I know we are in the tough times since the Coronavirus has taken its toll in the country and the world at large but this is no excuse to treat people like objects other than what they are, human beings. As we all know that human beings have rights that should be observed.
They have fundamental human rights that should be protected at all times and in every way possible. I was stunned last night to see how the Uganda police was treating the traders on the streets especially the women.
First, let me commend the efforts by our president Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to make sure that people stay safe and his now and then nation addresses to help people prevent this epidemic. All the measures taken have aimed towards protecting the citizens. One thing that made me like the president more was when he said that those that are hiking the foodstuffs will have their license revoked. This made ma happy because the president was caring for his people and he didn’t want them to starve and die to lack of food.
I don’t know who now gave the directive to beat those traders on the street. Why weren’t they treated with dignity? These traders are people like everybody else and need money to survive. They sell their commodities to the people that need them and take the precautions as directed by the ministry of health. Why beat them and lock them up? Couldn’t they have just been talked to? Was there a directive to stop them from working? I feel mad and I get so much touched when women, the mothers of this country are humiliated like this. You need to stop this.
Most of these women sell things like mangos, coconut and other fruits that we need to stay healthy and not only that but most of them are single mothers who need the small money to take care of their children. they are the breadwinners in the Kampala slums where I normally work. I work with slum women and it is rare to see women innovative because most of them have nothing to do. They stay in those slums with no one to help them and with children to take care of. They don’t have enough money to start a business or own a stall but they sell the little they can on their heads by moving around Kampala streets to find customers. They should be respected and treated with human dignity because they deserve it.
Despite the fact that these women are poor, they are human beings that deserve to be treated with dignity. They are mothers and that means there is someone that calls them a mother who loves and cherishes them. They deserve respect and protection, not humiliation and indignity from the people that are supposed to protect them. Such actions should be condemned by the highest authority and the perpetrators should be punished.
The police or military men that did this act should apologize and compensate the victims. Coronavirus or not the situation could have handled differently. Non-violent measures are always the best because that way human rights are kept.
Uganda, Let’s prevent Corona Virus b and observe the fundamental human rights at the same time.
Disclaimer: the photos in the blogpost were got from other media houses that were at the scene while the cruelty was taking place
Great piece there. ❤️