Cultivate virtue of tolerance within Ugandans

By Samuel Semakula
 

trueAs many Ugandans are becoming intolerant of one another, children becoming intolerant of their parents, the same for the parents too. Religions attacking one another that this is the right faith yours is not. When it comes to different political opinions and beliefs it is worse in Uganda.

I need not to say much on this because it is evident enough supporters of opposition attacking those of the ruling party and vice versa. I hear some saying I can’t marry from that tribe; I can’t handle a partner from that family background.
 

The lack of the virtue of tolerance is the leading cause of massive violation of human rights, people’s liberties and freedoms, it is so essential in human life, tolerance is harmony with one another, acceptance of the different diversity of human nature, we all have different individualities so as a society we need space where each one can live their different individualities in harmony with one another.
 

Tolerance doesn’t mean you are approving the different individualities, opinions, beliefs of one another, but you let them express their differences as long as they are compatible with the different individualities of one another.

As long as those opinions don’t interfere with the freedoms and liberties of the rest of the society, one is free to exercise their rights, freedoms and liberties.

Each individual in society has rights, freedoms and liberty to do what she or he wants as long as he or she doesn’t interfere with those of others, we should be cautious of the oppression of the majority rule, that each individual has a right to opinion, belief and belonging to any different grouping be it tribe, religion.

The function of the Government is to protect the individual rights, freedoms and liberties of each group from social injustices, oppression and violence.

The human race is so wide, let’s stop committing weak analogy fallacies against different groupings of people, those weak analogies were the cause of slavery, social exclusion, apartheid, killing and oppression of albinos, suffering of the minority groups like the Batwa and many others.

It is the cause of civil wars, genocides and oppression of those on opposition and those supporting government in power.
 

Ugandans we need to cultivate within our hearts the virtue of tolerance so as to live in harmony with each other thus thriving of the human race, tolerance will lead to rule of law, democracy and protection of human rights of everyone thus the protection of human dignity. It is my humble pray to all Ugandans.
 

The writer is final year a student of Ethics and Human rights at Makerere University, Kampala and a volunteer with democracy, good governance and human rights