opinion 7 April 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Silent Complicity: When Injustice Normalizes, Judgment Starts with Us
Andrew Rugasira draws from the biblical story in Judges to argue that normalized injustice implicates not just perpetrators but also those who silently enable it through inaction. In Uganda and beyond, he urges confronting corruption and moral decay before it's too late. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/oped/commentary/the-judgment-of-the-silent-5415468
Silent Complicity: When Injustice Normalizes, Judgment Starts with Us
Andrew Rugasira, a social entrepreneur and author, reflects on a biblical account from Judges Chapter 20. There, a Levite’s concubine suffers brutal abuse and death in Gibeah, part of Benjamin’s territory. Israel’s tribes demand justice, but Benjamin shields the culprits, sparking civil war.
Before battle, Israel seeks divine guidance and is told: ‘Judah first.’ Judah hadn’t committed the crime but had allowed the rot to fester nearby through silence. Leaders prioritized comfort over truth, enabling sin to take root.
Rugasira applies this to modern times. When injustice like corruption becomes routine, blame extends beyond wrongdoers to the silent observers. In Uganda, it’s openly acknowledged yet tolerated—pastors soften criticism for influence, businesses bend rules for profit, citizens prioritize safety over protest.
This pattern isn’t unique to Uganda. Globally, societies erode when people lose the will to self-correct. Even superpowers risk hubris, as seen in escalating U.S.-Israel-Iran tensions, where unchecked power invites catastrophe.
Judgment acts as a mirror, revealing personal compromises before punishing overt evil. Christians must live coherently, rejecting selective outrage. Corruption thrives on everyday accommodations, not just elite greed.
Decline isn’t inevitable. Now is the time to examine ourselves, repent, and realign with truth—‘Judah first’ as an invitation, not condemnation.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)