So, I wonder if Watford (Opposition) could topple Liverpool (NRM) and cause an epic upset in modern African history. Could Watford overcome that improbability?

For thirty-five years, the State House has housed the same individual. There are many reasons for this. Contradistinctively, Liverpool had not won the league in thirty years – until their momentous run in the 2020/21 season.

This country’s pre-1986 history is bloody. Museveni – not entirely saintly in his role in Ugandan politics prior to the 1980 elections – was a gallant knight in shinning amour. His ten-point program was, to Uganda, what sweet-nothings are to new lovers. In spite of a few bad seeds, NRA was generally aggregable in contrast to UNLA.

NRA overpowered Obote with the good will of the people and a dash of luck that was the crashing of Oyite Ojok’s helicopter. Later, the eviction of Lutwa from State House was easier than learning the first three letters of the alphabet. The fella was uneducated and highly unqualified. Ring any bells?

Museveni’s commission to democracy was evidenced by initiating the national constitutional education and consultations. Although this process had its difficulties, as Odoki noted, it was successful and void of manipulation.

They that tasted anarchy find peace to be priceless. Uganda, although composed mostly of the youth, has a substantial number of elders. This lot treasures Ssevo despite his flaws. It influences national politics in more ways than we care to admit. Getting back to the question; is an upset possible? As I run the unlikely risk of swallowing my words, I’d say an upset is impossible! Let’s review the status quo.

On Friday, the Commander in Chief (CIC) oversaw the graduation of over 4,800 police trainees. These shall soon join the other thousands who are roaming the country. They will become part of an institution that persecutes those who express free thought. The fact that the police conducts partisan operations every now and then is undisputable.

Essentially, the growing police is a huddle for the opposition. Whereas it should not be the case, the POMA has ensured that the police have a right of oppression. Under the Act, one has to notify them of any public gathering they intends to hold. The complexity arises from the police’s right to reject a venue as unfavourable. The chances of an outspoken opposition politician having cooperation from the police on that matter are few.

On the other hand, the ruling party candidates conduct campaigns with nary a query. Besides that, the national development is an incentive to choose Museveni. The government policies prior to 1986 were counterproductive. The economy suffered a huge blow under Amin and did not recover under Obote. Essential commodities were hard to come by and hence expensive.

In contrast, the economic environment is fair enough for a large portion of the population to afford such commodities. The political environment is such that a life of luxury is possible for those who can afford it. All this; despite the inflation today.

The infrastructural development under Ssevo is monumental when one considers our history. Over 5000km of Ugandan roads today are paved. Privatisation has facilitated a rise of skyscrapers over the country. The rate of production and export has also increased. All these developments, albeit slow, make Ssevo a handsome candidate.

Such developments carry a very big load over our will to fight for change. We cannot do whatever it takes for fear of receding. Any financially independent citizen would embrace a monarchy if it offers high per capita. The spirit that was manifested between 1980 and 1986 has been stifled by this bubble of comfort. It may be good governance! Truly, any smart dictator knows that a comfortable populace guarantees entrenchment. Talk of pros and cons! One can use development as a tactic and still be a hero.

The opposition also deals with characters like Mwenda. A hulking structural integrity can only be weakened from within. The ‘old man of the clan’ knows that all too well. He would have us believe that he joined NUP to provide good leadership. Au contraire, there are only two sides to that coin; either he is a virus launched by the enemy or he has a personal vendetta. Neither side of the coin is good for NUP. He is there to weaken their structural integrity. Simply, he is to NUP what Phil Jones was to Manchester United; a player for the other team!

Those factors, although valid, don’t compare to those that we’ve grown accustomed to. The political persecutions, oppression, electoral violence, manipulation, intimidation and alleged rigging drive the final nail into the coffin. These variables have been consistent and evident.

The Supreme Court recognised the existence of these electoral issues. Although it rendered them unsubstantial, its declarations were followed by a recommendation of reforms to the Attorney General’s office; to remedy the same. Nevertheless, the government has not implemented any of the reforms. They simply carry on with the same old rituals.

Various electoral observers have reported similarly. The same factors tip the electoral result in favour of the incumbent in every election. Whether or not the incumbent signs off on these events is questionable. When one trains a dog, it needs no command to attack an intruder! Such behaviour becomes instinctive!

