Blog4 Advocacy Week

#WinterABC2021

This week has got me thinking of my sisters and brothers in advocacy. And so today I will share them with you complete with their scars and medals for all they have done for many who may never know them.

Ivan Bwow. This one happened to be caught up in Iceland during the first wave of Covid. He was in that group that was locked out with the shut down of air transport. Bwowe started a campaign to get back home. First by demanding the university get in touch with the government of Uganda to explore their return then going ahead to connect the 2. He then kept social media abreast of the steps both government and his university were taking until he and his other Ugandan classmates were put on a flight. While under quarantine, Bwowe challenged the costs of living, the food as well as the extra night the hotel expected the occupants to pay for because results by government had delayed. I salute you Brother. On coming out he is the human who challenged the UCC social media guidelines in court towards elections and probably saved all of us.

Arinitwe Scovia. This one has the calling of visiting everyone who has been arrested. She also knows how to join in on the arrested team incase she knows it will help those taken. I can’t count how many times people have run off and Scovia hs been left standing and speaking out to the system. During the chapati burning spree, she was one of the arrested. I remember that she was sprayed with tear gas for no reason along side the other arrested ones. Kudos.

My Samwyiri and Sam SamBanz. Unafraid of speaking truth to power. These two are social media influences who don’t just push content but use their spaces to challenge impunity. Theirs is a cause and not another career. I remember the former was among the chapati burners and he was taken because he happened to be influencing the press conference. They are rarely celebrated for their work and I hope more of us can do so.

Esther Kalenzi and the work she does under 40/40. Getting more children to read, building classrooms and dormitories and pushing for social change through quizes and talks for many middle class young people so that they can pay attention to today’s challenges. Esther runs a social enterprise that is contributing to increased literacy among young people and I celebrate you.

There is my lovely Karamagi Andrew. Grabber of the Attorney Generals speech. We have very few people who are willing to dare the system in the open. This one does it as easily as he takes in oxygen and for that reason I will not say more about him.

To everyone who has pushed for better, this blog celebrates you. Advocacy is about wanting more and better and there is no law against this.