By Aggrey Baba
The Saturday November 15th Bugiri rally turned into an unexpected language drama when Eunice Namatende, the NRM Woman MP flag bearer, found herself wrestling with President Museveni’s English instead of delivering the smooth Lusoga translation the packed crowd expected.
What was meant to be a simple interpretation session slowly became a tug-of-war between words and meaning.
Namatende, a teacher by profession and former FDC member who recently crossed to NRM, was the day’s official interpreter. But from the moment Museveni began speaking, the translation fell apart like wet paper.
Namatende’s voice kept breaking, she stammered repeatedly and several times she delivered meanings that were completely different from what the President intended. Instead of guiding the crowd, she left them guessing.
The supporters, already tense and eager to hear their candidate speak clearly, grew restless. Some shouted at her demanding that she leaves the stage if she could not translate properly. Others waved their hands in frustration, wondering how a teacher, who once stood on blackboards infront of large classes, was now struggling with basic English on a campaign rally.
At one point, Museveni, who had earlier on joked that he only speaks good Lusoga in the morning and it disappears in the afternoon, found himself stepping in to correct her.
Twice, he cut in to correct the translation, turning himself into his own interpreter. The crowd murmured in surprise as many could not believe the President was doing the job meant for Namatende, and coming off much better.
She kept trying to defend herself quietly, whispering to the district NRM chairman, also the Bukooli Central MP, Solomon Silwany, saying she couldn’t hear the President well because children near her (Namatende) were making noise.
Some of her supporters also argued defensively that the sound system was poorly arranged and that the speakers were confusing her. But those excuses did little to calm an already charged crowd.
Even so, Museveni occasionally praised Namatende for being a good interpreter, mostly after stepping in to fix the former FDC member’s mistakes. His tone left people divided, with some supporters believing he was genuinely encouraging her as their new flag bearer (and making her comfortable) while others felt he was simply covering up her embarrassment, the way a parent claps for a child who falls during a dance.
For many in the crowd, the incident raised sharper questions. If Namatende struggles to translate a short English speech on a campaign rally, how will she manage the heavier English used in Parliament? How will she debate laws, motions and national issues if simple English makes her stammer?
Namatende has previously contested for the Municipality seat and the Woman MP seat on the FDC ticket before defecting to NRM earlier this year. Her victory over incumbent Agnes Taaka in the July 17th NRM primaries was seen as a major breakthrough. But the Bugiri rally incident left some wondering whether she is ready for the legislative stage she is fighting to enter.
The rally, meant to show Busoga the unity and strength of the yellow camp, ended up shining a spotlight on one of the ruling party’s newest faces, bringing to light revelations that many had not expected. What was meant to be a smooth political show instead ended up inadvertently exposed a candidate still learning how to stand firmly under the weight of public expectations. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