Nonetheless, considering Uganda’s gruesome history, the change is overbearing. Therefore, claims of there being no big difference between then and now are invalid. Many of these claims arise from a generation that is ill informed about the past. The youthful fanbase have forgotten the history; perhaps because it was told to them as opposed to inhaling the ashes and dust of war. Anyone that likens today to the pre-1986 Uganda is an insolent fool!

Also, there are many people in the country whose positions aren’t aired over the media. The call for change seems overwhelming! The people that make it use the media more than those that are content. However, the latter are more than the former. Although Uganda has a young population, it cannot be regarded as anti-NRM in its entirety. There are many youths that are happy with the status quo.

Watford has a lot of barriers to overcome even without Uganda’s electoral rituals. Liverpool has been dominant in the league and is therefore more likely to win it. Yet, Watford is left no room to breathe as numerous unjust circumstances await it. I therefore have no hope for an upset!

Let’s end our denial! The possibility for change doesn’t lie in catchy slogans that stir up the public. It is not to be found in our frustration. Truly, change lies in our patience. We should patiently build a just and equitable structure to defeat the intolerant and oppressive structure that stands today. Patience, in this case, wins this war!

Nevertheless, there are encumbrances to media campaigning. The challenge with media platforms is their inaccessibility as caused by consistent police badgering, especially towards the opposition. Truly, the police is now playing hide-and-seek with the opposition; it’s a most special relationship they have with Hon. Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu.

Meanwhile, the NRM candidates went on, uninterrupted, to hold mass rallies and campaigns. Constituencies such as Bulambuli, Sheema, Napak and Mitooma were hosts to NRM candidate political gatherings. The very same for which opposition candidates were being pursued. This nature of operation though, didn’t last so long. Evelyn Anite’s procession in Koboko was so alarming that the outrage it caused solicited administrative reaction.

In a joint security forces press briefing; the police spokesperson CP Fred Enanga was forced to condemn the conduct of NRM and NUP candidates. He went as far as saying that Anite’s case was outstanding. Yet, she wasn’t the only one. Cracking the whip on her set an expectation from the public of the same treatment for all other violators.

To start with, Anite’s campaign manager was arrested along with three others from her team. She, the police say, escaped to Kampala. Thus, she was summoned. Similarly, all divisional and regional police commanders from areas that have been prone to campaigns without police response were summoned to answer for their negligence.

Nonetheless, Anite insolently denied having been a part of the Kiboko procession. She claimed that the entire event was spontaneous as her constituents were elated over the delivery of the new ambulance; one that was set to be delivered in the pre-Covid-19 period, now so opportunistically delivered in these trying times.

She wants police and the general public to believe that instantaneously, the women in the viral video happened to all having yellow Anite-branded attires all by themselves! Preposterous! It starts to seem that someone is coming to their senses. These kinds of injustices could potentially harm the incumbent President. His low approval ratings would suffer a grievous blow if nothing was done about the indifference.

As I read about how well the police had handled the Anite issue, I couldn’t help thinking – what next? Holding Anite and the likes accountable meant that NRM candidates now have to approach 2021 fairly and squarely. They can no longer rely on the partisan nature of the low-level police officials to operate without question. In other words, their advantage over the opposition has been lost.

Another well-known fact is that the opposition is better at working in constrained environments; as this is the order of the day for them. On the other hand, NRM candidates lack that ‘training’. Now, the tables have turned and the opposition may have the upper hand.

Another thing the NRM lacks is what one may call a sympathy vote. Oppressive government policies now hover over their heads like doomsday clouds. Consequentially, if the police keep up this seemingly impartial modus operandi, NRM folks have a mountain to overcome having lost their operational privileges. Precisely, NRM risks losing traction with the voters and subsequently, seats in the August House. That’s in my view anyway.

The logical option now is to completely lift the lockdown. This step would permit what would seem like an equal ground of contest for all participants. All political aspirants would have liberty to make as much campaign progress as their resources can allow them.

