While the criticism and hullabaloo directed at Pastor Bugingo can be credited for finally causing a reluctant apology from the self-styled pastor, and the potential to bring an end to Bugingo’s inappropriate indulgence, what I hope for is a precedent that can be duplicated, in the event that any other person, who wields power, indulges in similar misogyny and bigotry.
Unfortunately, it appears that a huge section of Ugandans has given up on themselves that for even localized injustices that can be dealt with at a society or community level, many keep on appealing to government or parliament for intervention. For instance, on the particular issue of Pastor Bugingo, many seemingly powerful people were heard saying “parliament should help us.”
And yet, we all know that an average politician already has more than enough personal problems to sort out that discussing a seemingly small matter of one religious leader who rebukes her wife publicly is considered a trivial issue.
From worrying about paying back the loan(s) borrowed to facilitate the previous campaign to worrying about the sources of funds for the next general elections, most politicians will never adopt a social issue for uptake in a parliamentary discussion unless that issue either is likely to lead to some extra financial gains, or when their narrow moral sensibilities have been offended. This perhaps explains why a motion on miniskirts can easily attract the right quorum compared to a debate on the gender relations bill.
It, therefore, follows that Ugandans need to rediscover their powers as ordinary citizens whenever faced with an injustice. Such powers should not necessarily imply going to the streets and protesting whenever an injustice has occurred (although this may be necessary in some cases). Sometimes, all it takes is just enough people putting their voices together and saying “This “is unacceptable’ this must stop”, a “red line has been crossed.”
For that to happen, a de-learning of the cherry-picking method of human rights agitation is a must. One of the frustrating things about activism in Uganda is the “single issue” method of activism.
For instance, when teachers go on strike due to poor remuneration or working standards, the health and medical staff turn a blind eye and wait for their turn. Just like a majority of us reacted to the plight of Teddy Bugingo, abuse remains abuse regardless of whether the victim belongs to your tribe, social class, family, gender or religion among other forms of social group.
In The Birth of Tragedy, the German philosopher and philologist, Friedrich Nietzsche, explained human dispositions as a reflection of the competition between the two major gods of the ancient Greek –Dionysian and Apollonian – who operate within human beings and compete to manifest in our behaviours.
Nietzsche explains Dionysus as the raving god whose presence makes humans mad and incites them to savagery and even to lust for blood. Meanwhile, Nietzsche describes the Apollonian attributes as reason, culture, harmony, and restraint.
Similarly, what I hope for is a Ugandan community which is prepared to always remind the power-wielding agents that the Dionysian in them has taken over the Apollonian. That is exactly what a substantial section of individuals did in the wake of Pastor Bugingo’s un-edited rants.
To borrow the words of one of the finest writers that the African continent will ever bear – Binyavanga Wainaina (late) – there is everything that everyone must defend: justice and every kind of diversity possessed by everyone who lives in the geographical space dubbed Uganda. Some cases require us not to necessarily understand the full details of the nature of injustice.
What should matter is that there is an injustice and a human being involved. It is only then that everyone will trust enough so as to openly and freely engage in conversations of building and rebuilding. It is only then that Uganda can sing to all of us.
ssellwanga@gmail.com
The writer is a social worker in Alberta, Canada.
