COVID-19 Commercialization: Evacuate the sick at their cost-Museveni
In his COVID-19 speech last evening, President Museveni said something terrible. In every way, the president just supported COVID-19 commercialization efforts. To be exact, the president insisted that evacuating the sick from their homes or villages should be done at their own cost! In just a sentence, he privatized the whole public ambulance and emergency service! This is havoc!
I always feel wronged whenever the government blames the pandemic on us, the common people. This COVID-19 isn’t about common people forsaking SOPs, but terrible government that can’t be trusted. It is about a government that is enforcing COVID-19 commercialization. And now that everything about this fight has been commercialized, people have even more reasons not to fight alongside this crazy regime. This is how we lose the fight; instead of the government and us the people jointly fighting against COVID-9, we are fighting against each other!
When the president openly blames us, and dictates that we suffer the costs of whatever help we need now, he is acting as if the help was coming from his house or farm, forgetting that it is our tax, our own money that we need. He is doing covid-19 commercialization. He has reminded me of this NSSF guy who has allowed for access of benefits only for those in ICU, after an NSSF doctor has assessed and confirmed; ‘yeah, this one is on verge of death, let’s give him something to die with!’
I mean, people wake up! Why would I be charged for emergency evacuation by a government that I pay tax? Isn’t this how life gets messy! Now, whenever you need ambulance or any help, the man on the other side will be resounding, hey, didn’t you hear the president? How much do you have? Really! Even if we assume that the president’s comment wasn’t about public ambulance service, he has still incentivized the private sector into making this thing an opportunity for cash!
Talking about making COVID-19 an opportunity of cash, it seems the president and all his subordinates across ministries are enjoying it! From the landlords who demanded that we pay them even for the more than 4 months that we sat at home (probably because URA didn’t forgive them as well) to the buses (public transport) that hiked transport following COVID-19 directives to the hospitals hiking charges for COVID-19 admission and oxygen supply (see here and here) to the hotels that benefited from the quarantines, and the very many companies that secured contracts to supply services and equipment at hiked prices, Museveni and his fellows are surely enjoying the movie!
It is just not right. Something illegal is happening here. This government is betraying us, the citizens. The government isn’t taking care of us in hard times when we most need it or her!
READ THIS TOO: Museveni & fellows have no moral responsibility to command responsibility in COVID-19 fight!
COVID-19 commercialization: What to do!
What should we do? A lot! First, don’t trust Museveni or this government. There is never a thing they do and it’s about you, the common man! Not trusting them is a good thing. It will make you vigilant! Secondly, take heed of SOPs, not for anyone but for yourself and those you care about. Thirdly, don’t panic. You see, it may look like these guys have your life in their hands but the truth is your life is actually in the hands of God. Whatever game they are playing, they (and you) are God’s pawn. Things will happen according to God’s will not theirs or even yours. This is important to note. And, lastly, survive. Yes, I don’t know what you will have to say or do in your context, but I insist on survival. As long as you are right with God, don’t care about who else you have compromised! Weird advise, isn’t it?
NB: Lockdown won’t help. I hope you already know that. Lockdown is about hurting you, I mean, enriching some people, but not saving you! But be in it! It’s a directive!