Arua Municipality Member of Parliament, Mr Ibrahim Abiriga, has confessed to easing himself in a public place.“I was badly off. Should I have kept urine on myself? What is the problem with that?” Mr Abiriga one of the promoters of a move to remove the age limit article from the Constitution said in a televised interview at the entrance of Parliament chambers. (Source: Daily Monitor)

Yes, one wonders how peeing by the roadside is connected with the amendment of the Constitution. But then again, the only time the current Uganda members of parliament  have genuinely paid attention, it would appear, is during any discussions to amend the Constitution, in order to remove the only remaining condition which will automatically prohibit President Museveni from seeking another term in office through ‘democratic’ means.

And, what is with all that sanctimonious wululu about Mr. Abiriga easing himself in a public place? Well, actually he did it behind a decorative plant of sorts. Ugandans left, right and centre, nevertheless, are vilifying Mr. Abiriga for choosing not to “keep urine on him”, to use his own words, for he was “badly off.”

Yes, he did it in a public place, moreover in a place considered among the model places of Uganda’s ‘development’ and where the ‘developed’ Ugandans live.

Oh my, how could he do that?

The ‘developed’ sanctimoniously ask. But one begs to ask: Was there a PUBLIC TOILET nearby? How near or far was the nearest PUBLIC TOILET? And what is the condition of that PUBLIC TOILET?

The lack of PUBLIC TOILETS in the whole of Uganda is legendary, including in those places considered ‘developed’ and where the ‘developed’ live. One is reminded of one’s own experience observing Ugandans who are “badly off “, as Mr. Abiriga was, having no choice but to ease themselves by the roadside.

In August of 2014 one wrote:

Along the Iganga to Tiriniyi highway, we stopped for a health break – stretch our legs, decongest our bladders and generally make ourselves comfortable for the rest of the journey. Not so pleasant a surprise awaited me then. We had to do it all in the bushes – no public toilets anywhere in sight, and apparently there is none along the entire route.

My fellow passengers who had to respond to the call of nature had no choice but to add on to what others had left behind in the past. One of my fellow, travellers, surely less than 10 years of age, was not able to make it to the bushes on time so she soiled her skirt.

The spot is a favourite for buses to make a health stop – and the evidence was there – shit of all kinds and shapes and in all kinds of conditions – dried up, heap-shaped, flattened, freshly dropped, etc.

Need to ask, do we have a public health policy in Uganda? If so, what is it about? Am I the first to notice that this status quo of no public toilets for travellers and for others in public places is really not wise – need I explain?

If you need an explanation, please read Simon Kaheru’s post on his blog, which is appropriately titled: “Management toilets versus toilet management.”

Travellers on public transport on the eastern route are indeed suffering from our government’s poor management. This, in my view, warrants the proclamation of a state of emergency.

Article 110 (1) of the Constitution of Uganda would be better applied to this situation than to apply it clearing debts of members of parliament, which they accumulated through their own stupidity and greed read more and weep.

Read the full blog post from which this quote is extracted here.

Well, one has not taken another bus trip or a trip using public transport since 2014, but one is certain that the situation of travellers in Uganda has not improved one bit. Mr. Abiriga’s actions, most certainly, point to the fact that even in ‘developed’ places in Uganda where ‘developed’ Ugandans live there are no or insufficient PUBLIC TOILETS.

And yes, as part of President Museveni’s long convoy, one of the vehicles is basically a customised mobile PRESIDENTIAL TOILET. Yes, this is in order to make sure that when he is “badly off”, as Mr. Abiriga was, wherever he is and at whatever time, he can make releases with presidential DIGNITY.

Well, it is that presidential DIGNITY,  just DIGNITY actually, that all Ugandans, including Mr. Abiriga, should be able to enjoy – have access to PUBLIC TOILETS  in which they can respond to the call of nature with DIGNITY.

Forgive one, for one is pretty much not impressed by all the sanctimonious wululu about Mr. Abiriga’s choice to ease himself in public. He was “badly off” what did you want him to do?

Okay, when is the debate on PUBLIC TOILETS, in particular, and the Public Health Policy, in general, going to be on Parliament’s order paper? We wait.

Oh, but wait a minute, our priority right now is the Presidential Age Limit Debate – I hear #TOKIKWATOKO.

Some, however, assert that members of parliament are using the Age Limit debate not necessarily because they believe in protecting the Constitution, but as a means to set conditions for the first beneficiary to acquiese to facilitating them to clear their debts which they have accumulated through their own stupidity and greed.

The current members of Uganda’s parliament represent the interests of Ugandans, my foot!