Dear reality,
I choose to accept you today. I accept that I am that typical Mumasaba who however agrees that a bit of Luganda is necessary in every Ugandan’s life. That is why I conquer with the Kiganda saying; “nomutto akuba engoma, omukulu nazina,” literally meaning that even the old can sometimes dance to the tunes of the young.
The U-reporters under UNICEF pushed the above fact down my throat on Thursday, 13th November, 2014. This was during the third U-report conference that took place at Namirembe guest house. The event was graced by the presence of UNICEF Chief of Communication Mr. Jaya Murthy, peer educators from MildMay, representatives from GAPP with their ‘U-bridge’ program, Monica Llamazares an official from UNICEF, UNAD (Uganda National Foundation for the Deaf), three guest members from parliament who included Hon Bagoole Johnbosco as well as Hon Lolem Micah Akasilo of Pokot, and of course the owners of the game themselves; the U-reporters.
Watching the youth count the fruits of their efforts through U-report (an SMS based platform) was not just an amazing moment. It was heartwarming to discover that the young generation in Uganda has confidence to speak out on matters affecting their communities as well as lobby for action aimed at creating positive change in the general livelihood of Ugandans.
My dear friend reality, I also want you to accept that change in Uganda is not always birthed from violence. U-reporters in the country can testify that there has been blissful change tapped from a well strategized communication system using SMS and social media. For example; on occurrence of a defilement case in one of the areas in the country, a U-reporter sent in the text right below to 8500(U-report toll free line); “A gal of 8yrs was defiled a few days ago in our area by a 34yr old man, there is enough evidence {…}, the area police station appears to have refused to work on the case because the girl was defiled from a different area. Right now she is surviving on painkillers. How can you best help this child?”
Those four lines in italics were enough to get the case to Central police station in Kampala through the child protection unit at UNICEF. Within a week, the eight year old girl had received treatment and the perpetrator had been detained by police.
You see reality, In Uganda mob justice is not always the action taken as you bitter friend of mine thinks. If it was, then the youth of this generation are changing that and they are dragging the elders along in this great change. That is why I agreed with you earlier on that sometimes the old can dance to the tunes of the young.
Did I mention that Miss Uganda 2014 Leah Kalanguka was a beautiful part of the third U-report conference? Well there you go again reality, yes; the youth in Uganda are all up to invest in children by promoting the rights of the Ugandan child (#InvestInUGchildren). With the youth on the wheel, need I explain why renowned Ugandan artists such as Jackie Chandiru, Lillian Mbabazi, Benon, Navio, Petermiles and Mung were a significant part of the conference?
Well, may be to just assure you a little further Mr. Reality, all these artists were up for #InvestInUGchildren and more especially to practice the song “imagine” by John Lennon with the U-reporters. This is in effort to get the youth to air out the kind of Uganda they imagine for themselves and the children in the country.
Personally, I imagine a Uganda where all the beautiful imaginations of the youth and children are a reality!
Yours truly,
A watching citizen.