{UAH} ENCOUNTERING GEN.KALE KAYIHURA: MY UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE.

ENCOUNTERING GEN.KALE KAYIHURA: MY UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE.

(PART 1 OF 2)

By Simon Ssenyonga.

A Sunday like this causes me to reminisce on my university days at Makerere University. It was a Sunday like this when i had my encounter with the "indispensable" General who on being fired was reduced to a been weevil by his boss.What a description for a man who selflessly worked to entrench the aspirations of the regime. The best description of my life then and now is one Apostle Paul would look at and see his old time self as Saul.Not in judgement or condemnation but in glorification of the good Lord for 

transforming him.While on university, I attempted to  live the typical life of a law student which involves combing of voluminous law books as I read cases,did extensive research, attend discussions, have back and forth debates with colleagues,feel bossy before anyone who was not a law student, always appear sharp and neat,carry an aura of confidence and speak with gusto as you submit on serious or what you want to be serious societal issues.Life,was literally a legal bubble only accessible to those with the same mind,intellect,wit and worldview.Oh,what a myopic view things it was!...Now,that was only one part of my life.

For this story, Simon the politician and debater is the most relevant.Very impeccable qualities that almost landed me in despicable trouble with the man,Gen.Kale Kayihura and his boys.As you may know,he always had his blue eyed boys almost everywhere and anywhere.I joined active university politics in my first year of University (2013) as a resident of Northcote State (a.k.a Nsibirwa Hall),a hall in which Gen.Kale resided while on University as he pursued his law degree- yes,Kayihura was a lawyer.It was during these days that my political acumen was shaped,great ambitions nursed and subsequently birthed before the general university community when I later vied for the Guild Presidency.As such,my political background was weaved by a character founded on the background of being a law student, a resident of Nsibirwa hall and as a debater among other material that completes the political fabric.

On a date I do not vividly remember, my very close friend- actually my closest friend Edwin Mugumya asked me to attend a particular meeting organized by a group of individuals who then had just finished their bar course at the Law Development Center.He had shared with about the patriotic and nationalistic attitude of these lads and their vision to make the nation a better place and as such espoused solutions to glaring institutional challenges. There bias was towards the legal fraternity.These guys,had ambitions of restoring the "glory" and "dignity" of the legal fraternity because apparently the Uganda Law Society was doing its best.

As I later learnt, these young men harbored ambitions of forming a parallel Law Society that would literally undermine the works of the Uganda Law Society.Certainly they knew the dirt of their master and what awaited him.I presume this was based on his unprofessional conduct in the execution of his duties.They knew,the ULS was not their master's best friend.Maybe they did not want to him to suffer the embarrassment of other senior lawyers like Prof. Khiddu Makubuya and former AG Peter Nyombi who abandoned their thinking and professional caps and dissolved their heads in partisan political caps hoping that when they leave office the sky would curve in.So what exactly was the plan? Penetrate the legal fraternity beginning by indoctrinating the young law students at university level with a very unclear agenda.Perhaps this was part of the syndicate of entrenching the Museveni regime or a means of grounding Kayihuras future political ambitions through such political patronage.Maybe,it was one of the mechanisms of handling security issues as lawyers many times have been perceived as economic/political saboteurs.(in Mr.Museveni's language)

So,this event was organized by these young people called the Progressive Lawyers.As usual,I attentively sat through and listened in on the ongoing conversations and the introductory statements. Very peculiar about this occasion was that the main hall was filled to capacity by mainly law students of lower classes from other universities; in the parking lot were about two police buses which I later learnt had ferried these law universities to participate in this activity; the building was beefed with heavy security and significantly mean looking policemen; and my quick eye analysis showed that the hall was filled with mainly tall lanky young men and women with sharp noses speaking with heavy western accents with the signature afro hair cut akin to that of Ms.Janet Museveni.(no more descriptive specifics)

A few minutes into the meeting, we were asked to arise and welcome the guest of honor (up till now I didn't know who it was) and voloir,the General waltzed in dressed in.He was heavily guarded and alas,ululations filled the room- the savior had come in,the darling of many had arrived,the then mighty and invincible General was led to his seat. Formalities were done away with,and the General took his seat.I was still in awe,often times I would pinch myself to be sure that I was alive.It looked like a movie.Why?

How could a man who I had witnessed preside  over very uncouth acts of police be called to preside over a law students event to educate and advise them on professional legal conduct? By introspection, I thought to myself that anyway,he is a lawyer and maybe I was simply being emotive and immature.A shocker like a missile then landed.The chairperson of the meeting stood up and poured out his heart on the challenges of the youth in the nation,how the youth activities were under funded by government and how the IGP had to intervene. He was often referred to us as "our" father and all sorts of sweet praises poured to him as he swung in his seat smiling sheepishly.The disgust with which I witnessed these events unfold almost caused bowl movements for me.Not even puking would save the situation.How could young people divert an agenda of a meeting that  was meant to achieve rather genuine concerns by reducing themselves to mere beggars and rhythmical praisers of Kayihura.In my view,it wasn't illegal buy it was immoral. 

In anguish,I stood up and raised a point of order.Silence befell the room,a pin drop could be heard.In total awe,everyone looked at me.I was about to receive my lifetime experience of being an "economic and political saboteur". It was now time for me to let loose my reservations for Gen.Kayihura.

Until now,I still wonder where the confidence came from...how could I stand tall in a room packed with students and all these mean looking men armed to the teeth as they guarded the General.

" Mr Chairperson, I raise on a point of order and information. I want to ask the chief guest in what capacity he appears before us? Mr.Kayihura...are you here in your capacity as IGP or you are here in your individual capacity?

This question is important because it will define the parameters of our engagement and the weight to which we attach your statements.How can you,Mr.Kayihura come here to advise us on issues of legal professionalism-you,a man who outrightly breaks the law and presides over a force that does the same.That is wrong and you have no moral authority to appear before us..."

In the middle of my speech,the chairperson attempted to stop me but the IGP signalled him to let me finish.I went ahead and told him that he was literally a disgrace to Northcote hall,he ought to have done better.I now felt relieved, like a partner in a bad relationship, I had now poured out my heart.You can now imagine the look on Kale and the audience's faces after I made these remarks.I saw civilians and police officers turn uncomfortably in their sits as if fire burning them.Whispers and murmurs now filled the room.Many faces raged with fury towards me.Obviously, I remember my friend Louis Namwanja Kizito cheering me on as I spoke.

Then the IGP got the microphone as he stood up... (TO BE CONTINUED)

"In tribute to the United Kingdom and the Republic of Uganda, two bastions of strength in a world filled with strife, discrimination and terrorism."

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