Justice for only one is injustice for the others

The current affairs landscape in Uganda must be quite wicked. It does not sleep.

We hurtle from headline to headline like a hiccupping bus lumbering around potholes of unending mediocrity and impunity. From foreign diplomats receiving mumbled reassurances to citizens being tortured and apologised to (not necessarily in that order), some stories stay with us, illuminating the helter-skelter environment we have become accustomed to.

On May 20, media personality and comedian Mark Agaba, who goes by the moniker Uncle Mark, posted on X about his brother’s harrowing experience with the Special Forces Command (SFC). He shared how SFC brutalised his brother in the course of clearing traffic ahead of the presidential convoy.

His brother had been trying to get home quickly to attend to his pregnant wife, who was in a bad way. For his missteps around the SFC, Agaba’s brother was beaten and shoved into a car boot and spent two days in SFC custody.

On his release, his toenails remained in SFC custody (a keepsake?). That emergency that had Agaba’s brother rushing home in the first place? Well, it escalated into his pregnant wife losing the baby. The emotive post went viral, resurrecting stories of torment and frustration that precede and follow the well-kitted Presidential Convoy.

One of the earliest responses to his post came from a State House social media handler who expressed his sorrow over the incident and further commented that he had alerted the relevant contacts at SFC.

This comment set off a warning bell. Why had Agaba’s post warranted such concern from a State House official, where so many other complaints have gone unanswered, dismissed as opposition drivel? Indeed, on December 4, 2024, this column in an article titled, ‘The Presidential Convoy: From Progress to Regression’ addressed the unwarranted brutality with which SFC conducts itself when securing the roads ahead of the Presidential Convoy.

However, let’s not be too dour; there is a start to everything. Perhaps Agaba’s case would herald a new beginning for many Ugandans with similar experiences.

A few hours later, Agaba updated, “To the general public, thank you for the steadfast support. To the State House team, I acknowledge your positive engagement and concern regarding the matter involving my brother, as well as your consideration for all those who have faced similar circumstances. Your efforts are deeply appreciated. The Office of the President, SFC team and I have amicable resolution, which we expect to finalize this evening…”

Now, the warning bells went off loudly-from an open post that had highlighted a longstanding public grievance, conversations about how to resolve Agaba’s family’s experience had gone private. The next day brought a more triumphant update complete with a happy picture!

Agaba was delighted- alongside his brother’s family, he had met with SFC and State House officials and had “a fruitful 3-hour discussion … We reached a wonderful agreement—one that will support his family in building a brighter future, address his health needs, and bring comfort after the loss of their precious unborn baby.”

The affable comedian that he is, Agaba concluded cheekily with, “Nange Bankozeeko bantu bange.” (Ugandan parlance for ‘I also got something/I was also ‘worked on’) All that is well, ends well- right? No. The warning bells disagreed.

Agaba found himself on the back foot, especially after dogged netizens discovered he had deleted the original post. With his back against the wall, Agaba struggled to explain that, having ‘amicably’ resolved his brother’s predicament with the SFC, the original post was no longer necessary.

“But Agaba”, netizens countered, “What about so many other Ugandans who have similar or worse experiences with the SFC- what happens to them?” Agaba, now sounding like an SFC sympathiser, explained that his 3-hour fruitful discussion with SFC also catered for others.

In another response, Agaba seemed flummoxed, he flippantly suggested that others could also post their predicament online like he had done. Yet such was Agaba’s X factor that the State House online handlers commented on HIS post, which earned him a level of PRIVILEGE unknown to many who have shared their experiences online and gone unheard.

Unfortunately, privilege comes with responsibility. Agaba was unprepared that his viral post would validate the experiences of many other Ugandans who have fallen victim to SFC brutality. In going behind closed doors to meet with SFC, the doors for an open and independent inquiry into the conduct of SFC closed firmly- for now.

The closed doors slammed shut the opportunity to seek justice for many others who have fallen victim to SFC brutality because they dared to breathe in the vicinity of the presidential convoy. It is wonderful that Agaba through his platform received ‘justice’ for his brother (more cheers for the power of social media).

In Ugandan-speak, Agaba joked that the SFC had ‘worked on him’, indicating, Agaba was no longer at odds with SFC. Perhaps, allowed to take that call from SFC/State House, we would also take the juicy bait, cross the threshold and receive with arms wide open our very own slice of ‘justice’.

In response to Agaba’s original post, State House on May 20 tweeted acknowledging Agaba’s post and reported that SFC had instituted an internal probe. Dear reader, now we wait for the justice of the ‘internal probe’. As we wait, this maxim is charming company: “Justice must not only be done, but must also be seen to be done.” smugmountain@gmail.com

The author is a tayaad muzzukulu