Nyanjura Doreen, Deputy Lord Mayor of Kampala, recently shared a reflection on social media, expressing her deep emotional turmoil while in detention. Her candid remarks shed light on the disconnect she perceived between political activism and everyday life in Uganda.
In a post on X, Deputy Mayor Nyanjura Doreen revealed her emotional vulnerability during a period of detention. She expressed profound sadness and disbelief over what she perceived as a lack of widespread public engagement during critical moments of political protest, particularly surrounding the contentious issue of removing presidential age limits.
“On this day, while in detention, I broke down & cried. It didn’t make sense to me that while we were protesting against the removal of the age limit, which was a do or die in my view, majority of Ugandans were busy with their daily hand to mouth chores, totally disinterested!!”
Uganda was embroiled in debates and demonstrations regarding the removal of age limits for presidential candidates. For Nyanjura Doreen, this was a pivotal issue, described as “do or die” due to its potential long-term implications for the country’s political landscape democracy.
Nyanjura’s emotional outpouring stemmed from her observation that while political activists and leaders like herself were deeply invested in these debates, the majority of Ugandans appeared disengaged, preoccupied instead with daily survival and livelihood challenges. This perceived apathy towards critical political issues left her feeling distraught and questioning the broader societal priorities.
The Deputy Lord Mayor’s public confession also highlighted the personal toll of activism in challenging political climates. Her detention experience and subsequent reflection underscored the sacrifices and emotional strain endured by those advocating for political change in Uganda.
“Fear is a state of nervousness fit for children and not men. When man fears a creature like himself, he offends God, in whose image and likeness he is created. Man being created equal fears not man but God.”
In her online statement, the Deputy Lord Mayor criticized Ugandans for what she sees as a lack of courage in confronting oppression. She pointed out a perceived tendency among citizens to focus on daily survival, often at the expense of challenging authority and advocating for broader societal change. Her words reflect a broader frustration within activist circles regarding the uphill battle to mobilize public support for political causes.