Obviously, NRM candidates have a wealthier pool of resources than their counterparts. Lifting the lockdown allows them to tap into those resources to buy back the favour of the people. Any attempt at this now, as things stand, would result in another Anite or Aceng scenario. The only way for jaja’s babies to regain their advantage is by him letting them out to play. Otherwise, the field is levelled and I’d bet my meagre worth that this is out of NRM’s operational comfort zone.

Of course, lifting the lockdown seems much less likely considering the ‘worsening’ Covid-19 situation. Uganda has registered well over 1,200 Covid-19 infections and 9 deaths from the same. This means that the least logical step forward is allowing free and unchecked public interactions. There are some around the malwa pot who say these numbers are doctored to serve a political agenda. If that be the case, it’s a bitter pill!

Notwithstanding the numbers, curves and whatnots, let’s look at the de facto state of affairs. At the moment, only a few areas of operation are still closed down. These being considered of an incredibly high risk. Among the areas that were opened up, I’ll focus on the arcades.

If one were to take a trip downtown (mark you, one may not have to go thither to see what I speak of), one would notice that the observation of the SOPs is at a bare minimum. One would essentially be involved in transacting air. The environment is incredibly compact, so much so that there’s barely any ground to see in the busier parts of it.

There social interactions are without masks and the washing of hands, where it happens, is ceremonial. The temperature guns are utilised in only a few areas such as shop entrances. Simply put, the downtown arcade area is a brewing pot for the Corona Virus. Opening the arcades and saloons, allowing boda-bodas to carry passengers among other things that were permitted operation; all this being done with new infections and deaths every day, was symbolic of accepting the inevitable – we shall not wait for the vaccine, to resume life.

Besides schools that bring together people from so many countries, including beyond the borders; we ought to accept that everything else should be allowed to operate. The curfew too should be lifted. This is logical because as we are; opening everything else apart from the borders would place us in no more danger than we already are.

This logic would also support political rallies. Once normalcy is attained, less national resources will be spent on equipping the police in one of the most peaceful countries in Africa; if not the world. The resources wasted on security would be placed in actual medical research. The economy would bloom and enrich the national revenue – you know, so that we can afford to pay parliament billions of shillings a year to enact oppressive laws.

I’m digressing, the point was that lifting the lockdown is the way to go if the NRM desires to maintain its healthy political run. Having lost the privilege of uninterrupted operation (thank you Anite), a complete lifting of the lockdown is the way for jaja’s babies to regain their advantage over seasoned politicians.

But it is not the dream that matters because, you see, anyone can dream. Martin Luther had a dream that the Black Americans would be free, and Idi Amin had a dream that all Asians had to go! Even fools dream, nothing special to it. But that doesn’t stop one from dreaming.

I personally dream of a Uganda where we shall at one time have a peaceful change of power. I dream that there may come a time when the Ugandan system of governance is genuine, without corruption and with service above standard. That we shall at one time have a president who will not purport to fight corruption by walking but by using the organs and authority at his or her disposal to combat it.

However, the biggest of my dreams, is that there will come a time when all will realise that nothing material is of value. All that we gain can be lost; even those we obtained at birth. The final accountability is done when we answer to the creator’s call for our actions here. That no matter how much money one accrues, it is of no value to them after passing. These are the things that King Solomon called vanity. It is the things that we do which make us immortal; not what we look like, what we have or who we know.

Here is a bothering question that is the inspiration of the submission herein. Why would a son betray the trust of a father for financial gain? One may say, ‘Dah! Money is money!’; whatever the implication of that is! It is not only among the wealthy that it is common but also families in the low economic ranks. Provided there is property worth fighting for, the blood thins, and families will armor up. It is innate of humans that we seek to gain the world and lose ourselves.

This year, the family of the entrepreneurial titan, Mohan Kiwanuka, got faced with a conundrum orchestrated by a son who is seemingly unappreciative of the labor of the father. Mohan Mohammad Kiwanuka was reportedly diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease with on set dementia in 2017. This was followed by several questionable occurrences whose details were broken by, and covered in The Investigator.

It was eventually discovered that the mogul’s son, Jordan Sebuliba Kiwanuka, from the ‘first wife’ Beatrice Luyiga Kavuma, had taken advantage of the father’s diagnosis and attempted to take control over the father’s reigns. He dingily pleaded with courts of law to declare his father a person of unsound mind and he himself be declared the estate proprietor. That he is not his biological son, is a known claim made by Mzee Mohan.

