LETTER TO MY ‘DAD’: Dear President Museveni, I have a dream

Dear ‘dad’, hope this letter finds you in a good mood.

Kyankwazi must have been interesting for you. I congratulate you for having been elected unopposed to hold that flag for another term.

Dad, the other day I was listening to Capital Gang on Capital Radio, and there is this lady who I used to admire so much for her articulation. That day she blamed the host Mr Ssemweya Musoke for hosting Bebe Cool and Balamu Barugahare. That gang was stooping low to host them. It was the intervention of Mr Ssemweya Musoke and Ofwono Opondo that saved the situation reminding her that the two have a stake in Uganda. She was writing them off because they were in the arts industry not fit for a programme like Capital Gang. Frankly speaking from that day as an artiste I hate listening to her.

Having said that, as an artiste still I was not happy with you Dad President when you made fun of us artistes that we should concentrate on our music, dance, and drama (MDD) and leave politics alone. You continued to make fun of Bobi Wine and Kato Lubwama to amuse the NRM MPs you were addressing.

They also went on to laugh.

My dad as a son who earns from MDD, who went to Makerere to study MDD more over sponsored by your government, I felt very bad to think that you have ‘abaana ne byana’ (Good and bad children).

I have seen families where the ‘byana’, the hated children, always prosper in life to help their parents better than the ‘baana’.

Others may go as far as hating their parents.

The artistes in Uganda have really been so humble and obedient to support both your political and social projects. Dad, have you forgotten Bakayimbira with their ‘Ndiwulira’, and others on the fight against HIV?.

What about Kawoya of the Samds who is always there to carry his tummy bare to entertain your guests and mobilise for you on your campaign trail. What about the makers of ‘Tubonga nawe’?

Or you have forgotten that my sister Natasha has just premièred her film, the 27 Guns?

She is an artiste you make fun of including the General who fired the first bullet in your protracted war. May be that is why sergeant Kifulugunyu died so miserable.

My dear dad, as you make fun of these ‘byana’ (artistes), some have come up to stand against you. Dad you may deny this but the fact is; “There is nobody for the time you have been in power that has ever been a small stone in your political shoe to make it uncomfortable like BOBI WINE”.

Senkubuge Siasa also an artiste, may have done it but you sent Mayombo to advise him otherwise, as I read from his (Senkubuge’s) book “Daala ku daala”.

Today, Bobi Wine seems to be unmovable. He is becoming strong and stronger day by day.

Making fun of him will catapult the guy. In our industry if you want to attract a big audience, just stop appearing frequently because that will out wear the warm welcome. So refusing Bobi to sing is the gravest mistake you have made. I even wondered who advised you on that.

‘Dad’, I don’t think you will refuse Bobi to sing during campaigns. The voters will have missed him for two years while his songs are being played in their homes, vehicles and bars.

The other day a full bus to the east sung Engule as it was played thru the speakers.

So my Dad, as you go around the country with your convoy campaigning, Bobi Wine is also doing the same everywhere in Uganda. He is busy visiting homesteads through his music, passing on his message.

Just wait for the day Bobi will register at Namboole (IN SHA ALLAH). I dream of the day when you are overwhelmed with, not the many people following Bobi because you will have a very big number too, but the love for him.

I dream seeing people shedding tears of joy for seeing him live again. Today you are like advertising him for the next two years.

We may again see the love similar to what we saw when you stood on the steps of the Parliament building some 33 years ago.

Dad I remain your son, hajj Ashraf Simwogerere.

Hajj Ashraf Simwogerere is a veteran actor, playwright and social critic