{UAH} BESIGYE IS THE REAL LORD MAYOR

Wordsmith columnist, Tony Owana (of UBC) had an article in Red Pepper
of Tuesday, July 16, 2013 headlined: 4GC UNLEASHES PUBLIC NUISANCE
AGAINST GOD in which he creatively attempts to set apart the office of
Lord Mayor of Kampala from the person of Mr. Erias Lukwago. To
complete the feat, he seasons the piece with the name of Col. Dr.
Kizza Besigye, the FDC titan whose presence in Kampala redirects
attention.

Mr. Owana avers that the above referred to Lukwago has succumbed to a
spell thereby desecrating the hallowed post of Lord Mayor. Lukwago's
predecessor, Mr. Nasser Ntege Ssebaggala, also holds this view but let
nobody get carried away.

Lukwago, in fact, is too fond of the Lord Mayor and wouldn't bring
disrepute to him. Because the real designation-holder is, Dr. Kiiza
Besigye! Lukwago must feel like a fluke whenever he isn't gallivanting
with Besigye in the LORD MAYOR-registered official station wagon.

The pricey machine serves doubly; as a conveyance machine and as a
safety bulldozer owing to its handy corporate image and delicate make
when security gurus decide that its occupants are up to some mischief.
Riding in the car is not what really makes Besigye the unspoken Lord
Mayor. The other day he stated that he is the President of Kampala,
with reference to results declared by the Electoral Commission in
2011, which showed that he garnered a majority electoral mandate. For
once, the picky Colonel believed in Prof. Kiggundu.

But then, there is no provision for "President of Kampala" anywhere in
the official books. That should only happen if the diminutive city is
curved out as a separate Republic, elections held and Besigye races.
Lukwago would possibly be his campaign manager, and with backing from
allies such as "cross-border" MPs Betty Nambooze (Mukono
Municipality-DP), Ssemujju Nganda (Kyaddondo East-FDC), Matthias
Mpuuga (Masaka Municipality-DP), it would come easy. Prior to that
administrative review, he is the unsworn President, or Lord Mayor, for
context.

Except for one glitch! They run a brand of defiance which is impulsive
and could set them against one another sooner. None seems to be pound
by formal codes. Lukwago is partyless (independent), Besigye is an FDC
free-winger while Nambooze is DP to which she was lured by Lukwago
before he abandoned her there. If their home parties demanded absolute
reverence from their members, the "coalition" would scatter.

Due to the blanket of agitation that engulfs Kampala when these
bigwigs descend on it to defy one thing or the other, the Owanas of
this world must pray for the break up to hasten. They relish the
diplomatic days when opposition figures fought with brains and not
bone and muscle.

In his column, Owana recalled the era of Paul. K. Ssemogerere's when
D.P was celebrated for brain power. In truth, the phrase "brain power"
started with Ssebaana Kizito in 2005 at Namboole during campaigns to
elect a President General. Some voter, trying to pull a quick one on
the ageing Ssebaana during question time at the podium, taunted that
he was "expired". Witty Ssebaana won the hearts of voters and sailed
to victory, against the likes of Seya and Norbert Mao, with a crisp
retort: "Brain power does not expire!" (This should sound pleasant in
certain people's ears).

Up to that point, D.P was known as a "court party". Not only had they
won a series of major court victories but within their ranks, legal
proceedings were the modus operandi at every turn. The court room was
their lounge, their board room, their street battle ground. One of the
best cartoonists in town illustrated them as "Demo-courtic Party".
Affinity with the courts didn't win them state power despite being the
oldest party in the land and never having tasted "deep waters".

Besigye read this clearly and what he is doing today is take converts,
lure them away from fixation with courts and drill them in politics of
muscle power, disparate to outmoded legal (brain) power. While his
buddy is the legally sworn-in political head of Kampala, Besigye
drives the operational program. In demanding respect as President of
Kampala, he won't miss a chance to ride LORD MAYOR to feel like one
and with Lukwago's approval too. That is how muscle power works!

Robert Atuhairwe

Published by Red Pepper, July 22, 2013

--
"TRY TO GROW UP!"