By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
KAMPALA
University professors are being urged to take part in demonstrations around the country in protest against high levels of corruption, rather than engaging in political commentary and taking the role of political pathologists.
On Tuesday last week, Ugandan youth took to the streets to protest against corruption in Parliament, demanding the immediate resignation of Speaker Anita Among over graft allegations and those close to her among other demands. The demonstration, which led to the arrest of over 100 protesters, has sparked widespread public debate in the media and has become increasingly politicized.
Speaking to journalists at the FDC headquarters Najjanankumbi on Monday, John Kikonyogo the party spokesperson said university professors are fond of making public comments that maybe perceived as politically charged whenever they analyzing issues in the media and urged them to work towards creating a more just, equitable and democratic societies.
“I get annoyed when I see professors who have PhDs analyzing situations when they have already gone bad”, said Kikonyogo.
According to Kikonyogo, elites disregard of their professions should back the youth in Anti-Corruption demonstrations in demanding the government to take decisive actions against the practice. He emphasized that corruption is a universal problem that requires a collective effort until it’s completely eliminated.
“The problem with Ugandans everyone is quiet. It’s a very docile society, ”Tebinkwatako” (I don’t care) business and at the end of the day, all of you are suffering”, Kikonyogo challenges.
Additionally, the FDC spokesperson has asked the judiciary to drop some of the charges against protestors such as being “idle and disorderly” and being “common nuisance” arguing that the law was scrapped off from the constitution and other law books by the constitutional court.
