Dr. Ayub Mukisa: When the Abnormal Becomes Normal: Morality and Vulgarity in Uganda — A Rejoinder

What the report says

Watchdog Uganda published a rejoinder by Dr. Ayub Mukisa, identified as executive director of the Karamoja Anti-Corruption Coalition (KACC), responding to an earlier Watchdog News opinion piece on morality and vulgar language in Uganda. The article was posted on 12 October 2026 and references a 5 October 2026 essay by Dr. Nestor Basemera titled “Bye-Bye Morals, Welcome Vulgarity: Uganda’s New Normal.”

In the response, Mukisa and the KACC’s Department for Critical Thinking and Alternative Analysis argue that vulgar speech, personal insults and hostile online exchanges have become more common in public debate. The piece says these trends deserve serious attention and suggests that disagreement should be expressed through reasoned argument rather than abusive language. It also points to examples of public settings, including taxi parks and online platforms, where coarse language is said to be increasingly normalized.

The article cites Prof. Benson K. Wambari’s description of morality as a framework of values and rules that helps guide behavior and social relations. Building on that idea, the KACC calls on Ugandan government agencies responsible for ethics and morality to develop practical measures that promote respectful communication and restore moral values. The commentary is part of a broader public discussion in Uganda about speech, conduct and social standards, though the post itself remains an opinion response rather than a news report.