OPINION

By Didas Bakunzi Mufasha

In times past, fame was achieved by good deeds. To do the opposite would condemn the culprit to disrepute and resultantly the person would become infamous.

The focus was on doing what was considered right in the eyes and minds of the right-thinking members of society. All tribes had their “dos and don’ts” which were effortlessly enforced by society.

Everything was done according to culture and tradition. Boys would strive to do what men do while girls would on their part strive to be women at the right time. Girls would keep their bodies until marriage time — today, it would sound and feel different.

Children would be and behave like children. Alcohol was meant for men of age while girls and women were not expected to indulge in alcoholism. Attaining wealth and fame would be a gradual progression with age. Moral integrity was strictly observed in all spheres of life. This state of play has changed. What went wrong? Greed and whiff for fame has overtaken considerations for integrity and moral canons.

Today, there are two ways to become famous in Uganda. You either have to be extremely good at what you do or immensely bad. You get some amount of recognition in both situations.

The idea of being famous is extremely popular today. Overall, people desire fame because they are seeking external validation and attention. Fame in itself is not necessarily wrong if a person comes by it honestly and has not compromised his or her moral integrity. After all, Jesus was famous in his own day.

It is easy to become obsessed with the things of Hollywood, such as films, television shows and the music industry. Many people have a deep desire to become famous and actively pursue fame.

While it is often accepted and even praised to pursue fame today, the Bible says, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time” (1 Peter 5:6).

It has been observed and posted by many writers that some of the unorthodox habits developing in our society, are downright divergent from the norm.

They carry serious ramifications with regard to ethics and integrity of an individual and society in general. They are annoying yet we view them as normal, apparently having given up hope that things will ever change.

These habits, if not cured, will be passed on to the next generation as manners. But contrariwise, some members of our society seem to apply such repugnant manners to gain fame.

For example, in Kampala you will see people driving on the opposite side of the road misusing sirens to force a right of way on the road despite the fact that the right of way is reserved under section 123(5) & 6 of the Traffic and Road Safety Act 1998. To them, this makes them feel different, famous and more “dignified” than those excising patience in the traffic queue. But certainly, such actions other than being a violation of the law, inconvenience other road users and members of the public and also make our roads unsafe.

Stealing public money by people with a get rich quick mindset. This category seeks fame by amassing wealth by all means, including stealing. People have certainly become rich by stealing. So many have done it in the history of the world. I am sure there is still people doing it today, but why would you want to do it?

Economists say such people don’t appreciate long term thinking. Yet no nation grows without a critical number of people thinking and acting for long-term goals. You don’t need a lot of money to think long term. Think about the parable of the talents in the Bible with its multiplication effect.

Then there is the spiteful usage of alcohol across all ages. Some youth nowadays see alcohol abuse as being fashionable, sophisticated and something to be proud of. No wonder the latest World Health Organisation (WHO) report of May 2023 ranked Uganda first in alcohol consumption on the African continent.

According to the report, on average, a Ugandan consumes 12.21 litres of pure alcohol annually. Men consume more than women, with an average of 19.93 litres of pure alcohol annually compared to 4.86 litres for women.

Whereas research has shown that alcohol is a source of pleasure for many and there is some evidence to suggest that drinking alcohol in moderate amounts may have beneficial effects, its consumption is associated with a variety of short- and long-term health risks, including motor vehicle crashes, violence, sexual risk behaviours, high blood pressure and various cancers. It is said that the risk of these harms increases with the amount of alcohol one drinks.

Today’s youths are using many other odd methods to climb to fame. With the available high level of technology, social media, high speed internet and an open-minded generation, some youth are targeting popularity without any special talent or skill. They start by getting cheap publicity.

Some get their sex tape/nudes leaked, be it intentional or accidental so as to appear in newspaper pages and social media.

Others vanish for about three months and release songs and videos of themselves.

Others bleach their skins until they turn close to white and blame it on excessive intake of milk or cocoa butter. Others date popular actors, musicians or celebrities in general to stay in the news.

Let’s get it to the youth that it is only human to compare ourselves to someone much ahead of us in time, money and achievements. And it is not a crime being obsessed with fame. But obsession needs to be tamed. When it is not tamed, obsession is insanity. You have to be more specific in your thoughts. What is it that you really expect out of fame?

Honour, respect or luxury? Apparently all the above-mentioned are only temporary. Because all the things said stay consistent as long as you are in the limelight.

Once you are off the hook what really matters is your goodness, your kindness and your true nature.

The writer is a lawyer and Member Leadership Code Tribunal