Is the Lion Becoming a Softie?

Amin ruled him for only two days. He single-handedly chased Big Daddy out of town—followed by Obote and Okello Lutwa. Then Sese Seko Nkuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga had to abandon his vast resource-rich fiefdom when the Lion marched in to assist Elder Kabila, whom he later turned his guns against. Bashir to the North quickly saw the wisdom of peace when the Lion charged in to help buddy Garang. Impressive resume' –only marred by tiny Rwanda rubbing his nose in the fertile jungle dirt of Kisangani.

We can write pages on the bravado and the insults. Anything that fails, is other people’s faults. Every success is his alone and the NRM—as if there is any difference! That is the real manhood we are familiar with, but only betrayed by quirky Jungian Anima, which is manifested as second-rate female archetype, characterized by unconscious show of moodiness, betrayals, jealousy, irritability, vainness, etc. Does anyone remember the The Tonya Harding - Nancy Kerrigan Saga? Tonya Harding is the quintessential second-rate female who arranged to club a comepititor’s knee so that she could win in the Olympics! Any similarity to high-stake presidential rivalry in Uganda?

Now, in the twi-light of his long rule, which he doesn’t fail to remind us of, he has pulled a rabbit out of his gallon of a hat. It is about love—of country, of self and of East Africa—patriotism a la Museveni.

Macho revolutionaries can see a vertigo if they were to talk about sissie love. What is going on here? Should this love thing not have been the primary sentiment before front-loading the government with his tribesmen, purchase of an expensive presidential jet, creating a batallion for personal protection, fire-sales of state corporations and the likes? Is this about creating a legacy—a lasting imprint on the country? Whatever it is, love is good. It is the antithesis of hate, greed and ignorance. And we are all the happier if it will emanate from the top down, latterraly all around, and whichever way.