By Mulengera Reporters
Because he occasionally welcomed Bobi Wine to his Buziga home and took memory-creating photos with him, hundreds of NUP online foot soldiers claimed fallen jurist and retired Supreme Court Judge Prof GW Kanyeihamba to be their man. Yet in his mourning public events, the Kavule-based party (whose leaders are renowned for shinning at funeral ceremonies) has totally been relegated to the periphery.
Since the Professor’s death was proclaimed on 14th July, the side of Gen Museveni with whom Kanyeihamba joined hands to found the Movement more than 40 years ago (he was a proud member of the NRA’s External Committee which raised funds and created awareness in the Diaspora) has dominated and been more visible at all mourning and tribute-paying sessions than NUP.
Tactful as always, Gen Museveni (at the instigation of ex-Premier Ruhakana Rugunda) got involved in a very big way from the very beginning. He personally drove to Buziga at the deceased’s home and spent an entire evening with the family while sharing stories of their old days in the struggle against misrule in Uganda. Leveraging his humour, oratory and public-speaking skills, Museveni quickly created noticeable physical chemistry with Kanyeihamba’s children, widow Susan and the deceased’s siblings.
Generous as always, Museveni granted the deceased official burial implying that the GoU was footing the entire bill and expenditures on all things relating to mourning, tribute-paying public ceremonies, funeral services provisioning and all the others. This greatly relieved the bereaved family. The magnanimous man from Rwakitura went ahead to pay off the over Shs160m medical bill the deceased jurist had accumulated with Dr. Ben Mbonye’s Nakasero Hospital where he was on medication for diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney-related complications for years.
He was also on dialysis and used to have three sessions a week. Museveni paid off all this (as he ought to, being a great friend of the deceased) and thereby relieving the family of financial pressures.
Even when Kanyeihamba was publicly very critical of the bad human rights situation in the country, Museveni (demonstrating leadership and maturity as always) was very complementary in his eulogy of his old friend. Museveni, who is cautious and doesn’t just post fwa (he never did for Tamale Mirundi) went ahead and posted several solidarity messages with the family while mourning Kanyeihamba’s passing on his X platform where he has more than 3m followers.
The complementary attitude the President demonstrated towards the bereaved family has since inspired many other big-name public officials to drive to Buziga and freely associate with the family. The family members too have been very reciprocal and praised Gen Museveni while thanking him for always being above board and exhibiting leadership at all times.
Kanyeihamba’s wife Susan and daughter Sarah thanked the President in their speeches at All Saints Church Nakasero on Monday as Kanyeihamba’s remains were being prayed for in a service led by Archbishop Dr. Stephen Kazimba Mugalu. During the Monday afternoon vigil at the Kaboja school grounds, Kanyeihamba’s brother equally thanked the President.
At Church, Museveni was represented by Information Minister Chris Baryomunsi, who delivered an additional Shs10m on top of all the other hundreds of millions Gen Museveni had already contributed to the total relief of the family. Baryomunsi was Kanyeihamba’s relative in some way because they both belong to the same clan-of the Bagabiras to which Finance Minister Henry Musasizi also belongs.
Many government officials were freely able to join the family at the newly built All Saints Cathedral and even in Buziga without fear of being molested and verbally attacked or shouted at by Bobi Wine’s foot soldiers. Yet even when Musevenism seemed to have taken charge, well known Museveni critics like Miria Matembe have continued to be present and have been treated decently without anyone shouting things that make them uncomfortable as is always the case at such public gatherings where Bobi Wine has upper hand.
In the All Saints, during the Monday Church Service, NUP’s Joel Ssenyonyi and SG David Lewis Rubongoya were in the house and remarkably, no MC incited mourners to treat them with any hostility. Yes, they were never given any conspicuous recognition inside the Church but no speaker nor MC uttered anything that was capable of making them feel uncomfortable or targeted. This is how it should be though it rarely happens at events where NUP and the Kyagulanyi crowd are in control. All that shows inability and unpreparedness to govern and govern appropriately.
Joel Ssenyonyi was only recognized by one of the MCs (James Eremye the Judiciary Spokesperson) in his capacity as LoP and never as a NUP official. As for Rubongoya, there was no mention of him at all. Family members, daughter Sarah and widow Susan, only recognized the President and other big people from government like Thomas Tayebwa. None of them mentioned or made any reference to Rubongoya or Ssenyonyi. In fact, Rubongoya eventually walked out of the Church mid-way, looking dejected and diminished. Not many seemed to take note of who he was as he walked out, leaving Ssenyonyi behind.
After Church, there was a vigil at Buziga where still Musevenists continued to have upper hand. Those who were lucky to speak were all Museveni supporters including Henry Tumukunde, Ezra Suruma, Nakasero hospital owner Dr. Ben Mbonye and a few others.
Katikkiro Peter Mayiga spoke but, being the great leader, he is, he knew better than using such an event to utter things aimed at spreading division and making government to look bad. As a well-groomed leader, Mayiga knows what to say at which ceremony and to which audience-and he indeed was relevant in all he said.
He actually got a standing ovation and organizers played Buganda’s anthem as the Katikkiro finished his speech and moved back to resume his seat besides other big-name mourners like ex-Premiers Amama Mbabazi, Ruhakana Rugunda and others. It remains to be seen if Mr. Wine will wear a bold face and drive to Buziga this Tuesday evening to join hundreds of mourners to see off Prof Kanyeihamba, who NUP foot soldiers claim was his very good friend. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
