As Otto Preaches ‘Survival,’ NRM Rallies Put Child Safety at Risk » The Hoima Post –

By Alexander Luyima | The Hoima Post

KAMPALA – Uganda’s political arena is gripped by two seemingly separate, yet deeply connected, crises: the strategic retreat of veteran opposition voices and a glaring breach of child safety at ruling party rallies. Together, they paint a troubling picture of a political system where accountability is fading and the most vulnerable are paying the price.

From Firebrand to Commentator: Otto’s Warning of Defeat

The shift in tone from former Aruu County MP Odonga Otto has been stark. Once a fiery critic of President Museveni, Otto now offers a grim prognosis. In a recent interview, he questioned opposition cohesion and issued a stark warning to Uganda’s youth: “The password now is survival. After 2026, Museveni will be declared the winner. Life has to continue.”

This pivot from confrontation to caution reflects a broader “political fatigue,” analysts say.
“Otto once represented the quintessential opposition voice, fearless and strategic. His shift signals a retreat from direct confrontation with the ruling party,” notes political analyst Dr. Sylvia Kaggwa.

Public reaction has been critical, with many arguing that Otto’s focus on internal opposition squabbles misdirects accountability from the state’s role in repression. As one online commentator put it, “The focus should be on the unlawful arrests themselves, not the party leaders. Blaming Bobi Wine for what the state is doing misdirects accountability.”

A Parallel Scandal: Children at Risk in the Quest for Votes

As Otto speaks of survival, a more immediate danger is unfolding at National Resistance Movement (NRM) campaign events. Videos circulating widely on social media show adult dancers performing sexually suggestive routines in front of school-aged children, with some rallies taking place on or near school grounds.

The incidents have triggered alarm among parents, educators, and child rights advocates, who condemn the blending of political mobilization and adult entertainment in spaces meant to be safe for children.

“If we fail to provide safety in our schools, we cannot achieve SDG 4 on education or SDG 5 on gender equality,” stated Barno Mukhamadieva, UNICEF Uganda’s Chief of Basic Education, highlighting the gravity of the situation.

The scandal underscores a chasm between Uganda’s robust child protection laws and their enforcement. Despite Ministry of Education policies shielding schools from compromising political activities, these rules are often ignored at the local level, leaving children unprotected.

A Unified Failure of Leadership

The two scandals are intertwined. As experienced opposition figures like Otto retreat into pragmatic commentary, the space for holding the powerful to account shrinks. The alleged failure to robustly challenge the state on issues like the Kitalya prisoners finds a parallel in the perceived impunity surrounding the child safety breaches at rallies.

This creates a dangerous vacuum. While opposition energies are diverted inward, fundamental questions about governance and moral responsibility go unanswered. The feminist collective Femme Forte Uganda has long warned that “the silence around consent and bodily autonomy leaves girls defenseless”—a silence that now seems to extend across the political spectrum.

The Way Forward: Accountability Over Apathy

In response to the child protection crisis, professionals are calling for immediate action: a ban on adult entertainment at political rallies near schools, clear vetting procedures for public performances, and mandated collaboration between event organizers and local authorities.

Meanwhile, the political class is being urged to look beyond mere survival. The public mood, reflected in online discourse, demands a refocusing of energy—away from internal fragmentation and toward a unified defense of citizens’ rights and dignity.

As Uganda moves toward another election cycle, the message is clear: true leadership requires protecting the nation’s youngest citizens and preserving the integrity of its democratic institutions, not merely retreating to monitor from the sidelines.

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