Nevertheless, he swung the narrative in his favor portraying the father to be in a vegetative state and incapable of managing his entities. However, in Mohan Musisi Kiwanuka v Jordan Sebuliba Kiwanuka MISC APP 622/2019 case, Hon. Justice Musa Ssekaana ruled that the father is still in charge of his mental faculties, hence dismissing the case with costs.

Hon. Justice Ssekaana’s ruling was reechoed in Jordan Sebuliba & Anor v Visa Investments Ltd & Anor Civil Suit No. 253/19 where another plaint regarding the same matter, by the principle of res judicata, was disregarded by Justice Godfrey Namundi. The son had obviously gone at lengths to ensure that he discredits the father’s managerial capabilities as caused by the alleged diagnosis.

He went as far as leading the public to believe that Mohan’s official wife, Maria Nabasirye Kiwana Kiwanuka, had a clawed grip on Mohan whose decisions and choices she was controlling. This was of course discredited and debunked by another story published by The Investigator. In this, the author showed that Mohan had been capable of holding his own throughout the one and half hour’s interview.

Coming to the question! In my opinion, of course based off my meager understanding of their family affairs but on the stronger issues they placed before the courts of law, the answer may be derived from comprehension of our human nature. We are a greedy species with the capability of achieving the impossible.

We are not directed by instinct but rather by intuition and reason. We are in full control of our choices, decisions and actions. Thus, even though we are in nature, greedy creatures, we still have the power of self-control. Arguments have been made that this power is what separates us from animals. So, we ought to employ it often.

As humans, we have the potential to be anything at birth. It doesn’t matter that you are African, if you are raised in China, you will speak their language and adopt their culture. Therefore, it is through the process of growth that one achieves the ability to employ their power of self-control. Without proper upbringing, an individual may be unable to form a conscience and founded moral principles.

Yet, I do not believe that upbringing makes or breaks the individual. There is only so much that a parent can do. In my opinion, which might I remind you, is based off meager understanding, it amounts to the experiences of the individual and their capability to use the knowledge, principles and virtues imparted, to act. This is all the parent ought to do. Impart into the child the proper principles, virtues and knowledge. The experience of the child determines how these will be applied.

Without guiding the child through his or her experiences, they might have a misguided perception of the world. However, as I said, I would not pin Jordan’s character on the upbringing. There are still people who can do good even having had no proper guidance. Could Mohan’s situation have been avoided? I think so! In life, if you change one substantial factor, twilight turns into new-moon night darkness in the blink of an eye.

Mohan’s actions could not cause substantial changes, were they to have been different. At the time of vandalizing the premises on Plot 10, Akii Bua Road in Nakasero, Jordan was already the person he is. If anyone’s actions are to be substantive, it should be those of the son. The question of whether things might have been different is not answered by the occurrences of the last few years or even by the diagnosis. It is answered by determining the kind of person that Jordan is.

It wouldn’t have mattered had Mohan Kiwanuka been a middle-income class citizen. There is a claim among the older generation against the younger generation, curbed the “millennials”. This claim portrays the people in this generation as entitled, ungrateful, lazy and vultures. In different respects, this is all true. Though it is unlikely that one individual will have all these qualities. We often have only one and thankfully, lack the others. However, we have our strengths; the best of which is our innovativeness.

They may not admit it, but the old chaps can never be as innovative as the millennial lads and lasses. This kind of innovation pushes ambition. Jordan Sebuliba Kiwanuka is a millennial. One with so much ambition but unwilling to satisfy that effort through modest means. From the looks of it, he is in nature, a lazy ungrateful entitled vulture.

It is difficult to say for sure if things would have been different given the boy’s nature. But the question isn’t that. I do not think that it’s the father’s reported diagnosis which drove Jordan’s attempt to scoop the fruits of the old man’s labor.

Perhaps it is a blessing in disguise for the Kiwanuka family. Mohan has had a chance to see what most parents miss. Often, it is after the parent’s death that the children attempt to gobble the family wealth. For Mr. Kiwanuka, he can now change what might have been chaos in the wake of his death. The fundamental change in the case of the Kiwanuka family wouldn’t be of actions but of the son’s nature.

