“Let Me Eat My Salary”: Kazibwe Bashir Explains Political Silence, Citing Ssegirinya Arrest
Kawempe South MP Says Survival Lies in Quietly Serving Term, Claims Public is “Preoccupied”
KAMPALA – Kawempe South Member of Parliament, Kazibwe Bashir, has publicly declared a strategy of political silence as his chosen method of survival within the current government, citing the arrest of his colleague, Hon. Muhammad Ssegirinya, as a pivotal moment that shaped his approach.
The controversial statements were made during a public gathering in his constituency over the weekend, sparking a mix of criticism and sympathy from political commentators and the public alike.
According to Bashir, the incarceration of Hon. Ssegirinya, the MP for Kawempe North who has been detained on terrorism and murder charges since 2021, served as a stark warning. He described sitting down to reflect on the situation and concluding that outspoken criticism could lead to similar repercussions.
“I sat down and realized that the best way to survive in this govt is to be silent,” Bashir stated bluntly. “I said let me eat my salary for 5 years and quietly leave active politics after all Ugandans are in bars and having sex.”
The phrase “eat my salary” is a local colloquialism meaning to collect one’s earnings without making waves or engaging in strenuous effort. His concluding remark, suggesting the electorate is too distracted by leisure to notice political inaction, has drawn particular ire.
Opponents were quick to condemn the remarks. “This is the highest level of betrayal of the electorate,” said a spokesperson for the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP). “People voted for him to be their voice, not to go to parliament, enjoy a salary, and remain silent while they suffer. His comments are not only cowardly but also deeply insulting to the citizens he claims to represent.”
However, some political analysts see Bashir’s candor as a grim reflection of the perceived political realities for dissenting voices in Uganda. “While his wording is crude and unacceptable, he is verbalizing a silent calculation many young politicians feel they are forced to make: conform or be crushed,” argued political analyst Gerald Mwanga. “The arrest of figures like Ssegirinya casts a long shadow.”
Efforts to get a further comment from Hon. Kazibwe Bashir were unsuccessful. His declaration raises questions about representation and the challenges faced by legislators who fear that activism could come at a great personal cost.
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