There are many nations in the world in which the concept of personal liberty is entirely absent. Globally, corrupt governments stifle student movements that engage in discussion and activism. One such activist whose determination is unhindered by these obstacles is Mugabi John Socrates. A graduate of Kyambogo University in Kampala, the 26-year-old Ugandan considers himself a full time activist, at great personal risk. His network has expanded to other universities in Uganda, with Kyambogo holding a recent conference on how taxation and licensing laws kill entrepreneurship.
Uganda’s post-colonial history is rocky, and in the wake of the military dictatorship of Idi Amin, the nation has struggled to establish a sense of political freedom. Since the unseating of Idi Amin in 1986, President Yoweri Musenevi has been consistently elected as the head of the country in what are officially called republican elections. According to Mugabi, however, Musenevi’s regime has secured its rule through mass suppression of opposing views. One such example is found in the 2016 presidential election, which saw Musenevi challenged by the popular, democratic reformer, Kizza Besigye. According to the 1995 constitution, Uganda is a republic, yet, there has been little change in the government since the late 1980s. Besigye, a physician and former military officer, has attempted to unseat Musenevi in three previous elections, but has failed each time despite gaining popular support. In the wake of his latest loss, on May 13th of this year, Besigye was arrested and flown to a remote prison on charges of treason.
Uganda has also distanced itself from the international community with the government’s attempts to pass anti-LGBT legislation. In 2014, the government attempted to pass the Prohibition of Promotion of Unnatural Sexual Practices Bill, which made it illegal for homosexuals to pursue intimate relations on pain of death, which was later changed to a life sentence. A combination of international outrage and President Obama cutting off financial aid to Uganda pushed the Ugandan Constitutional Court to strike down the legislation. However, repression of LGBT individuals, in addition to student activists, continues under Musenevi’s government.
John Mugabi is concerned about this grim reality, especially when many of his friends have been arrested and tortured by police. Yet, he believes that the corruption within the government and how easily personal greed can be exploited even among student leaders at universities, is central to the problem. A recent scandal at Mugabi’s alma mater this past September involving the guild president (the equivalent to a head of student involvement at an American university) shed light on how encompassing this corruption is. Mugabi participated in a study abroad program offered in the Netherlands in 2014 and this opportunity was extended to the guild president, Ian Kafuko. Upon receiving 25 million Uganda shillings (roughly USD $7,000) Mugabi noticed that the president had not yet departed for Europe, and later realized that this man had forged his travel and Visa documents in order to essentially steal the money. The university expelled the student and has launched a court case against Kafuko who has yet to be found.
Mugabi told me that, for many students, simply resorting to corruption and looting is far more profitable than attempting to legitimately improve one’s lifestyle. He also said, “we suffer here mainly because many people, the young most so, are not empowered at all,” and that this state of affairs “is the design of the regime.”
Mugabi believes that with the efforts of young people, specifically those engaged in Students For Liberty, reform is possible for Uganda… so long as student activists remember their strength and ability to change their society. In the wake of President Obama justifying a U.S. military presence in Uganda we must remember the consequences of initiating regime change at risk of imposing our vision of a free society, instead of leaving Ugandans to discover what a free society is for themselves. Full time activists like John Mugabi should serve as an example for all student leaders in SFL around the world to never lose hope and determination, no matter how great the obstacles may seem, because at that point, those who oppose individual liberty will have been victorious.
This piece solely expresses the opinion of the author and not necessarily the organization as a whole. Students For Liberty is committed to facilitating a broad dialogue for liberty, representing a variety of opinions. If you’re a student interested in presenting your perspective on this blog, visit our guest submissions page.