I live and stay in Uganda and compared to the 1970s and early 1980s Uganda has much peace today. During those periods especially in Kampala, the capital city, by 6:00 p.m if one had not entered his home, he was in great danger. Insecurity in Kampala was incredibly rampant.
My parents have ever lamented to me a story where on one occasion in 1984, saw a car of a religious person being chased by armed men, at about 10:00 a.m as the person was returning from shopping on Saturday morning from the capital city, and was nearing the premises where of the mission where he served. He managed to escape them but narrowly, Ooops!!!
They wanted to take his car at gun point. Several vehicles were robed in such a manner in broad day light.
The next morning many would narrate the ordeal of the night on account of unknown attackers and robbers at their homes. Some never survived such insecurity to narrate their ordeals as their lives were terminated by such invasions.
I also read a frightening story that was about that time and is still lingering in my memory. It was concerning a man who was working as Secretary to the Treasury. His name was Polycarp Rukuba. The paper was published in the English version of Munansi (Citizen).
According to the story, it was in May 1984, at about 2:00 a.m. and armed invaders managed to go through his gate.
His house had strong doors, he was shouting for help, but no one dared to come to his rescue. Those days no one would dare to come out to help a neighbour because of insecurity. Finally they broke the house doors and entered it . Again they took long before succeeding to break his bed room door but finally they succeeded and got to him. His wife was away in the village, but some kids were at home. The story concluded by saying that he prayed that they spare his life for any property they wanted from him.
They only answered and said "we have come for your life." The article ended saying "And they emptied the magazine in his chest"!
That was the end of his earthly life. He went to the next life of heaven. And as he had a good record of statesmanship, a man of integrity, with no record of corruption, he should have met God to be rewarded for the good while on earth.
Compared to the above period there is a lot of peace in Uganda today. In Kampala people hold parties throughout the night, playing music. Indeed, there is a bi difference with regard to peace today in Uganda, compared to twenty years ago.
But what is Peace?
Peace means a situation or period of time in which there is no war or violence in a country or area. Peace describes a state of tranquillity. It connotes a relationship of operating harmoniously and without violent conflict.
Peace is commonly understood as the absence of hostility. It also refers to the existence of healthy or newly healed interpersonal or interactional relationships, safety in economic and social affairs, and acknowledgement of equality and fairness in political relationships.
Good perception of the above explanation of peace helps us to perceive the sense of serenity created by peace. Our country, Uganda has literally passed through periods where people longed for and prayed for peace that it may come about, but the journey to achieve peace was very long. Many Ugandans know or should know where we had waited a long time.
They should also realize where we are today and where we desire to reach. Our history recalls the various wars the country has gone through. Some of these occurred only in certain parts of the country while others were wide spread.
War is never good. It should always be avoided at all cost. War takes people - the innocent and guilty. It destroys property and a nation.
Uganda therefore should do whatever is possible to avoid war. To succeed in that, requires effort from every citizen!!!
Thanks for reading, please come again!!!