By Mulengera Reporters
That Simon Kaggwa Njala is a big-name media personality at the Kamwokya-based NBS TV is a fact that doesn’t need any elaboration. Yet on top of his media duties, Njala is also thickly involved in politics with his eye glued onto Busiro South MP Seat currently held by Peter Sematimba.
An NRM diehard, Sematimba in 2016 unexpectedly carried the day in this DP stronghold constituency simply because the DPs disagreed and fronted multiple candidates including Njala Kaggwa and city lawyer Stephen Musisi Sekigozi whose late father Patrick Musisi represented the same constituency for one term up to his death in 2005.
In 2016, Sekigozi carried the DP flag after defeating others in what Njala maintains was a sham party primaries exercise where voter bribery and fraud was the order of the day. Njala claims (jobless) Sekigozi, whose source of income he wants investigated, injected over Shs1.2bn in the election which is unexpected of someone who professes DP. Njala came as independent to protest alleged electoral impropriety in party primaries and in the end, they split the DP vote paving way for Sematimba.
Finishing in 3rd position, Njala polled 12,000 against Sekigozi’s over 19,952 votes and between them, more than 30,000 votes were split enabling Sematimba to cruise to victory.
Uneasiness has always existed between the two (Sekigozi and Njala) albeit without exploding into the public domain. Being the gentlemen they are, they have always acted with restraint until this weekend when gloves inadvertently went off and the two went personal impeaching each other’s character on social media.
HOW IT UNFOLDED
The arena was the digital space-and more specifically on Njala’s Facebook wall. It all started with Njala posting a message announcing the death of Andrew Brian Mayega, a Catholic Deacon who was a popular preacher at St. Matia Mulumba Catholic Parish Nakawuka. Mayega, who was just days away from his ordination to priesthood, complained of soar throat before being rushed to Nsambya hospital where he unexpectedly died from.
Eulogies posted on social media by those who knew him clearly indicate Mayega was an influential figure in Busiro South implying politicians would each like to be seen as supporting the bereaved family through this difficult period. His parents were preparing his graduation party when the news of his death came through and Njala, who prides himself in always been with the electors, posted things aimed at showing he was closer to the deacon’s paternal uncle Mzee Mayega.
In his post, Njala veiledly sought to humiliate Sekigozi by thanking the Mayega family for agreeing with him in defying the DP leadership in 2016 when he stood as an independent after losing primaries to Sekigozi. He praised Mzee Mayega for standing with him and even being his seconder as an independent on the day he was nominated. He claimed all this shows how closely associated he is with the Mayega family.
Sekigozi’s elder brother JB Mutebi Musisi (who replaced their dad Patrick Musisi and served up to 2016) rubbed Njala the hard way when he posted a comment on his wall claiming Mzee Mayega was actually regretting the character (Njala) he supported in total defiance of his party. Mutebi implied Mzee Mayega would never make that mistake again. He claimed the old man had told this to him several times. Njala shot back dismissing Mutebi as a “pathological liar.” He said he was at the funeral and had showed Mutebi’s messages to Mzee Mayega who was in total disbelief.
In a subsequent rant, Musisi told off Njala calling him a “rotten and crude” personality always “holding out as a devoted Catholic” which he isn’t. He challenged Njala to publicly on microphone restate his claim that Mzee Mayega called him (Mutebi) a pathological liar. Njala said he was shocked ex-MP JB Mutebi hadn’t upgraded from the pathological liar he was told he was into a better person. JB Mutebi claimed Mzee Mayega had last Sunday disclosed he was in shock on realizing his entire family stuck to Sekigozi leaving him to be the only one casting the vote for Njala in 2016.
SEKIGOZI WEIGHS IN
Sekigozi eventually came in too urging Njala to move on as lamenting about the 2016 DP primaries wouldn’t make him a better politician. Saying for them they had moved on, Sekigozi implied the reason voters will continue rejecting Njala is because he is never on the ground. Vowing to thump Njala again in party primaries for 2021, Sekigozi called on the NBS man to this time round accept defeat rather than claiming foul play yet his problem is nothing but failing to be on the ground. He challenged Njala to go out and interact with DP party structures.
Not one to go down without a fight, Njala said its Sekigozi who is never on the ground which is why he never gets to see him in the community where he lives 24/7. Njala even sarcastically asked “how is Kiwatule [in Nakawa Division]” insisting that is where Sekigozi mostly stays. Njala said the fact that Sekigozi was requiring him to stop lamenting about the 2016 vote rigging in DP is proof he (Sekigozi) is no longer capable of being ashamed of his shameful past political mischievous actions. Njala also claimed Sekigozi was never on the ground which is the reason he doesn’t even know the correct venue for the deacon’s requiem mass. Sekigozi responded: “Simon Kaggwa Njala for any legal advice kindly don’t hesitate to come to Tropical Law Advocates on Workers House 6th floor Southern Wing. Let’s catch up tomorrow after liturgy.”
Njala immediately jumped on this disputing the circumstances under which Sekigozi became a lawyer. He vowed to report this to ULS President Simon Peter Kinobe insisting this was “a non-practicing lawyer masquerading” because “as far as I know you aren’t a lawyer.” Hitting below the belt, Njala added: “Like I said you are shameless my brother Sekigozi Stephen. Calling yourself a lawyer when you are none is the epitome of treachery.”
