Our Security Forces are the Unsung Heroes in the COVID-19 Battle

As we are all aware; the world has been ravaged by the new enemy in the name of COVID-19 pandemic, and many countries we once thought were mighty and exemplary have been put to shame for being paper tigers and having wrong remedies to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The little known nations that one wouldn’t give a slight vote as far as COVID pandemic is concerned have shown the world that steady and experienced leadership is what the world has always needed in times that call for tough decisions and right solutions to an emergency of such magnitude.

One of these tiny but strong nations is Uganda, whose leadership is widely credited together with its citizenry for having got it right with COVID pandemic as others were gambling with it, at the expense of their citizens and neighbors alike.

However, this could not have been achieved without the sacrifice and patriotic actions of our security forces that have made sure we are safe throughout this entire lockdown and curfew.

Our security forces have been at the forefront in the fight against COVID 19 pandemic in a number of ways that have turned them into COVID 19 heroes.

Security means safety, as well as the measures taken to be safe or protected. … Often this word is used in compounds such as a security measure and security checks.

Security is said to be freedom from, or resilience against, the potential harm caused by others. Beneficiaries of security may be of persons and social groups, objects and institutions, ecosystems, or any other entity or phenomenon vulnerable to unwanted change and as citizens of this great Pearl, we have been beneficiaries of this great service by our gallant sons and daughters.

While we have been in the comfort of our homes as we complain of a lockdown and curfew that stops us from visiting our favorite kafunda for a drink up, our security forces have been at the frontline manning, checkpoints 24/7 to make sure that only those supposed to be on the roads at particular hours are the ones driving as SOPs are followed instead of being in the comfort of their homes with their children, they are always on call for service to the nation.

The security forces have been involved in surveillance to make sure that the country doesn’t only get unnecessary visitors but wrong elements don’t use the excuse of lockdown to destabilize the country and jeopardize our hard-earned peace, for there are known countries where UN had to beg for a ceasefire during COVID, while people from our neighboring countries were fighting to seek refuge in Uganda a safe haven and many were sneaking in and actually carrying a virus with them, this kept our gallant men and women in security on their toes just to make sure we are safe.

Our security forces have also been at the forefront in food distribution, across Kampala and Wakiso areas, many pictures were posted showing how our men and officers were carrying food to people’s homes in all kinds of weather and environments, some were literally swimming with food on their shoulders in order to reach beneficiaries. This was not something simple but they served us with no questions and for nearly two months where relief food was distributed to close to 2 million beneficiaries.

They were also part of the medical teams in different health facilities fighting tooth and nail to make sure that we don’t lose any one of our citizens to Covid, and their efforts are not yet in vain; we also saw a massive modern medical tent that was built by UPDF medical team in preparation for receiving and treating COVID patients.

Our security forces have been all over media sensitizing our people about the pandemic and what needs to be done, and also encouraging us to follow all SOPS as given by the MOH, they have also been having a weekly presser to keep the population informed of all the daily activities of the security forces.

This is a team that deserves a pat on the shoulder, however; we have done more of blame and criticizing than appreciating their patriotism, and we have pegged our ungratefulness to few cases by some of our LDU men and demonized the whole process that thing that is regrettable.

Yes, there have been cases where our LDUs may have been harsh in executing their duties but these are few cases that should not be generalized to mean that security forces terrorized citizens like some politicians have been saying. We need to appreciate that these men are our relatives and were recruited from our own communities and the communities were requested to select and recommend good people for training as LDUs, so it’s assumed that we gave the recruiting agencies our best what was done during training may not have been enough to change (a leopards skin) in a year or two but we should rest assured that they are work in progress with continued ideological dosages and training the few remaining ones will all be in line, however, they should be appreciated for making armed security visible within our communities, effort in curbing crime in our villages during the lockdown and their contribution in relief distributions some few shortfalls notwithstanding.

The beauty with Uganda s that all those who may have been involved in the misuse of their power during the operations were aligned before the disciplinary committee for further action, no one in Uganda is above the law and not even our security forces can undermine any Ugandan.

As citizens, we have a duty to keep observing all SOPs during this pandemic so that we don’t overstretch our security personnel, otherwise, they will legally perform their duties and then we end up blaming them.

Our security forces deserve a pat on the shoulder for always being ready to serve our nation every time they are called to serve and during this pandemic like many more occasions before they served us selflessly and they are our unsung heroes.

The author is an educationist and political analyst)