in a country with an unemployment rate of 84%? Ironically we are 83% “Christian”. What lessons on accountability are we teaching our children in a country were 56% of the population is below the age of 15 years?

I believe in all this the key question is. HOW SHALL WE HOLD OUR LEADERS ACCOUNTABLE? For this reason one of our core values at Africa Renewal University is accountability. Uganda needs leaders that are accountable. I Rest my case.

Kilama Dennis

Co- Department Head, Africa Renewal University

Pastor Lugogo Baptist Church