CAN ‘HOOLIGAN’ RESTORE RULE OF LAW IN UGANDA?

Rule of law

Apart from assenting Ant-homosexuality bill by president Museveni last week, media camera  turned to un usual enforcing of ‘anti-mini’ law by ‘mobs’ in both Kampala and outskirts of the city. These ‘thugs’ mostly tax drivers and boda-boda cyclists claim to be assisting police as far as implementing this law is concerned.

According to daily monitor article published on its online website, Mobs claiming to be helping the police in Iganga District to enforce the Anti-Pornography Law, have in the last one week undressed at least 10 people.

One of them was quoted saying, “We shall not allow women to pass on the road with skimpy dresses. Undressing them in public is the only way to stop them because when we hand them over to the police it will release them.’

This indicates the aperture between law in Uganda and enforcing it. Honestly, I ask myself, why can’t these thugs discipline police officers who are tasked to enforce these laws other than undressing vulnerable law?, or  why can’t they arrest corrupt ‘Big fishes’ with in government who have dried our coffers?. Maybe- maybe, they target vulnerable groups.

Ugandans have lost self-belief that our law enforcement organs can restore rule of law apart from chasing Lukwago from City Hall illegally like a chicken thief. Smartly, these ‘thugs’ would argue that they are defending the constitution as article 3(4, a) empowers them to resist any person or group of persons seeking to overthrow the established constitutional order.

 However before ‘thugs’ come on board to defend our constitution government must wake up and stir enforcement of rule of law. We need to see a impartial police force, army, judicature, name it all.

 Article 4 of the constitution calls upon state to promote public awareness. Recently, I asked a full LC II chairman of our beloved parish, he doesn’t know whether Uganda has a constitution. I can’t blame him but I fault government for failing to translate constitution into indigenous languages as well as failure sensitise Ugandans about rule of law.

We must cognise that there will never be a day when ‘hooligans’ will restore rule of law.

Save our dear women  

Meanwhile as we wait for fundamental reforms in the law enforcing organs, government must rub dust from our supreme law and particularly implement articles 32 and 33.

Article 32 (2) prohibit laws, cultures, customs and tradition which are against the dignity of women, welfare or interest of women. As result of this clause, government must lead the fight against undressing of women whether skimpily dressed or not before embarking on the move to sensitise Ugandans that the recently passed act not anti-mini but anti-pornography act.

Article 33 (2) calls upon the state to protect women and their rights, taking into account their unique status and natural maternal functions within society. Women need to feel at home, there is no reason for them to fear walking through public places freely. This is the duty of the state.