A CORRUPTED CYCLE OF AUTHORITY BY JOAN BYONANEBYE

#NSAC21 Short Story

He had a mohican cut and hawkish half- dome check bones sat above an oaken jaw, walked with a tiger like trend as Mr. Twerwaneho moved past people to his office. It was after two hours now that I saw no hopes waiting to visit the office. Recalling from Michael de Montaigne's saying, "The flimflam of the age is made up by the particular contribution of every individual man; some contribute treachery, others tyranny, avarice, atheism according to their power."

I realised individuals entering the office were giving in a bum steer as the long waiting list felt less important. I sat in the compound wondering how such an egocentric made it into the office. To my sight, a man with a strange appearance came. His face toil worn and tanned from exposure to the elements, walked wearily and sadly as if he would suddenly explode in a burst of rage. So touched I approached Mr. Aine.

Tears of despondency flowed down my visage like water from a faulty tank after listening to Mr. Aine. He said, "Omutumba mugufu nigwo bacwaho orureere;" They depend on the less privileged. Trying to help, since I knew, "Omwana atumwa anya emizindi ebiri." Meaning a child present to support, is profited twice, I moved into the doctor's room. I could see not the badly off  wearily waiting but also those waiting outside being nursed as if they had scans in their pockets. The doctor seemed to care and followed me to Mr. Aine's expecting pregnant wife who was groaning and fighting pangs. He was referred to Willings Clinic.

Everything from Kalwi Health center seemed to have shifted to Kalwi Clinic, Dr. Twerwaneho had referred me to the same clinic, claiming there was no medicine at Kalwi Health Center. In the clinic, tablets branded "NOT FOR SALE" were sold expensively to desperate patients. Microscopes engraved Kalwi Health Center. Less bothered, I recognised Mr. Aine again sitting in mass bloody tears. He narrated to me how his wife and the unborn baby died after all nurses and midwives neglected her that she had to first pay the hospital bills. This time I felt like doing something but I did not know where to start from. I had no how and where to report such a scenario in that students like me even fear the police.

There was this time at school when girls had to go for the cervix cancer vaccination at Kalwi health center. We were sitting three people on a bench with one fine lady dressed in an off-shoulder gown that made her look like "Queen Abenakyo". As Dr. Twerwaneho was passingby,, the " Abenakyo" smartly scanned her wallet and removed a fifty thousand shillings note, with a dashing personality, she arrogantly smiled and gave it to Dr. Twerwaneho. With a leopard- like grace, the "Abenakyo" followed the doctor to his room. A man next to me brought an argument about the doctor's daring- do personality. He said students should be given a chance to write articles to the media, do speeches addressing such issues without being threatened or penalised, "Otamanya mutungi aima omwana" literally and by context  meaning that if young people's potential is not undermined, they can do much more to address such evil acts. The day went on with more propaganda, missing lessons for the whole day and the vaccine as well. After all, people with speaking pockets had to be worked on first.

Back home, a scuffle of anger folded my heart. Getting a COVID-19 jab was more expensive than life during the COVID-19 outbreak. At Kalwi health center, finding thirty people and being the a thousandth to be vaccinated. People would come in cars; enter the doctor's room as thousands of us kept waiting. It was a team from higher authorities that came inspecting and saved us. My anger had aroused that I was nearly depressed. After all, "empazi emwe terwanisa igana." Meaning, one red aunt cannot fight a hundred.  I wrote a note and gave it to one of the inspectors who told me he was Inspector Brian. Police officers were sent to Willings Clinic with medical officials to monitor the place. Unexpectedly, it was said the clinic was found in a fine state. A month later, a team inspected Willings Clinic at no one’s expectation. Books at the clinic had forged records of deceased patients, expired drugs and medical equipment of Kalwi HC found in that private clinic. 

I got to realise Albert Eistein was sincere in his quotation, "The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything." Students have seen a lot of things happening but their voices are not amplified. The government needs to work hand in hand communities to raise such voices and get to learn from them. Months later, I received a letter from Sir Brian. I did not laugh at all, I cried with happiness. Dr. Twerwaneho had been charged as expected. Helping students experience the reasonability and satisfaction of serving should be a major concern for educators. This will crack the "where it comes from". Stressing the crux of my cry sophism is draining our professionalism", this comes after having observed most Ugandans trying to divert their professional demands to lame, invalid and selfish advocacy just to confuse the public, especially the young. 

 

We shall identify the different sophism in our vocations, tracking back the nature of sophists in ancient philosophy, these were the people who availed their services because of money. Graduates are failing in their in their areas of interest and training because the philosophy they carried in their academic formation was money oriented not service-oriented. It cannot be a shaggy-dog's-end if we stand together to harass such trees whose branches are of an immeasurable length: spreading everywhere; and the dew that drops from thence hath infecting some chairs and tools of authority. Not blind opposition to progress, but opposition to blind progress. "Omwoga mubi n'okwiba n'okuroga;" Stealing and bewitching is a bad habit and so, is corruption. 

Written by: 

Joan Byonanebye

Student - Ntungamo High School 

Senior Five