On 7th November, 2025, in Mbarara, a painful scene that will linger in the conscience of every just and compassionate citizen shook humanity. Security forces, entrusted with the noble duty of protecting the people, were captured in a moment of shameful misconduct—almost stripping a female opposition party member of the National Unity Platform (NUP), exposing her breasts and cleavage.

This incident, which should never have happened under any circumstances, represents a tragic departure from the principles of human rights, justice, and decency. It is a moment that transcends political boundaries, compelling us to reflect not as supporters of any side, but as human beings who share a common moral duty to defend dignity and truth.

Putting all manner of politics aside, certain acts can never be justified by politics. This was wrong—wrong because it violates both the law and basic human dignity. No uniform, command, or order can excuse the humiliation of another person. Our humanity must always stand above political loyalty or institutional power.

The essence of law enforcement lies in the protection of life, liberty, and dignity. Officers of the state are called to serve the people—not to degrade them. When security forces turn their power against citizens, they betray the very oath that binds them to justice. Authority loses its legitimacy when it is exercised without compassion and restraint.

Every constitution enshrines the protection of human rights. Uganda’s laws, as well as international conventions, recognise dignity as a non-negotiable human right. The scenes from Mbarara are therefore not only acts of moral failure but also breaches of constitutional duty and international obligation.

In times of political tension, acts of violence or abuse are too often dismissed under the veil of “maintaining order” or “ensuring security.” This is a dangerous path—for when cruelty is justified in the name of politics, society’s moral compass begins to erode. We cannot allow human suffering to be normalised simply because it serves the interests of those in power.

True democracy is not defined by how loudly we proclaim freedom, but by how faithfully we protect it—especially for those who dissent or stand in opposition.

The events of 7th November, 2025, are not merely a political episode; they are a human crisis. They compel us to ask:

• Have we become numb to injustice?

• Do we only speak when the victim shares our political beliefs?

• Have we traded our humanity for silence or convenience?

It is in such moments that conscience must rise above fear. Silence in the face of abuse is complicity. To speak out against injustice is not rebellion—it is the highest form of patriotism.

Putting politics aside, what happened in Mbarara was an assault on both law and humanity. No government, institution, or ideology should ever condone the stripping of a woman’s dignity in public.

The measure of a just society is not how it treats the powerful, but how it protects the weak. Justice denied to one is a threat to all. Let us stand not as partisans, but as people—united by the belief that every Ugandan deserves respect, protection, and dignity under the law. Because when the dignity of one woman is violated, the dignity of an entire nation is wounded.

We should speak before it’s too late.

As Pastor Martin Niemöller, who witnessed the rise of oppression in Nazi Germany, once wrote:

First they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.”

Let these words awaken our conscience. If we remain silent today, tomorrow, there will be no one left to speak for us.

It is time—for every Ugandan, regardless of political colour—to speak up for justice, for humanity, and for dignity.