GULU, Uganda — Veteran politician and former UN Under-Secretary-General Olara Otunnu has delivered a sobering message to Ugandans: stop admiring the surface and start checking the real “vital signs” of the country.
Speaking on NBS Morning Breeze on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, Otunnu challenged both citizens and leaders to move beyond general observations and honestly examine the health of Uganda’s democracy and governance.
“We cannot behold the state of the country broadly,” he said. “We have to look at the vital signs. What is the state of our democracy — of which democracy is only one aspect?”
The veteran opposition figure painted a picture of a nation that appears stable on the outside but is showing worrying signs when examined closely. He pointed to shrinking political space, weakened institutions, widespread youth unemployment, growing inequality, and a justice system that many citizens no longer trust.
Otunnu, who has served as President of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) and previously as a senior UN official, warned that ignoring these vital signs could lead to deeper crises.
“When a doctor looks at a patient, he doesn’t just say ‘the patient looks okay’. He checks the pulse, the blood pressure, the temperature, the heart rate,” he explained. “Similarly, we must check the vital signs of our democracy and our society.”
His comments come at a time of heightened political tension following the January 2026 general elections, continued debates over opposition leaders like Bobi Wine currently operating from abroad, and growing public frustration over economic hardships and governance issues.
Otunnu called on all Ugandans — regardless of political affiliation — to engage in honest national introspection rather than political grandstanding.
“We need a national conversation that is truthful, not cosmetic,” he stressed. “Only then can we begin to heal and rebuild the country we all want.”
The interview on NBS Morning Breeze quickly sparked reactions online, with many users praising Otunnu’s calm but firm diagnosis of the country’s challenges, while others accused him of being too critical of the current government.
As Uganda continues to navigate its complex political journey, Olara Otunnu’s call to “check the vital signs” has struck a chord with many who feel the nation needs deeper reflection and genuine reform.
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