Media personality Andrew Kyamagero has criticised institutions for allegedly dismissing people who raise concerns about governance and corruption, arguing that such actions can delay accountability and increase the eventual cost of addressing wrongdoing.
Kyamagero made the remarks while reflecting on the ongoing controversy surrounding Uganda’s digital number plate programme, citing Ronaldo Amanyire as an example of an individual who, he said, had raised concerns about the matter years ago.
According to Kyamagero, Amanyire’s warnings were not given the attention they deserved at the time, with some people allegedly dismissing him as a bitter person, hater or nuisance.
“Many dismissed him as a bitter man, a hater, or a nuisance. Today, we act as though this reality arrived overnight,” Kyamagero said.
He argued that the reaction to the digital number plate saga should prompt a broader discussion about how institutions respond to criticism, particularly when allegations involve powerful individuals or government systems.
Kyamagero said institutional corruption can persist when authorities focus on the character of those raising concerns instead of investigating the substance of their claims.
He maintained that people who question government decisions or highlight possible wrongdoing should not automatically be treated as opponents.
“A nation that silences those who question power should never be surprised when accountability arrives late and at a far greater cost,” he said.
Kyamagero further argued that corruption should not be viewed as the country's only institutional weakness, saying the failure to listen to and protect people who speak out can allow problems to grow unchecked.
“Our greatest weakness is not corruption itself. It is our habit of sacrificing truth-tellers to protect systems that later fail us all,” he said.
His comments come amid public scrutiny of the digital number plate project, with questions surrounding its implementation and broader governance implications continuing to attract attention.
Kyamagero called for institutions to respond to uncomfortable claims through investigations rather than personal attacks.
“Strong nations do not fear uncomfortable voices. They investigate them,” he said, adding that weak institutions tend to personalise criticism instead of confronting the issues being raised.
He also warned that the failure to act on early concerns could have consequences for those responsible for ignoring them.
“History is unforgiving. It remembers those who warned, those who ignored, and those who applauded the silence,” Kyamagero said.