Minister’s maid writes Lukwago’s mid-term report

“Because Musisi is doing the right thing so fighting her is a wrong battle,” the minister’s maid explains. “There are so many right battles to fight in the country that could have made Lukwago look like a great man.

Last week I enjoyed eavesdropping on a conversation between the minister’s maid and mine, as they tried to predict the political future of a man they had supported so vigorously during the last mayoral elections for Kampala. I was a bit disturbed by the way they were referring to the eminent lawyer in the past tense, as if he is no longer with us. But as the minister’s maid explained to mine, who is definitely slower in understanding public matters, I also got some useful insights.

According to the minister’s maid, their man the Lord Mayor has not lost it and has a lot of political future if he chooses the right battle to fight. My maid was confused and asked her more enlightened colleague how one battle can be right and the other one wrong.

“There is no doubt Lukwago is a very clever man and brave fighter,” the minister’s maid said. “Yesterday I heard honourable reminding his friends how Lukwago so ably bravely defended Winnie Byanyima as she was being accused of many serious crimes after Dr Besigye fled the country and she became the unofficial leader of political opposition in the country.”

“You mean Lukwago helped that great woman who they said now leads ox – bikoze bitya?” asked my maid. “Oxfam,” the minister’s maid helped her. “According to honourable, if it hadn’t been for Lukwago’s determination then, Winnie would have rotted in jail until the government would have broken her down or turned her around. And mind you Lukwago was then really young, a few years out of law school. But after being a hero for one great woman, he has been drawn into a losing battle fighting another woman of strong character.”

“You mean Jennifer Musisi?” asks my maid. “Why shouldn’t Lukwago fight her if she is also fighting him?” “Because Musisi is doing the right thing so fighting her is a wrong battle,” the minister’s maid explains. “There are so many right battles to fight in the country that could have made Lukwago look like a great man. But a very important place called Kampala is being put right after years of suffering under crooks. Appearing to fight the person who is putting it right in battle even a good man like Lukwago has lose. And he is already losing it.”

“But she is the one who undermines him!” yelled my maid, who apparently is a staunch Lukwago supporter. “It does not matter,” calmly said the minister’s maid. “Poor Lukwago became mayor at the wrong time when the city needs to be handled with a firm hand and not politics. Look, a man more popular with the masses and abataasoma that Lukwago was mayor before and see what happened! The time for a popular city boss passed, and gradually everyone is realising that Musisi is doing the job right. Fighting her whether she provoked the fight or not simply cant work in Kampala ya lero. Not n today’s Kampala.”

“So you think all those people whom she removed form the streets are now happy with her?” angrily asks my maid who can also be strong headed, even when she is short on facts.
“My dear, the city is not meant only for vendors but many more of us who buy from the vendors,” explains the level headed maid. “Have you forgotten how terrible even the main streets of Kampala were looking just two years ago as tomatoes were being sold on the tarmac?

Even honourable’s driver used to say he was so scared of driving in the city because you could knock down a person anytime and then bayaye could beat you to death. Food and stuff are supposed to be sold in markets, and those people were leaving the market stalls vacant to come and sell on the streets. Now Musisi is even building more modern markets for them. But let me ask you, if the vendors sell food on the streets, should the drivers drive their cars in the market stalls also?” My maid was losing the argument. But she insisted that all the same Lukwago is a great laywer and clever politician.

“I agree entirely,” said the minster’s maid. “That is why even Honourable said he has a great future if he picks the right battle to fight. But this battle for Kampala is being fought at the wrong time. There are many other battles Lukwago could pick so that in 2016 he can make a good candidate for the opposition.”

“Whatever you say, for us we shall give him if he stands,” my maid kept saying as she escorted the minister’s maid through our small gate.
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