A Judge’s Verdict That Caused Conflict

By Herbert SsempogoPeace, war and poverty eradication were the themes of The Verdict, a play staged by students of Taibah College at the National Theatre last Sunday. The two-hour musical play was spiced up by colourful cultural dances from different parts of Uganda. The dances included the courtship Mwaga from the East, Zeshimire about a herdsman and his cattle from the West, Buganda’s Amaggunju among others. The Verdict revolves around Mwasa, a full time drunkard who has little respect for his wife, Mama Kacho. He showers her with insults and at times beats her mercilessly. At the centre of the scenario are Mwasa’s two brothers Wadada and Wadufu who fight over the land they inherited from their father. Having studied in the United Kingdom, Wadufu takes advantage of the money he acquired there to buy off his brothers. They protest to the idea and end up in a court of law in order to solve the wrangle. But Wadufu still uses his wealth to bribe the judge for a verdict in his favour. Mwasa and Wadada are annoyed by the judge’s verdict and team up with other villagers to attack the judge. They rough him up and grab some of the money he had received as a bribe. The play however ends on a good note when the brothers are made to reconcile.Ends