By SP Rwakahangi Araali
Please allow me address my concerns about the increasing growth of violence in Tooro football in vivid evidence of matches between St Leo’s Kyegobe, Nyakasura, Mpanga, Kahinju among others where there used to be notorious orchestrations of violence. During their matches, business in town would come to a standstill, rival schools could hurt each other, people would be robbed and in some cases it led to death.
First of all, Sports is not limited to the practice of physical activities. It is in fact, a recreational activity where a healthy lifestyle is promoted, through physical and mental development. It is an activity during which individuals converge to improve their social skills, strengthen cultural values and adapt to rules. That’s why April 6, was set aside by the United Nations (UN) as the International Day of Sports for Development and Peace, with the aim of recognizing the contribution of sports to the realization of peace through promotion of tolerance and respect. As the eighth Secretary-General of the UN Ban Ki-moon states: “Sport promotes health and well-being. It fosters tolerance, mutual understanding and peace. … It empowers, inspires and unites.” Nonetheless, the massive appeal of sport makes it a social phenomenon, where the context in which it is developed determines the behaviours and actions of its followers, in particular when it involves youth. In this sense, social context greatly defines whether a sporting spectacle actually contributes to peace or incites violence and in this case I’ll limit myself to Tooro Province Super fans.
Around the world, football fans organize themselves into fans’ clubs (Abahagizi, in Rutooro), that aim at following and encouraging their team. These Bahagizi (fans), not only share preferences for a particular football team, but also find identity and fraternity with it. These feelings however, if taken to the extreme, can make passion, euphoria and unconditionally result into vandalism. In this case, If there’s vandalism or any form of violence orchestrated by the fans of Tooro Province instigated by the leaders of Tooro Province super fans, a police case can be opened on accounts of;
(a) Inciting people to cause violence and bodily harm
(b) Defamation
(c) Robbery
(d) Attempted murder
As you can all see, all those crimes could be well prosecuted in Ugandan courts. This means that as a deterrent factor, the leaders of Tooro Province Super fans and some loyal fans could be prosecuted or barred from participating in any Football activities that involve Tooro Province.
In order to avoid all this, I encourage the use of the right channels in seeking accountability and the law must be followed to the letter. In this case, where the Constitution might not show the procedures it’s better to appoint a mutual arbitrator to handle that or open a civil suit against the directors of Tooro Province. Violence is so bad and its consequences are regrettable. Also, remember ignorance of the law isn’t defence. Let’s keep the Tooro flag high.
For God and my Country
