By Robert Asiimwe.
On Twitter, Uganda’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Adonia Ayebare, criticized Winnie Byanyima for advocating for her husband, Dr. Kizza Besigye, who is currently incarcerated in Luzira Prison and being tried in a military court martial. Ayebare’s claim, that Byanyima’s position as a UN staff member requires her silence on matters he deems “political,” is not only misguided but also a gross misinterpretation of the UN Code of Conduct and her role.
This critique demands a deeper look at the difference in their roles, the misinterpretation of UN policies, and the troubling culture of silencing voices of justice.
Adonia Ayebare serves as Uganda’s Permanent Representative to the UN. His role is to advocate for Uganda’s foreign policy interests and represent the state in global decision-making. This is inherently a political role tied to Uganda’s government and its positions.
In contrast, Winnie Byanyima is the Executive Director of UNAIDS, a specialized UN agency focused on ending HIV/AIDS globally. Her mandate is health-oriented and advocacy-driven, tackling inequalities and promoting human rights in the context of healthcare. Unlike Ayebare, Byanyima’s work is humanitarian in nature, addressing global health challenges and far removed from Uganda’s domestic politics.
The key difference is clear: Ayebare’s role is tied to state politics, while Byanyima’s is focused on global health and justice. Critiquing Byanyima for advocating for her husband ignores the personal and humanitarian scope of her advocacy.
Ayebare’s assertion that Byanyima’s position demands silence misrepresents the UN Code of Conduct. While UN employees are required to maintain impartiality in their professional duties, they are not prohibited from expressing personal views or advocating for justice in their private capacity.
The UN Code of Conduct explicitly allows:
1. Expression in Personal Capacity: UN staff can voice opinions and engage in advocacy as private individuals, provided it does not interfere with their professional responsibilities.
2. Advocacy for Human Rights: UN staff are encouraged to uphold the principles of justice, equality, and human dignity, even in their personal lives.
Byanyima’s actions align with the UN’s core values of human rights and equality. Her advocacy for Dr. Besigye is consistent with her long-standing fight for justice and does not violate any UN standards.
Byanyima’s advocacy is not political—it is moral. Her actions reflect a commitment to justice and human dignity, values that transcend any professional title. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Byanyima’s stance is a reminder that silence in the face of oppression is complicity.
To demand that she remain quiet because of her role at the UN is not just an attack on her personally but a broader attempt to silence those who dare to challenge systemic injustices. This argument is bogus and designed to deter others from speaking out.
Ayebare’s critique exposes troubling double standards. Would he hold the same view if a Western diplomat or UN official advocated for justice in their home country? Or is this standard only applied to Ugandans who challenge oppressive systems?
As Desmond Tutu rightly pointed out, “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” Ayebare’s comments reflect a failure to confront the injustices that Byanyima’s advocacy highlights.
Criticizing Byanyima for standing up for her husband ignores the personal toll and courage it takes to advocate for justice in a system that punishes dissent. Her actions serve as a reminder that those who fight for justice often do so at great personal risk.
To silence her voice is to silence the very principles of freedom and equality that the UN—and humanity at large—should uphold.
To Adonia Ayebare and others who share his sentiments: If advocating for justice makes you uncomfortable, it’s time to question your position. The greatest danger to freedom is not the loud critic but the silent observer who normalizes injustice.
Winnie Byanyima’s courage and integrity exemplify the leadership we need today. As Mahatma Gandhi once said, “You may never know what results come of your actions, but if you do nothing, there will be no result.”
Byanyima’s advocacy reminds us that justice is not political; it is a moral imperative. It is better to stand on the side of truth and justice than to cower in silence or conformity. Her voice is a beacon of hope in a world that often seeks to stifle those who challenge the status quo.
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