The end always reigns supreme over the means

Ethics is a broad philosophical debate and not necessarily a subject for any and everybody as is expected of everything philosophy.

So if at the end of this piece you find that you did not understand me do not be too hard on yourself you are not alone.

But you should stay till the end because that is one way of breaking a mental barrier after all. In simplistic terms ethics is broadly what ought to be done in places where dilemmas present themselves.

An ethical dilemma is a complex matter where simplicities in terms of suggestions that are incognisant and alien to context have no place.

I am very sure that when Matia Kasaija’s “honourable colleague”, he himself chose to refer to her thus who am I to change that appellation here and now, Betty Amongi came to the Bamugemereire commission there was an ethical dilemma from the onset.

This is why I am not about to think that I shall listen to many lectures on the modus operandi of the Lady Justice Catherine Bamugemereire.

By the way I am told that the Lady Justice’s surname loosely means: having been assisted or supported. Given what she is up to attempt to solve she was named right.

One MUST  know that in ethics we have an old age debate between  deontological and theological approaches ethics.

The former  being on whether the means are more important that the end and the later suggesting that the end ought to take precedence over the means to it.

For me the two cannot and should not be handled in absolute terms we have to employ context to their application where dilemmas come to us.

Let me bring this home. We have a dilemma in this county on the matter of how to deal with those who are response for the mess all over Uganda’s land.

They are largely responsible for much of our problems.

We also have to know that they are powerful and do not like to be embarrassed at least not publicly.

They will do any and everything to avoid that since they want to pass off as clean, moral, and ethical civil and public servants.

These pilfers and in some case ruffians have learned how to beat regular means and structures of catching them. FACT…You have as well to understand how much impunity they have and how well connected these people are.

They have acted in ways that have derailed the lives of many Ugandans and they really do not care that much about it anymore .

So if these sorts of people start to complain about the means being used to handle them we have to ask why are they complaining?

Could it be that they have started to face conditions they have no control over? May be this is what we need to deal with them in way they can’t control.

They will beat you in courts and walk through the police at will. I am not sure they have earned the moral and ethical right yet to complain.

Besides, unlike a court room the commission does its on backend investigations before it makes its invitations.

So each time you see these people appearing they have been very well chosen. Let me now get to matters of means.

What is wrong with getting angry over something that causes anger even if you are an honourable judge?

Are we here to accuse someone of being angry that impunity and abuse of office is before them?

How do you see what she has seen and you care as much as she does and you do not get as angry as she gets?

In a country where too many in public office no longer care about this nation being plundered I am not sure we want to blame one who shows they care?

What is unethical about caring and doing so with emotion?

This is not a court of law and it does not work like one so what is this hullabaloo about one not conducting oneself with the decorum of a court room when we are in a commission room?

For me the end is what matters here not how Lady Justice Catherine Bamugemereire gets to that end.

I am a student of theology and I know of an incident in which Jesus the Lord of Love and Mercy picked up a cane and whipped thieves out of the Temple.

Should we question the actions of our lord which do not seem to be in tandem with the very nature of a God of mercy and love?

But are we to suggest then that we know more than God and therefore we can choose for him the most appropriate modus operandi?

I think we must throw our weight behind this very passionate lady.

I am going to stand by her methods for as long as they continue to expose these to conditions they cannot control and to let their children and kin know that they have no right to brag as hard working Ugandans who have obtained wealth by means moral and means ethical.

On this one I am in full support of teleological ethics.