MP Anywar: Uganda’s political slay queen on politics of transition

December 20, 2017 will remain a major milestone in the politics of Beatrice Anywar, the Kitgum Municipality Member of Parliament. The famous Mama Mabira, as she is fondly called, voted “yes” in support of the controversial constitution amendment of Article 102(b). MP Anywar with much vigour and a straight face endorsed the life presidency bid despite her affiliation for decades to the Opposition.
It is important to note that Anywar is the only MP who has supported three presidential candidates in a period of five years hence fuelling the accusation that she has been acting as a National Resistance Movement (NRM) mole in Opposition. This was further publicised by the picture of the President sitting by her bedside as proof, as she lay in the hospital recovering from a road accident; and eventually the President was invited as chief guest at her thanks-giving ceremony in Kitgum District.
In her defense, she said: “My stand is that when we went for consultations, there was only one clause and it was about lifting age limit. Little did my people know that there is even a proposal to introduce term limits and increase the five-year tenure of Parliament to seven years. This is where people are not given full disclosure about the Bill. Here everybody is talking about the age limit,” she stated.
According to Anywar, her people told her to “support the reinstatement of term limits and since it comes with the Bill, she could not watch it go.” This major political decision marked a milestone on NRM dating tactics versus FDC’s dating strategy for Uganda’s political slay queens. Uganda’s transitional political debates on amending Article 102(b) precariously are a reminiscence of Wole Soyinka’s book, The Lion and the Jewel.
Soyinka, a Nigerian 20th Century writer and winner of the Noble Prize for Literature 1986, in his The Lion and the Jewel debates tradition versus modernity - whether to move into the future and leave their past behind them. The complexity of Anywar’s decision to vote “yes” is spectacularly reflected in Sidi’s character whether to say yes to Lakunle’s marriage proposal or fall in to Baroka’s trap. This love scene is beautifully portrayed in FDC’s efforts through Dr Kizza Besigye’s mentorship to win Anywar’s political heart and President Museveni’s effort to court her into his trap. Uganda’s two main political actors share a lot in common besides their historical background. Both Besigye and Museveni are cunning in their attempt to woo Anywar (Sidi). Baroka’s (Museveni) alias foreshadows his personality, “the fox of the undergrowth.” A fox is an animal notorious for being cunning. We mostly see this side of him in his pursuit to gain Sidi’s (Anywar) hand in marriage as evidenced in President Museveni’s visit to Anywar’s bedside when she was involved in an accident and “special support” in her personal efforts towards the Nodding Syndrome in northern Uganda as well as chief guest at her thanks-giving ceremony. Baroka (Museveni) was disingenuous in proclaiming his political impotence. He gave naive Sidi (Anywar) the upper hand. However, she in-turn fell into his traps. Lakunle’s (Besigye) cunning side was revealed in his plan to modernise the village (Uganda). It is important to note that Besigye has had the most impressive manifesto and passionately shared his great plans for Uganda but losing elections four times to Museveni. Lakunle’s (Besigye) attempt to eradicate the bride price (taxes) as he thought paying it would be like “buying a heifer from the market stall (corruption).”
This surprisingly is Uganda’s greatest debate between tradition and modernity. The age limit debate is about whether we go by President Musevei’s values of democracy, good governance and freedom that we all cherish or we transition to newer ideas by a different generation led by Besigye. In the overall plot of The Lion and the Jewel, Lakunle (Besigye) and Baroka (Museveni) fight for Sidi’s (Anywar’s) political love, displays a confrontation between tradition and modernity. Between the two, Sidi (Anywar) has to choose between having a modern or traditional political marriage.
Lakunle’s (Besigye) refusal to accept traditional causes (the role of NRM historicals and militarism) causes modern aspirations for good governance, democracy and human rights to falter. Sidi (Anywar) responds to one of his many proposals saying, “I shall marry you today, next week or any day you name. But my bride price must first be paid.” This is reminiscence of Besigye’s insistence on his defiance campaign as a modern way overthrowing the government and accessing power.
This is an indication that if Lakunle (Besigye) had not stuck to traditional bride price (defiance), “modern man” could have had the bride (Anywar). His choice for modernity (defiance) leaves the door open to Baroka (Museveni) to enter Anywar’s political heart; Baroka(Museveni) knowing the rules of political tradition and using Sidi’s (Anywar’s) ego on her like the possibly a promise of a ministerial appointment and political money, Baroka (Museveni) knows that if he can seduce Sidi (Anywar), she will have no choice, but to marry him (join the NRM) because she will no longer be a maid. It is this battle that causes tradition to triumph over modernity hence, Museveni’s bid for life presidency.
Finally, Lion (Museveni) and Mister Lakunle (Besigye) with their opposing beliefs despite sharing a lot in common historically, will win Sidi’s(Anywar’s) heart because like all slay queens in Uganda, values are secondary. Material gain is the first principle of survival in our political hassle. This is what the Lion knows best to remain the king of the jungle than a teacher like Lakunle.

Mr Aliker is a resident of Gulu. [email protected]