Since April 2011, activists for change (A4C) have been campaigning against government’s failure to manage rising cost of living, inflation and wastage of public resources which affect every Ugandan. Protesters from all walks of life including students to elderly citizens, ordinary working people to opposition party leaders, parliamentarians, lawyers, traders, civil society etc came out in solidarity and supported our goal which was to focus government policies on combating the current economic crisis and fighting corruption.

Unfortunately, the government failed to respond to the pressing economic problems. Instead security forces were ordered to arrest peaceful activists and shoot at protesters, turning the police into an instrument of repression.

Moreover, you policemen and women, who are ordered by the repressive state to harass, arrest and even shoot at us are the ones who have suffered the most from this government’s insensitive policies. You are among the lowest paid public servants, you have never earned a living wage and your living conditions in police quarters are deplorable. Sincerely, a policeman who works 24 hours to earn a better living can never whatsoever (with his/her monthly earnings) take own children to good schools neither by a car.

Whenever we (A4C) see pictures and videos of you beating innocent Ugandans we don’t see those who give the orders, we see suffering policemen who purportedly take orders from above to persecute the same citizens who are fighting for rights that would benefit all of us. As we enter an important stage of our campaign this month, we appeal to you the police to stand in solidarity with ordinary Ugandans who are exercising their democratic rights of assembly, protest and freedom of speech.

When we started protesting, inflation was at 14.1%, today it has doubled to 28.3%. A liter of petrol was at ush3, 400, it now goes for ush3, 900, a kilogramme of sugar was at ush2, 800, now it is at ush6, 000, a sack of charcoal was at ush25, 000 and now it is at ush75, 000, yet the salaries of policemen have remained static.

There is no justification whatsoever in arresting, maiming, tear gassing and killing activists who are fighting for your rights. We are all victims of repression. It is not logical for victims to fight another victim. With such fights all victims lose. We therefore urge you the police to stand with us as we demand for change.

By Mathias Mpuuga

MP Masaka Municipality