The Executive is a saint; Critiquing it is defamation.

By McPius Ssekatawa S

This week, we watched one of the vocal NRM cum-president Museveni’s apologists and zealous disciples, Anderson Burora, arrested and remanded for what the accusers referred to as hate speech. This shows the sacrosanct nature of loyalty to the political gods, of which any deviation from them risks incarceration and retribution.

Like many mistakes his predecessors made, or else his successors will do, is attempting to cut off the hand that once fed you. We need to remember how Burora, during his sumptuous days as deputy Resident City Commissioner (RCC) of Lubaga, sang endless litanies of praise before shells fell-off his eyes. After receiving enlightenment from the netherworld, the world of reality, the tune changed from praises to bitter words for his masters. This way, he found himself waking up on the wrong side as his praises turned to sour critiques.

Burora, who is now suffering behind the bars on grounds of his late realization of reality, is testament to the fact that the gods of the Ugandan political climate use, forget, dump and are infallible. They are zero-tolerant of the truth, omnipotent and omniscient in matters pertinent to "integrity," and as such, any attempt to poke the nose into their area of jurisdiction is worth rewardable by punishment.

Amidst public mixed reactions on the Burora matter, the ideal is to analyze, obviously quietly, draw lessons from this scenario, and watch the film cast. Nevertheless, we need not side with either party as we pass verdicts against the antagonistic bodies. This play is Burora versus the infallible and all-powerful gods. Alias, it is Burora against infallibility. Yet, in all this, we are left wondering why upholding accountability costs one’s personal safety and freedom.

Considering the hate speaker's immediate past, how loyal a servant he was, singing melodies for his present tormentors, and uttering derogatory terms to the netherworld at a time when he was sitting with the gods, the reality judges against him are right and just. Those were days when he lived an ecstatic, utopian and irrational life. He was blind to reality and only saw his heavens. Such times when he massaged the gods call for anti-judgement.

However, his later awakening and acknowledging how lavish his current tormenting gods were, irrationally extravagant and unaccountable, judging him as fitting the punishment will be missing a point. What Ugandans want is actually what he did - realizing the truth and standing up to defend it. As such, in his time of affliction, it is such a good deed to stand with him, obviously with the required caution and prudence, for doing this is opposing the angry gods who are capable of making and ending life. Burora, though formerly living in heaven, was not a god but a servant of the gods, thus merits our forgiveness.

Within this circus of events, where dissent is criminal, we draw numerous lessons. First, once you opt to worship the gods, believe in them alone; do not sway away from their doctrines. Either choose to serve them faithfully_ I mean blindly or perish. Second, never equate yourself to your masters. It becomes worse when you attempt to outshine. This is exactly what Robert Greene says in his 48 Laws of Power: Never outshine the Master. As a disciple, yours is to eat. As long as your mouth is busy and stomach full, shut in peace and receive what falls off the masters table.  This is why the former RCC separated with the gods. He broke the “Thou shall not talk when eating” commandment.  Like in many of our cultures, it is taboo to talk while eating. The council of elders is the only group above the law. Third, remember always that as a servant of the gods, you are a contingent being. With or without you, the project moves on. Using and discarding you is as easy as passing a supplementary budget.

To us, in the metaphorical hell, the gods are sending us more. Whether this incarceration is in itself genuine or not, ours is to sin as we take on the vicious actions of demanding for accountability, ethical governance and equity. Let us always remember that, though committing these sins of defamation and hate speech, the gods have a reward for us in their heaven, nothing other than punishment. Nevertheless, why mind? Since we are already in hell, what should we fear? Let us turn the replay.