By Aggrey Baba Veteran journalist and former Leader of Opposition in Parliament (LoP) Philip Wafula Oguttu has questioned whether veteran journalist Andrew Mwenda, who, lately, finds joy in calling himself The old man of the clan is doing enough to help Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba build a credible public image, arguing that excessive praise may actually be hurting the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF).
Oguttu, who worked with Mwenda at The Monitor as his boss before the latter founded The Independent, said during a Thursday exclusive interview with Mulengera News that Mwenda should be doing the opposite of simply presenting Muhoozi as an almost flawless political figure.
According to Oguttu, the best way for the public to understand Muhoozi is to see the person behind the military rank, political influence and controversial social media image.
“He should interview him or create an opportunity for any other journalist to do so,” Oguttu said, arguing that Mwenda has the access and relationship with Muhoozi to have the kind of conversations that would allow Ugandans to know the man beyond the public persona.
Oguttu said Muhoozi was not always the intimidating and powerful figure Ugandans see today.
He recalled meeting the then-young army officer at The Monitor around 2000 and 2002, long before Muhoozi became a General, CDF and one of the powerful person he is today.
The former lawmaker said the young Muhoozi he encountered was a “simple, humble boy” who could sit with someone and interact with them without the aura of power that surrounds him today.
He recalled offering Muhoozi a soda when Mwenda brought him to his office, only for the first son to express concern that people in the state house could misinterpret his interaction with Oguttu because they believed the veteran journalist and the entire Monitor establishment hated his tribe.
“I asked him if needed a drink and he asked for a soda. I told my assistant Sarah to bring a variety of sodas so he could choose for himself what he wanted,” Wafula recalled.
That ordinary side of Muhoozi is precisely what Ugandans need to see, according to Wafula Oguttu.
He argued that interviews about Muhoozi’s family, his wife, children, personal interests and experiences could help humanize him instead of leaving the public to construct an image of him from military statements and social media controversies.
Oguttu particularly took issue with the way Mwenda has increasingly positioned himself around Muhoozi, saying he hasn’t done anything to help the CDF.
He said Mwenda was once a journalist who was not afraid to challenge powerful people, including colleagues and political leaders, but has changed considerably since leaving The Monitor.
“Andrew used to be courageous,” Oguttu said, recalling the days when Mwenda could openly disagree with powerful figures and aggressively question government decisions.
The veteran journalist said Mwenda’s proximity to Muhoozi should therefore give him an even greater opportunity to ask difficult questions rather than simply praise him.
Instead of making Muhoozi appear perfect, and radical, Oguttu argued, Mwenda should allow Ugandans to see his strengths, weaknesses, ambitions and limitations.
His argument comes at a time when Mwenda has become one of the most prominent civilian voices defending and explaining Muhoozi’s political ideas and public image. He has also publicly written extensively about Muhoozi, including his views on corruption and Uganda’s political future.
But rhe PFF leader believes that building Muhoozi’s image requires more than praise.
He said the CDF should be given space to speak for himself, answer difficult questions and explain what he believes about Uganda, and the country’s future.
That, for Oguttu would make Muhoozi more relatable and believable than the carefully polished image that emerges when every public appearance is treated as an opportunity to defend or praise him.
The former Monitor editor also drew a contrast between the young Muhoozi he knew and the powerful General Uganda knows today.
Muhoozi now combines senior military authority with a prominent political role, being the chairman of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), while his supporters openly discuss his future in national leadership.
That transformation, Oguttu suggested, makes honest journalism around Muhoozi even more important.
Rather than protecting him from difficult questions, he believes people close to Muhoozi should be helping him confront them. And he thinks Mwenda is the only journalist with both the access and historical relationship to do exactly that. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
