The very charismatic DP President Norbert Mao has publicly notified the Kamwokya-based NBS TV of his impending exit from their Thursday political talk show (The Frontline) which is ably moderated by Charles Odongtho. Mao, who publicly assured Odongtho of his decision, says he is doing this to protest the low levels of debate exhibited by Ag Information Minister Chris Baryomunsi who has lately been regular on the show. Mao says Baryomunsi’s mediocrity in debating is like that of the legendary house help Katabazi “who is fond of stealing the baby’s milk in the house (A) and always ridiculously defends himself by saying but the neighbor’s baby in house B is also crying. Is it me who drunk his milk also?” An unusually very furious Mao went on to belittle Baryomunsi by saying: “This man really doesn’t know how to debate. He argues like somebody who is caught stealing a goat and says but the other person stole a bull.” Mao had just been insulted by Baryomunsi who was spitting fire after Miria Matembe, another panelist, had warned the day’s guest Dr Kizza Besigye not to waste time making good points “because do you think this Baryomunsi here understands even the meaning of legitimacy?” This unwarranted insult by Miria Matembe put Baryomunsi on fire and he started attacking everybody especially Besigye and Mao.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The following is how it went for the maverick Norbert Mao. Besigye had just made an argument wondering whether NRM spokespersons have any right to discuss tolerance and internal democracy in parties. Baryomunsi weighed in ranting thus: “But your own FDC is in turmoil. You can’t lecture us about elections because Gen Muntu was here the other day saying your election was a sham and that you undermined him. In fact in other parties it’s even worse. In DP, Mao can’t even hold a rally in Buganda because other members won’t allow him.” Mao interjected angrily reminding Baryomunsi “but I’m the party President and how did I stand and campaign for presidency?” Baryomunsi contemptuously replied: “Yes you stood and campaigned but how many votes did you get?” This belittling question greatly infuriated Norbert Mao who had earlier on complained of being turned into “a previledged spectator” because he felt the moderator wasn’t giving him equal time to appropriately make his point. “Now moderator I’m not saying anything anymore on this show. I think I’m done now,” Mao said as he intently checked on his watch as if planning to storm out of the show. “Next time I hear Baryomunsi is here, I’m not coming. This man doesn’t know how to debate.” The moderator made things even more complicated saying “Chairman Mao I’m really disappointed with you; I expected much better than that from you.” Mao kept saying on top of his voice: “Why do you invite him here?” The moderator further implied to Mao that government has to be represented on the show and since he is the Minister of Information, Baryomunsi can’t be avoided or wished away. Mao insisted: “Is he therefore here by right? I’m not saying anything anymore.” The panelists had just completed discussing the phenomenon of “people’s president,” a title similar to what Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga bestowed upon himself after his mock swearing in ceremony.
THE KIRUMIRA SAGA
Next to be discussed was the issue of the defiance antics exhibited by police officer Mohammed Kirumira who resisted arrest forcing Police Flying Squad to cut the door to his house and forcing their way into his living room and forcefully taking him away amidst resistance from the crowd that had gathered outside his Bulenga home. Mao assured Odongtho he wasn’t debating anymore for the rest of the show and this exactly is what he did clearly maintaining his stand never to come again as long as Baryomunsi is there. Odongtho seemed to underestimate Mao’s anger when he insisted the opposition representatives must learn to tolerate panelists from the NRM adding that in case they tell lies or debate in a way that exhibits mediocrity, the listening public (and not Mao) will judge them. DP insiders who know the decisiveness with which Mao acts said their President General, who had even given up on talk shows, is clearly done “and those guys of NBS had better think hard of whom they can replace him with because he has always been telling us he is just doing them a favor.” The DP guy added that: “The timing of the show [10pm-12am] has always been an inconvenience to him and it’s more costing having to make it everything Thursday. I think what has happened today has given him a perfect excuse to quit the way he quit bigger shows like Capital Gang. He believes its consistent panelists like him and Ofwono Opondo who had made that NBS show and not that the show was adding anything to him.” Indeed previously, Mao had showed discomfort protesting the quality of questions and the way they are put to him. This was his argument through that period when he endured the Betty Nambooze turmoil in DP regarding the Good and Bad DP factions. Nambooze had declared herself leader of bad DP. He one time told off moderator Odongtho saying his questions were indicative of how deeply the standards of media practice have sunk in Uganda. Not one to go down without a fight, Odongtho provocatively told Mao to put his DP house in order rather blaming his political problems on the media. We are told when he met his top DP officials, Mao considered quitting but was implored to stay by DP colleagues on grounds that the weekly free airtime the NBS station gives him had only increased (rather than diminish) his relevance as a political leader-not counting the visibility it gives him every week.
BESIGYE BACKS MAO:
On the same show, Besigye (who disapprovingly looked on as Mao and Baryomunsi bitterly exchanged and rolled themselves in the mud for close to 10 minutes as Odongtho called for order) politely backed the DP President General. In his statement of solidarity with Mao (while making closing remarks for the day), Besigye said: “Let me also register my deep concern also. It’s really very painful to sit on shows like this one and have to discuss with people who are very irritating. Next time I’m invited on this show as a guest, I should be informed of the people I will be discussing with so that I can decline if I’m uncomfortable with other guests.” We wait to see how fast Mao’s impending exit and Besigye’s threat to decline future invitations will kill off what has always been the best Thursday night political talk show. Can these two politicians really do without visibility such a prime show gives them or they are just making empty threats as Opondo would say? Will these threats by two of Uganda’s most eloquent opposition politicians prompt the NBS management to make some adjustments? Only time will tell.
MIRUNDI DONE IT B4
It’s largely Tamale Mirundi who has been making good his threats to quit radio talk shows protesting the manner of moderation. He left Radio Star where a one Innocent Musinguzi used to host him every Tuesday and earlier on he had quit Radio Simba’s Gasimbagane (the best/most popular Luganda show on Saturday morning) protesting the way moderator Peter Kibaazo used to treat him. Famous for his crude debating style, the man from Kalisizo carried on moving mountains on other talk shows on other media houses. He considers that in his media career each time a door has closed, another one opened. To comment on this and other Mulengera news stories, call/text us on 0703164755
