Prof Jimmy Spire Ssentongo who is among the activists championing the ever-trending #UgandaParliamentExhibition has revealed that his communications and movements are being tracked by the Uganda Communications Commission on orders of the parliament of Uganda.
Spire revealed this in a tweet he sent out this morning.
“I’m authoritatively aware that ‘Parliament’ has secretly asked UCC @UCC_Official for all my communication details and the job has started – including tracing who I talk to, what, when, where, where I stay, the time of day/night I last communicate, movements, etc,” reads the tweet.
The tweet further reads; “This may include intentions to harm me. UCC, you may accept to be used in those evil selfish schemes, but whatever you are doing, I’m aware – because there are many people in there that are not happy with the trend we are taking, and that appreciate our cause in demanding for accountability and responsive service.
“They pay taxes too, and wish to be served better. Whether the law gives Parliament and UCC that power over people they should be representing/serving may not matter now. But it will matter some day – even if I won’t be there.
“It is unfortunate that this is how they respond to public demands for them to account to tax payers/ citizens, whom they purport to represent.
“How we got to this level of impunity and abuse of citizens and how we get out of it should concern us all – regardless of political affiliation.
“The system we’ve built is not sustainable and not safe for any of us and our children, including those currently benefitting from it. You are riding a tiger and are thrilled by its speed, but it will eat you too.
“Sorting Spire, or any other individual who is demanding for what is truly theirs, is not going to solve the problem. Even if you kill Spire today, it will only multiply Spires and anger.
“More aggressive Spires will rise to avenge. Even if Spire keeps quiet, it won’t stop the brewing anger, facilitated by your arrogance, greed, abuse of citizens’ goodwill, extravagance, and beastly indifference. Address the pains of the people instead of seeking to gag and destroy them.
“Of course, my death would be unfortunate to those who care about me and what I do, but I won’t be there to feel it. There are only two possibilities for all of us: You are either alive or dead. So please, if you choose, shoot and feel good. It doesn’t require many bullets to stop a heart. UCC, help them hold the gun.
“Much of what I wanted to do here, I suppose I have done it. And I’m consoled by the natural assurance, that many more will always pick the baton and do much more. No human can stop time.”
About Uganda Parliament Exhibition
The campaign has been trending on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, as #UgandaParliamentExhibition.
It relies on leaks of official documents and has been cast as an “exhibition” — in a sequence of postings — about controversial issues.
The latest posts, about Uganda’s National Assembly, purport to reveal details about abuse of public resources, nepotism in staff recruitment and even collusion between civil servants and lawmakers on oversight committees.
They also focus on Parliament Speaker Anita Among, an influential member of the ruling party, who is criticized for allegedly collecting huge sums in allowance spending on foreign travel, including trips that did not happen.
The campaign alleges Among was paid the equivalent of $894,500 in per diems and entertainment allowances between July and January, an astonishing amount in a country struggling to implement its budget amid persistent revenue shortfalls.
A parliamentary commission which Among heads had earlier raised daily per diem rates for the speaker from $990 to $4,000. The annual per capita income in Uganda was $850 in 2022, according to World Bank figures.
Among said she cannot comment on social media allegations posted by its organizers, who include Jimmy Ssentongo, a prominent rights activist in Uganda.
Chris Obore, a spokesman for the National Assembly, said in a statement that “Parliament acknowledges concerns raised in the ongoing #UgandaParliamentExhibition on the institution.”
“In the spirit of openness, accountability and transparency, we are duty bound to study the specifics of all concerns and conclusively address them,” he said, without elaborating.
The government of President Yoweri Museveni, who has held power in Uganda since 1986, has long been accused of shielding corrupt but influential officials from criminal prosecution. After his reelection to a sixth term in 2021, Museveni promised to crack down on corruption.
But many Ugandans are not hopeful.
Local media outlets frequently report on corruption issues, but activists, opposition figures and others who try to stage street demonstrations face arrest under a law that requires them to first notify police of their plans to rally.
The online protest movement has become significant for its ability to name and shame specific individuals before an attentive audience, said Marlon Agaba, head of the Anti-Corruption Coalition Uganda watchdog.
“In a country where civic space has been shrinking, citizens are finding alternative and innovative ways to express their displeasure in terms of how the country is being governed,” he said. “This campaign also shows the power that new media has in shaping discourses on governance.”
The #UgandaParliamentExhibition has also cast a wide net, seeking evidence of wrongdoing among both government and opposition figures.
Mathias Mpuuga, a former opposition leader in the National Assembly, was said to have received a $131,000 “service award” for his work in Parliament.
Mpuuga denies any wrongdoing, but another opposition figure who nominated Mpuuga to the parliamentary post is accusing him of abuse of office.
“If we allow that corruption to get into us, then it’s going to destroy us,” said Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, a popular singer who is also known as Bobi Wine, speaking to local broadcaster NTV on Monday.
“Whenever huge sums of money exchange hands … there’s something that’s being given in exchange,” he said.
