The gun seems to have become the symbol of peace in Uganda!
Mar 19, 2010
Black, yellow, red colours and a crested crane seem to be losing state symbolism. During my civics lessons in the 70s we were expected to know the colours of the national flag.
Black, yellow, red colours and a crested crane seem to be losing state symbolism. During my civics lessons in the 70s we were expected to know the colours of the national flag.
It was also a requirement that we knew what each colour stood for and the name of the bird that stood on one leg. In eastern Uganda we stopped short of worshipping the crested crane and nobody could dare trap it for fear of being jailed. During sports, the national flag would always be hoisted.
The Scouts and Girl Guides were held in awe as they saluted and hoisted the flag. Then came the national anthem! Failing to sing the three stanzas amounted to a crime.
All these created a sense of belonging. One could call it patriotism in today’s language. These days, I participate in many national functions and I find the national flag missing but the AK-47 rifle always seems to be part of any event! All school events, whether football, athletics or music are graced with the rifle but the national flag is always missing!
I remember once challenging a district official in Tororo for what I called “causing insecurity†by appearing with a gun on an athletics function.
I was expecting him to address the athletes but instead he was more concerned with “keeping security†by carrying a gun. Why do we get surprised when somebody gets shot?
There are so many guns around us that we need to be very careful when we are near someone with a gun. Last year as we held our district post-primary athletics championships in Tororo we had armed military Police all over the place.
The students themselves are so wild that although they do not carry guns one hardly feels secure during public events like sports. That is why I wonder whether the gun has become the symbol of peace today.
It is particularly tricky when poor, miserable and hungry people are entrusted with guns because it is such people who will not hesitate to misuse the very weapons meant to protect the citizens. Something needs to be done to address this threat.
James William Mugeni
wmungadi@yahoo.com
It was also a requirement that we knew what each colour stood for and the name of the bird that stood on one leg. In eastern Uganda we stopped short of worshipping the crested crane and nobody could dare trap it for fear of being jailed. During sports, the national flag would always be hoisted.
The Scouts and Girl Guides were held in awe as they saluted and hoisted the flag. Then came the national anthem! Failing to sing the three stanzas amounted to a crime.
All these created a sense of belonging. One could call it patriotism in today’s language. These days, I participate in many national functions and I find the national flag missing but the AK-47 rifle always seems to be part of any event! All school events, whether football, athletics or music are graced with the rifle but the national flag is always missing!
I remember once challenging a district official in Tororo for what I called “causing insecurity†by appearing with a gun on an athletics function.
I was expecting him to address the athletes but instead he was more concerned with “keeping security†by carrying a gun. Why do we get surprised when somebody gets shot?
There are so many guns around us that we need to be very careful when we are near someone with a gun. Last year as we held our district post-primary athletics championships in Tororo we had armed military Police all over the place.
The students themselves are so wild that although they do not carry guns one hardly feels secure during public events like sports. That is why I wonder whether the gun has become the symbol of peace today.
It is particularly tricky when poor, miserable and hungry people are entrusted with guns because it is such people who will not hesitate to misuse the very weapons meant to protect the citizens. Something needs to be done to address this threat.
James William Mugeni
wmungadi@yahoo.com