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The Black Monday Movement

Take Off Cruise Landing!


The Black Monday Learning Journey
and Way Forward

An Overview of the BMM


Journey
Take Off (a lot of energy and visibility)

Period between Nov 2012 and August 2013


A lot of public action everywhere
The movement perhaps most visible

Cruise (stable, safe and in the sky)

Period between September 2013 to about now


Flagship product sustained but less public action and
so not so visible

Landing (almost same as take-off)

We must prepare for its landing in 2015


We must make the pre-election year count and get a
strong compact and renewed commitment

Where it all begun!


At HURINET on
November 12th 2012,
several CSOs decided
to close shop for a day
It was unprecedented
by NGOs in Uganda
At the end of that week,
the Black Monday
Movement was born,
also at HURINET

What it is really about


Misconceptions
It is a political party and
interested in capturing
power
Started by Bishop Zac
because he has
presidential ambitions
It is a donor-driven
agenda and thus a
conduit for foreign
interests in Uganda
Black is evil, it is bad
and satanic

On the Contrary
Inclusive citizen movement, non
partisan but certainly political
Inclusive citizen movement all are
invited - religious, political, nonaligned, ALL
False and diversionary. There is no
known proposal funded by donors
on black Monday although we have
benefited from overall donor
programming against corruption
Black is about reclaiming the
dignity of black but also sign of
mourning losses to corruption!

No Relenting on objective
Overall objective is to
mobilize (information,
action, challenge)
citizens to mount a
sustained assault against
the injustice of corruption
for the dignity of all

Until we see decisive


and more compelling
action against corruption,
we shall not rest!

Our Rallying Calls


1. Wear Black everyday as a sign of our resolve
and speak to at least 5 Ugandans about dangers
of corruption and actions needed
2. Shun corruption for it starts with you so that you
have the moral authority to remove the peck
3. Isolate all thieves and denounce them wherever
you encounter them
4. Boycott all businesses and enterprises of the
corrupt - supermarkets, petrol stations, shops,
etc

The Experience:
Excitement & Challenges in Equal Measure
Excitement
Citizen centred and not
usual suspects

Challenges
Logistical which
hampered outreach

Unconventional in
conception and practice:
bubbles, in police cells or
offices

Misconception about
the brand and essence
of the movement

Interference in our
Young People at the
actions and diversion
forefront of innovation and
of both our and media
ideas
attention (e.g. arrests)

Achievements: Looking Within


Black Monday for a while became the undisputed
face of a citizen led anti corruption movement

Commendable citizen outreach for a difficult and


potentially risky campaign
Outreach to audiences previously not targeted
(students, police, children, church-goers, market
venders, etc)
Building Resilience, overcoming fear and winning
allies within security agencies
Unprecedented CSO commitment and action is
being sustained

All Involved
Unlike other
NGO campaigns
where the
agenda is about
staff working in
governance or
advocacy, all
NGO staff have
embraced!
We are citizens
first, then NGO
workers after

Beyond Streets and Hotels in Kampala:


We are on the move
Wakiso is in

And Rukunjiri

Karamoja will not be left behind


The Black Monday Movement flagship product has gone far
and wide! Above a Karimojong woman explains the essence to
others

Regardless of the venue of the meeting, the people


of Mityana wont be left behind and know they
have an important role to play!!

They too appear awed and excited


about the prospects!!

Getting the Messaging Right!!!

Innovations to Reach Out and Wake


them Up!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVGAm3Z9Jh0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjmD2_PCTZY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ps58oDd4s6s

But these too must wake up!!!

Achievements - Looking Out:


Unprecedented Media Attention!
BBC - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-24228425
Exposed http://www.exposed2013.com/latest/news/44-black-monday-movement-uganda
UnWanted Witness - http://unwantedwitness.or.ug/category/black-monday/

Uganda Picks - http://www.ugandapicks.com/tag/black-monday-movement


Acholi Times http://acholitimes.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1516%3Aintriguethreatens-service-delivery-in-pader&catid=8%3Aacholi-news&Itemid=101
The Independent - http://www.independent.co.ug/ugandatalks/2013/07/investigate-black-mondayactivists-and-ngo%E2%80%99s-kayihura/
Chimp Reports http://chimpreports.com/index.php/news/8098-police-instructs-%E2%80%9Cblackmonday%E2%80%9D-movement-to-shun-%E2%80%9Cill-intentioned%E2%80%9Dpoliticians.html
The Ballad - http://balladmedia.com/?q=content/government-wrong-black-monday
Lens - http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2013/03/23/charges-dropped-against-ugandan-anticorruption-campaigner/

Cooperation with the Police?