Sekigozi immediately fired back: “Lame excuses!!! Weak candidates like yourself always find weak reasons to talk about. My issue is I repeat stop lamenting come on ground [and] if I defeat you, which I most probably will do, you support me. If you win me [sic] of which chance [is] close to none, I will surely support you. Owulidde?” This is how Njala returned the punch: “Sekigozi Stephen stop being childish. The import of my message was to mourn a friend not to engage in your foolhardiness. Ndeka nkungubage [allow me mourn] as you plan how to splash money again. ##bizzeemu.” Sekigozi dismissed this as “gallery politics” prompting Njala to reply “Sekigozi Stephen yours remains gutter politics.” Sekigozi replied: “Simon Kaggwa Njala you play both.”
Njala later warned Sekigozi against perceiving him as a weak politician because to some people, he (Sekigozi) is even worse. “You [Sekigozi] have a documented record of a politician who spent the highest amount of money in Uganda’s elections and lost. A whopping Shs1.2bn and you only garnered 18k votes and this number is also questionable. Naye okolawa [where do you work by the way?].” Sekigozi said he actually got 19,952 votes and not just 18k as Njala stated. He added Njala got mere 12k and added: “Meanwhile do you want me to start baking cakes or you want to hire me as a journalist as NBS?”
Njala clarified 12k votes was only from Katabi whose residents rejected Sekigozi with mere 5,000 voting for him. “Get your mathematics right. Okay, I bake cakes and I’m a journalist. How about you? Jobless millionaire?” Sekigozi never responded to this head on but instead accused Njala of trying to spin around the 2016 election results.
A one Jude Lumala weighed in calling on the two DP diehards to refrain from washing dirty linen in public but he didn’t succeed as the nasty exchange continued. Njala insisted much as he might be despised as a poor man baking cakes with his wife Agatti, he was still better than someone (he called him impostor) who insists calling himself a lawyer without ever being registered by Uganda Law Society. He said the list of validly known lawyers is available on line and his political adversary isn’t on it. Sekigozi then resorted to lecturing Njala on the difference between a barrister and solicitor implying he falls under the latter category. He said solicitor is one who is a lawyer but never wears the gown or wig and also never goes to court but does clients work. He invited Njala to come get help whenever he faces commercial law-related disputes.
Instead of taking up the invitation, Njala said: “Sekigozi Stephen let me invite my brothers in the [legal] fraternity to expose you. Should I? And do I need to reveal the people you have defrauded claiming to be a lawyer? Your case has widely been discussed by senior lawyers and if you continue like this…Sekigozi get out of denial. Ddayo osome [return to school]. Vva mubyokwekaza. You failed at UCU. Kankome wano [let me stop here]. Dare me again.”
Not one to be cowed, Sekigozi retorted: “I dare you [in capital letters]. Bring it on.” Njala responded by bringing it on as asked: “Sekigozi Stephen you have an S6 equivalent like Sematimba. That’s all. I rest my case. Good night.” But before he could even jump into his bed, Sekigozi shot back: “Simon Kaggwa Njala you are a joke.” Not one to go down without a fight, Njala replied: “Sekigozi Stephen I’m serious by the way. Never take education for granted.”
WERE THEY INTOXICATED?
As if heavily intoxicated (this being a weekend), the two Catholic brothers continued using their phones punching into the digital space until Parliament’s Senior Communications Official Helen Nanteza Kawesa weighed in urging them to honor the departed deacon by stopping quarrelling. This is how Nanteza, who they both seemingly respected, made her case: “Respect the Deacon please stop quarreling! He is not yet buried and you are tearing yourselves apart. This is ridiculous. Kitalo.”
Njala put the matter to rest by posting: “Helen Nanteza Kawesa that is how sad I feel about the political scavengers who jumped on my eulogy.” Gratefully, Sekigozi restrained himself and never returned fire and that is how the prolonged Facebook ranting between two DP Busiro South leaders came to an end.
NJALA ASS FOR MORE
But as if itching for more battle, Njala moments later made a celebratory posting on his wall: “The pandora box is now open. Let’s get dirty. Maybe that’s politics.” And on being ignored, hours later, he returned with another rant this time going bare knuckles with his gloves clearly off: “My brother Sekigozi Stephen ridiculed me for being a mufumbi wa keeki [baker of cakes] cum journalist who is crying foul over being a political failure in Busiro South. Here is the record of how we won the party flag in a bush somewhere in Kasanje. Kankomewo.” Njala attached a hazy photo of Sekigozi taking oath in what looks like a forest.
Wamala Gyaviira responded they are both political weaklings who would continue to be devoured by NRM’s Peter Sematimba. Muganga Evie, Jacob Luwemba and Peter Sabiiti backed Njala while cautioning Sekigozi to go slow on the NBS boss and be calm or else he dies in his own movie. Sabiiti said much as in his view Njala is better material for that MP Seat, he shouldn’t be complacent but continue digging the ground since 2021 is near. (For comments, call, text or whatsapp us on 0703164755 or email us at mulengera2040@gmail.com).
