A Loss May Be a Disguised Victory
- Category: Inner Happiness
- Date 28-02-2026
- 133 views
Few people can understand that a victory may be disguised as a loss. When a person experiences a setback, the natural reaction is to feel sad, complain and seek restitution. Many people feel flattened and dejected when they meet disappointment. Yet it is necessary and possible to realise triumph from a seeming deficit. In fact, the Scripture teaches that human vulnerability is compensated by divine power and thus calls for a spirit of resilience and persistence. Hence, St Paul proclaims, “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed but not driven to despair; persecuted but not forsaken; struck down but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9).
Sometimes, a victory appears on the surface, while it is a defeat underneath. True victory is not just the attainment of a goal; it must also meet spiritual, moral and social standards. Fake victory results from vulgar actions namely oppression, corruption, exploitation, suppression, and deceit. It lacks integrity.
The recent elections in Uganda demonstrated how a fabricated victory manifests clearly as a material failure while an ostensible defeat radiates as a victory. It started with the abduction and incarceration of Dr Kizza Besigye as he began to organise his nascent political party, People’s Front for Freedom (PFF). Then followed the nomination of Robert Kyagulanyi of the National Unity Platform (NUP) - and others - to contest for presidency. While the former stayed in detention, the latter hit the campaign trail with armed forces blocking roads to curtail his movements, dispersing his rallies and arresting supporters.
Whereas Dr Besigye remained imprisoned and unable to question anything, the regime minions endlessly explained his imprisonment. Eventually as the incumbent president was declared winner of the elections, armed forces descended on theprivate home of the ‘vanquished’ NUP candidate, tortured his wife, vandalised property and arrested his various regional deputies. Instead of celebrations, the elections triggered actions meant to discourage and frighten sympathisers and followers of opposition politicians. What a paradox that the assumed winner could not settle and celebrate! The victory lacked integrity.
It is difficult to defend a victory arising from a process marred by irregularities such ballot stuffing, bribery and harassment of opponents and their agents. It is said that an ill-gotten victory is usually hollow; it corrodes the ‘winner’ and diminishes his esteem, which in turn breeds suspicion and mistrust and triggers hostility to rationalise how he won.
Victory or defeat cannot be defined narrowly in terms of the declared results; the integrity of the process matters too, lack of which keeps the ‘victor’ haunted and hostile to the stakeholders. With the benefit of time, therefore, what looks like ‘defeat’ clearly becomes a victory when zoomed out to see what it gives other than what it takes from the ‘vanquished’. By withstandingharsh circumstances, the presumed ‘loser’ pays a price and receives value as his integrity and confidence endure.
True defeat comes when the protagonist surrenders. The one who retains integrity may suffer material loss but win morally when he refuses to compromise his dignity. St James advocates for increased devotion to a good cause even though there may be difficulties because “… the testing of your faith produces perseverance” (James 1:3). A person who maintains a sense of integrity and humanity always wins, no matter how hard and long the struggle may be.
By Venansio Ahabwe
Author, Teacher, Social Scientist.
Source: Leadership Magazine
Publication Date: January - February 2026
Read more at: https://www.venansioahabwe.com