Some Hotels have been brave

Religious Leaders Standing in


Solidarity

senior citizens go black too!!


Black Monday Be the Change - Ambassadors
voicing their reasons for joining the Black
Monday Movement
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6U6ybrdEQpo

Changing the Discourse


Theft becoming a more impactful concept
Stolen Money
Even the President knows there are thieves and
whispered to Kagame that his cabinet is full of
??
The Media says time is running out for thieves

Corruption is about stealing, robbing and looting


And in our culture when you are a thief, whether
of chicken in Yumbe or a necklace in Owino
Market - what happens?

A United Front in diversity?


Everyone is playing their part differently and
to some good effect!
Black Monday and Citizen Outreach
The AG, IGG, CID and investigations, etc
Donors are taking their own actions with some
positive effect
The media has played its part in amplifying
the voice
We are different but united on this one!

Black Monday a Ugandan


Export

CIVICUS - https://socs.civicus.org/?p=3832
University of IOWA http://international.uiowa.edu/accents/post/keyugandan-anti-corruption-activist-will-speak-ui-sept23
Resources For Life http://www.resourcesforlife.com/docs/item8510
Civil Society in Malawi take Black Monday to
another level
http://www.nyasatimes.com/2013/11/23/malawicsos-say-wrong-to-associate-black-monday-withsatanism/#.UpG940mj3fA.email

What have we learnt?


Leadership is most critical as it shapes
culture and behaviour below (exemplary,
consistent, decisive, real belief and passion)
Corruption is a tired and in fact a corrupt
concept and the idea of theft greatly resonates,
even if challenging!
Yes it starts with you! Be the change you want
to be and start by cleaning your house and self!
Getting the balance right! Like drug under or
over-doze or high and low blood pressure, the
intensity must be right.

Lessons Continued
Resilience and determination is key!
Overcome fear and turn challenges into
opportunities in the market, church or police cells
A lot of listening and reform happens in
closed spaces - converse with a donor, a
minister and business people!
There is some disconnect between the rural
and urban with regards to corruption (service
delivery and aid cuts)
Not all can be at the frontline - cheerleaders,
back watchers, silent supporters, etc

and finally
Not everyone supports this campaign and
will draw all sorts of criticisms
But above all we are proudly playing our
part and ask of them what they are doing for it
is easy to criticise and complain, but doing
something is critical

for you may never know of the results


that come of your actions, but if you do
nothing, there will be no result!!

Looking Forward to the Future


Have a strong rural focussed agenda and so we
must have a step down product that relates to
local issues
The Anti-Corruption Caravan has been very
useful in this regard
Celebrate Icons of Integrity and showcase what
is being done to avoid over-doze of bad news
All this effort must count for something when
Ugandans decide who leads them in the post
2016 epoch at all levels - make this a central
issue in 2015

Re-invigorate the BMM?


There has been a dip in the last 6 months with
several explanations: take-off, cruise and landing
theory
There have been some purely logistical
challenges to take forward some innovations
such as diverse IEC materials (flagship and step
down product)
Black Monday Charter for the 2015 pre-election
period and profile how different leaders and
parties will approach theft of public funds!
Strengthen an online platform with passionate IT
persons --- opportunity in the I Paid a Bribe

Support neededbut with caution!!


Black Monday is a brand under threat especially by
security and so direct support will attract backlash
There have been some purely logistical challenges to
take forward some innovations such as diverse IEC
materials (flagship and step down products) and so
funding for these will help but perhaps we need to
Create a strategic fund that can be leveraged by and
oriented to support an elaborate urban - rural
infrastructure within existing programmes and not a
BMM Proposal
Dont look at the BMM as a project. We need to
strengthen innovations in movement building

Civil Societys Competitive Advantage


An elaborate infrastructure from national to district and
sub-county but with potential to go deeper beyond preoccupation with decision making levels and spaces!
For the last 4-6 years there has been a more purposeful
focus by civil society on the critical question of building
citizenship and conscientization as opposed to the tired
concept of awareness raising
CSOs emerging as an important player in a politically
polarised terrain. FFE Campaign, Oil legislation. Not
without problems but increasingly trusted to move
things
Accountability questions exist in civil society but
resurgent commitment to internal accountability and

Some caution on civil society


Project mind-set and yet what we need now are less
projects but more strategic organising
Deepening survival instincts (including mission
creep) in an increasingly difficult political
(polarization and self-censorship) and funding
environment (narrowing range of options and this
sometimes fuels unnecessary competition)
Extremely diverse and sometimes this leaves a lot
needed to build consensus on approach and
strategy
Leadership renewal and the question of transition

Yes we have challenges but

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