When a group of Ugandans stormed the Eiropean Parliament premises in Brussels, Belgium on Friday, 23rd, there was an unexpected face, and colours- Ms Charlotte Roelant.
Being an event organised by people protesting against political persecution and human rights abuse in their country, the participation of Ms Roelant couldn’t fail to attract attention from anybody choosing to be concerned.
A deeper interaction between Roelant and our reporter revealed a lot more than her than meet the eye. She was in Uganda for a year from 2014 to 2015, a period, she says, greatly enhanced her attachment to the beautiful East African country.
“Ilived in Uganda for a year and that period implanted fond memories in my head that I can not just easily discard. Every other day, I feel an excruciating pain seeing it’s people trampled on like garbage by the leadership. That’s why I fight along with those fighting to cause a change,” she asserts determinedly, emotions evident.
Charlotte says that she has received loads of ridicule and blame from friends and relatives who seem to underestimate the attachment Uganda has upon her but she is not bothered.
One factor, and perhaps the most obvious one for her involvement in calling out the Ugandan government is that she has two Ugandan- Beligian children who she wishes a better country for.
” I have two boys whose father is a Ugandan. It’s my every day wish that one day, their country will stabilise so they are able to go back without fearing they will be kidnapped and sent to prison for something as trivial as wearing a red shirt.” She explains.
According to her, Friday’s involvement with the freedom protesters was not the first, neither will be it the last as she is determined to fight along for as long as the Museveni administration continues treating citizens like their are criminals in their own county.
Asked to quantify the impact the actions of the protestors are likely to have had, she hurriedly revealed that she was concerned about limited media attention to the atrocities in the English speaking Africa as there would be with their French speaking counterparts.
” That means that there should be a lot to be done before the media picks the events,” she suggests, giving cause for protests and a more attention driving activities.
On her being one of just a handful if whites passionately fighting for a better Uganda, she says she is not bothered about those who feel they are not concerned but challenges them to ” imagine being in a country where its criminal for someone to choose the colour of a shirt to put on!”
She challenges that demanding for democracy and respect for human rights should be a responsibility for humanity whenever and wherever.
Mr Kwikiriza Bruce, the NUP Vice Chairman for the Belgium- Netherlands chapter applauded Ms Roelant for exhibiting solidarity with the persecuted peoples of Uganda, and underscored the need for the international community to pick keen interest in the atrocities being committed by Mr Museveni against the people of Uganda, especially his political opponents and opposition supporters.
