A GOOD MUGANDA IS A DEAD ONE - this statement is
attributed to Former president Obote whether of not he said it is a different issue, my concern has always been on how this is attributed to him, it is normally
stated with a not so good tint. I have always wondered how Uncle Milton Obote who is
arguably one of the greatest orators and with a very high level of intelligence
could go so wrong in making a statement like this and in all honesty that is if
he made the statement at all – knowing that he himself was married to a Muganda
and needed votes from the Baganda to keep in power.
I am yet to get a
satisfactory explanation and my search rages on – this week I meet an old
friend of Obote for lunch and I was marvelled
by this explanation although I still have many questions I will hold on
to this one because it seemed authentic and personal. This was the explanation:
One of Mama Maria’s
relatives is abandoned. Mama Maria is wife to the former
president. This relative suffers mainly because of neglect. Mama Maria picks
him up and gives him a place to live under Obote’s roof. They do their best in
taking care of him. None of the relatives comes out to visit or even check on
him for the entire period of his sickness. A clear indication that no one cared
– he passes on.
At the burial many
relatives then show up and are crying wailing and throwing themselves all
around like they lost the most important person in their lives. Obote then in
his speech asked the people – "now is a good Muganda a dead one?" I believe in good
spirit iriked by the hypocrisy and pretence that would be the most logical
question to ask. I believe he would have also said the same for the Acholi,
Basoga etc. But now the media chose to take their own tint.
But the question is a good Muganda, Acholi, Iteso, Munyankole etc a dead one? This calls on us to be authentic with our relations.
But the question is a good Muganda, Acholi, Iteso, Munyankole etc a dead one? This calls on us to be authentic with our relations.
I am becoming increasingly convinced that former president Milton Obote , being an orator, made the statement a good Muganda is a dead one sarcastically to mean that "a good Ugandan is a dead one".
ReplyDeleteAs of today how many national heroes have been forgotten as they are left to spend their last days struggling with survival only for society to come up when they are pronounced dead and eulogize them for their national contribution . The list is long !
Who knows about the Ugandan after whom St.Balikuddembe Market got its former and most popular name of Owino Market ! Who knows the condition of the gold medal winner after whom Kampala's well known William Street was Named, William Dralu. Who cared to talk about Uganda's first army Commander Shaban Opolot when he was still alive !
There is one man writing this, Muwanga Charles, the first Ugandan to produce the first literary works of science and mathematics in Luganda, one of the local languages of Uganda. I am struggling on my own, receiving only messages of written appreciation from stakeholders in Uganda government and Buganda Kingdom.
Not a single shilling has ever been advanced to me . I am very sure that the day I will be laid to rest, Uganda government and Buganda Kingdom will come up to euroligise my contribution to intellectualization of African languages !
I am a living legend and no one wants to say anything about my contribution. When I return to the Lord they will all come to praise me and possibly suggest national funding for my funeral. A good Ugandan is a dad one ! I am increasingly convinced that Obote was right ! We also have good things to learn form our past national leaders
From Muwanga Charles vide YouTube Channel Oluganda olwa Sayansi