Is it time to write Mao’s political obituary?

For future reference. In one or two months’ time, DP president Norbert Mao, hopes to release his prison diaries, which he has written under the working title Letters From Nakasongola. It embodies his “stories and reflections” when he was incarcerated in the Nakasongola Prison during the Walk-to-Work protests. Then in a year’s time, Mr Mao hopes to publish his life’s story under the title Tomorrow Will Come, writes Eriasa Mukiibi Sserunjogi.

Mao would later launch a shot at the Makerere University guild presidency, which he won in April 1990 after fighting out a grueling battle with the then state-backed Lt Noble Mayombo. Dr Sam Lyomoki, currently an MP representing workers, also contested the guild presidency. On the other hand, Deputy Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oulanyah and another candidate, Charles Vuba, pulled out in Mao’s favour.

During the one year when Mao led Makerere University students, he cut his teeth as an anti-establishment figure, especially when he led a students’ strike against Structural Adjustment Programmes, particularly against cost sharing. University students protested against the abolition of allowances to themselves for things like books and transport.

Two students were killed during the strike, others were roughed up and the university was closed for six months, torching off criticism against Mao. Even some members of Mao’s cabinet accused him of being “used by anti-government forces”. Mao responded by sacking four of them.