By Hillary Keingana
BUSHENYI; As the debate for the proposed Sovereignty Bill rages on, residents of Bushenyi District have raised a red flag over the Bill, warning that its passage could break the country’s political, economic and social progress patterns.
Elly Rukiira a resident called on President Yoweri Museveni and Members of Parliament to re-think before passing the bill describing it as a ‘ticking time bomb’ for Uganda’s democracy.
Speaking at a consultative meeting on Friday in Bushenyi town, Rukiira, an opinion leader in Bushenyi Ishaka municipality, warned that oppressive laws often sow the seeds of violent revolution.
Rukiira reminded the government that some past leaders like Kabalega and Mwanga had to rise to mobilize against the injustices of their time.
“At a certain time in the future, new mobilizers will come up and find this law. They will fight against it, and the struggle to overturn it may turn disastrous,” Rukiira warned.
Rukiira further warned that the law could alienate Ugandans in the diaspora, drawing a direct comparison to 1979 when exiled Ugandans including a young Yoweri Museveni under FRONASA returned to overthrow the sitting government.
“We ask our President to make sure such a law isn’t put in place because it will jeopardize the lives of many Ugandans,” he added, accusing the current Parliament of being susceptible to bribery, citing the controversial removal of the presidential age limit.
Adding to the outcry, Guma Gumisiriza, resident Bushenyi district, highlighted the devastating impact the bill would have on the grassroots “common man.” He argued that Uganda remains heavily reliant on Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and diaspora support for basic survival.
“The health and education sectors are going to die. If this bill passes, this country is going to be in a problem. Most schools in Bushenyi are church-founded and rely on funds from the diaspora. Are you building or demolishing,” Gumisiriza warned.
Gumisiriza specifically appealed to NRM legislators, who hold the majority in Parliament, to look beyond personal gain.
“MPs will be able to send their kids to school, but what about their neighbors?” he asked.
The youth in the region have also expressed fear that the bill will limit their future opportunities. Denis Nahabwe, a youth leader from Bushenyi, urged his peers to break their silence and condemn the proposal.
“We have grown mostly on foreign interests schools and churches. If that bill passes, the young generation shall be limited. Today it may not be you, but tomorrow it will be. I call upon all youth to rise up because this government doesn’t have the interests of Ugandans at heart,” Nahabwe said.
The residents concluded with a unified message to their representatives in Kampala: the people of Bushenyi say “No” to the Sovereignty Bill. End.