It is immaterial what Mohan Kiwanuka would have done differently. It is also established herein that Jordan Sebuliba is incapable of doing things any differently from how he did. Thus, it would require Mr. Ssebuliba’s nature to have been different if this were all to have been avoided. It is sad but, perhaps we are born either saintly or evil. No matter the path which one takes, it always leads to their true being!

Have a blessed festive season and a sobriety 2020.

It would be needless to say how we all look to set legacies, but reechoing it is paramount just for emphasis. One way or another, whatever we do is purposed for our remembrance. It doesn’t matter whether one knows it or not; no one wants to be forgotten.

There are many ways of making legacies. I was once told that we do not die; we transcend to the next world. Whilst there, we get to look at what is left of us. I think that the simplest way of never being forgotten is leaving a mark on the earth. Such a simple thing to do! Yet, we don’t all get to be remembered after we pass on.

I often love to ask my peers; who was the richest man in the seventh decade of the twentieth century? It should be no surprise that none of them knows; not even I know! However, when asked about Winston Churchill or Franklin D Roosevelt, a split-second answer affirming knowledge of their contributions is given. I then wonder, what was the net worth of Roosevelt and Churchill put together?

Legacies are not set by what we own, hold dear or believe. They are set by the marks left by what we do, at least I believe so! You do not need to move the earth to be remembered. In one of Macklemore’s lyrics from the Gemini album, he says, or rather rhymes, “I heard you die twice; the first time is when you’re buried, the second is the last time someone mentions your name”. You only need to do something that will have your name live on for centuries.

After existing since 1993 and being one of the best Universities in the country, Uganda Martyrs University enrolled its pioneer class of law this year. A few weeks back, while attending an Accountability conference at Speke Resort Munyonyo, I told a gentleman from the National Planning Authority (NPA) that I am a student of Uganda Martyrs University. He mused at this for close to a minute before asking, “Which one is that?”. So, for avoidance of doubt, Uganda Martyrs University is what many know as ‘Nkozi University’.

A common thread of schools of law is a Law Society. Thus, on the 28^th of November this year, the students of law at Uganda Martyrs held a meeting wherein they enacted their constitution and elected members of the executive committee. The soon to officially be Uganda Martyrs University Law Society (UMULS), is currently composed of no more than 32 vigilant young aspiring students of law.

Their constitution was drafted by a committee chosen by the students from amongst themselves. This they dubbed the Advisory Committee. As the society continues, this committee will have the role akin to that of the Inspector General of Government as well as the First Parliamentary Council. This committee also conducted the elections that put the members of the committee in their offices.

This is symbolic for a foundation laid for what has the potential to be another of the best law students’ associations. Currently, the most recognized schools of law are those of Makerere and Uganda Christian University. Perhaps Uganda Martyrs University, given its reputation, will add another to those schools of law with an undisputable quality.

The society is yet to officially register with the University. Nevertheless, it can be established that the future is bright. One of its major goals is to combat ignorance of the law in the community. We understand the law isn’t written for the layman. Therefore, there are some citizens who break the law out of ignorance rather than being rebellious to it. These youthful souls hope that in time, through the platform that this society shall provide, the Ugandan community will be safe from the harshness of law for their lack of understanding regarding its provisions.

How often do we stop to think about what all our efforts will translate into? Not many people get the opportunity to establish something that may stand for decades or even centuries. However, when such an opportunity comes around, one ought not to take it lightly.

In a speech before commencing the enactment of the constitution and elections, yours truly as the chairman of the Advisory Committee, urged colleagues to handle this newborn society with care. “Ten years down the road, we would look back at this and say, ‘we started this!’” I observed. Perhaps I may have sold it short! In the safe hands of the Catholic founded institution, the faculty of law shall survive for ages; as will the society.

The first President, Mr. Ssemuyaba Arthur, in his incredibly precise victory speech, promised to diligently work towards upholding the law of the society and ensuring its prosperous existence. There is still a long road ahead and no oblivion of the fact that Rome wasn’t built in a day. Nevertheless, the start signifies a strong future.