By Joseph Mazige
Oct 12, 2003
IGANGA- The Resident District Commissioner, here, Mr Francis Batinti has ordered police to investigate a school that sang a song critical of the Movement government and all past regimes, during independence celebrations on Thursday.
The October 9 celebrations were held at Iganga Town Council Primary School. In their song, pupils of Iganga Junior School said that 41 years since Uganda became independent, the country had not moved forward but was instead retrogressing.
The children enumerated many problems they are faced with, including lack of school fees and poor living standards of their parents.
After the song, many people in the audience commented that what the children had sang, indeed, was the reality and that the government should address the plight of children.
However, the message in the song didn't go down well with the RDC, who had presided over the celebrations as chief guest.
Batinti stunned his audience when he stood up and ordered the Police to investigate the background of the song. He said the song was bad and was one way of sowing seeds of discord and hatred among the young children.
He also condemned the school heads for coming up with such a song instead of forging unity under the leadership of the present government.
Batinti's phone was off air, when Sunday Monitor sought his comment, Saturday.
However, members of the Democratic Party, Iganga branch have protested the said probe, saying the RDC acted emotionally and was exercising dictatorship.
The Friday press release signed by the branch secretary, Mr Zakalia Kabba, said it was unfortunate that Batinti had taken such action.
Sources at Iganga Police Station told Sunday Monitor that investigations had already started and the choir mistress, whose name could not readily be given, had already recorded a statement at police.
Sunday Monitor failed to get a comment from the district police commander, Mr Elisam Mugisha, and the OC CID, Mr Solomon Kyamaywa. They were reportedly out of office when this reporter visited the police.
� 2003 The Monitor Publications
