By Mulengera Reporters
During the DP reunion meeting in Jinja last week, PDP President Dr. Abed Bwanika demanded clarity from DP Bloc leaders on what his actual share would be eventually when time for wearing the crown comes. In his usual fiery way, Bwanika categorically stated “we are all in this for something.” He was angry and unrepentant as ever but very few people correctly understood the cause of Bwanika’s paranoia.
For starters, Bwanika was key in starting what metamorphosed into the DP reunion momentum because he was a funder (or connector to potentials funders) for the pioneer reunion event at Makerere. He went as far as uttering what he knew would make him misunderstood but he wasn’t bothered as long as the reunion got the publicity the architects badly wanted. Speaking as someone who had previously belonged to DP, Bwanika launched an attack on Dr. Kizza Besigye and this assured him and the entire event of some publicity that would otherwise not have been obtained.
The organizers rightly considered any publicity good publicity. And Bwanika proved very important, even at the subsequent reunion events accepting to be the hatchet man that would keep throwing mad at KB and his allies Betty Nambooze, Erias Lukwago and others as long that would result into contradictions to serve as fodder for the required publicity.
The courage with which he took on KB and his allies made Bwanika a darling of those DP political flops who had always attributed their electoral failures on KB and his adherents. This explains why he became so dominant that almost no reunion activity would proceed without his active participation. Bwanika would even host meetings at his Ntinda home and feed the DP diehards whose calculation always was they would hide behind Mr. Wine to attract large crowds and create an impression that the reunion was very big. It’s a fact, even when he confesses not being DP, Mr. Wine’s name is what organizers use wherever they go organizing reunion meetings.
The only setback came after the Masaka reunion event where a pro-Bwanika clique attacked and humiliated DP strongman Mukasa Mbidde who used his clout to get Mao to suspend all reunion meetings. DP diehards became stuck and didn’t know how to re-approach Mao and re-assure him they aren’t out to take his shine and politically mess him up. It was Bwanika, previously an avid critic of Mao including on issues like IPOD, that crafted something called DP Bloc whose adherents accepted to be under Mao.
All these antics made Bwanika almost indispensable especially after he appeared on NBS Frontline and shouted at Erias Lukwago calling him traitor for refusing to launch similar attacks on KB. So Bwanika took it for granted that he was entitled to so much not just from the DPs but also Mr. Wine for whom he for long pretended to speak until Joel Senyonyi was appointed putting the matter to rest.
THE JINJA SCARE
Bwanika began inflating himself to be material for Lord Mayorship and in all his calculations he was counting on Mr. Wine’s endorsement come 2021. Unexpectedly Kawempe North MP Latif Sebaggala came up, making things more complicated.
As he contended with Latif, then came Jose Chameleon and the DPs haven’t never shunned any opportunity (however ill-conceived) that can give publicity for their thing. Chameleon says he wants to run for Mayorship and claims stronger solidarity with Mr. Wine. The two have much longer history than with the likes of Bwanika.
Organizers saw no problem having Chameleon at the Jinja reunion. Their calculation was that his statements would excite the media and get them a headline in daily newspapers. They crafted him into the Jinja reunion and his presence overshadowed the likes of Abed and diminished their significance. Remember the Mayorship he wants is the very position Bwanika had presented himself for.
At Jinja Chameleon was referenced with much more emphasis and prominence and this made Abed Bwanika and his ilk to begin feeling they had been taken for a ride. That is how Bwanika became uncomfortable and began making his demands insisting to be told in no uncertain terms what his share was in this DP Bloc/PP Movement.
He clearly saw there is no way Mr. Wine or even Mao would prioritize him ahead of Chameleon for the Lord Mayor seat and that is why he became uneasy and exploded on the microphone. He demanded clarification from Mr. Wine, Mao and other heavyweights present on seeing Chameleon was here to steal the show and pull the rug under his feet. He protested “betrayal” by exploding on the stage and you can be sure this won’t be stopping soon.
MORE BETRAYALS
Yet beyond just his own Mayorship crown, Bwanika saw more betrayal with his other protégé Dereck Mutema who has been positioning himself as the PP candidate for Mukono LC5 seat come 2021. Mutema is the DP man the NRMs have been defeating for an eternity for the Mukono South MP Seat since the days of Janet Mukwaya.
Bakaluba also thumped him and more recently in 2016 it was Johnson Muyanja Senyonga who badly thumped him for the same seat. With Senyonga voting Togikwatako in December 2017, Mutema realized he stands no chance even with Mr. Wine behind him hence the decision to relocate for the LC5 seat whose incumbent Andrew Senyonga of NRM is already cracking with voters increasingly embracing opposition.
However, the emergency of more prolific Bakaluba who is even wealthier, has diminished Mutema’s relevancy in the PP Mukono district calculus. Supporters see Bakaluba as much easier brand to sale to the electors in the 4 constituencies making Mukono district (Municipality, Nakifuuma, Mukono South and Kibule’s Mukono North). Renowned for being a high commitment person, Bakaluba has the money and is prepared to invest in PP mobilization unlike modest Mutema who doesn’t have much finances to unlock mobilization work.
So the possibility of such financial contributions made Jinja reunion organizers to consider Bakaluba very helpful. He attended the event and was prominently referenced by the different speakers as his presence created lots of political euphoria at the event.
Bwanika and his protégés must have become very uncomfortable as Bakaluba’s increased acceptance in the opposition ranks means annihilation for their man Mutema. So its desire to speak out for himself and for many other reunion veterans like Dereck Mutema that caused Bwanika to uncontrollably explode and demand re-assurances for his share during the Jinja reunion event. (For comments, call, text or whatsapp us on 0703164755 or email us at mulengera2040@gmail.com).
