After watching a song by one Ugandan musician (Mega dee) campaigning against the so called ‘tear gas’, I felt it is high time to add my voice to this menace to the society.Some body should talk to the police boss in Uganda, Gen. Kayihura about this. Ugandans should be allowed to express their frustrations through demonstrations without any hindrance.
C.S spray commonly called tear gas was first synthesized by Corson and Staughton in 1928, hence the initials C.S. Ugandans are fed up with tear gas as the chemicals in tear gas irritate the skin, eyes and upper respiratory tract and they also activate the lachrymal glands.
C.S spray used by the police forces contain a 5% solution of C.S in a solvent of Meythl Isobutyl Ketone, this solvent is flammable. Nitrogen is used as the propellant. Meythl Isobutyl Ketone is potentially irritating to the eyes and on contact with the skin may cause a tingling sensation, irritation,erythema, drying and flaking and in severe cases blistering. The effects of the propellant and the solvent may last for up to 8 hours and persist for anything up to a week.
If water comes into contact with clothing contaminated with tear gas, it may cause the gas to evaporate further and may affect the skin. That is why i’m not surprised that the leader of the FDC,Dr.Kiiza Besigye, has got red eyes most of the time. This may be a combination of the tear gas and water effects.The police in Uganda should go easy on tear gas as some times they just spread it carelessly whenever there is a demonstration in the city. This is a dangerous substance which should be less used.
If Ugandans are demonstrating against something worth it like Mabila, they should be given demarcated areas to demonstrate instead of tear- gassing them unnecessary. Why is there tear gas every time there is demonstration in Kampala? We should encourage Ugandans to express their disagreements and frustrations against the government using these means instead of driving
them to other expensive means. We should not ban people who wish to demonstrate b’se it is their constitutional right and Gen Kayihula as a lawyer, he should know this very well. Recently, we saw a picture of ‘Nkoba zambogo’ Men in the Bukedde with wounds on their heads because of their
demonstrations against Balalo in Kiboga, and it was really touching. What is going on?
