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I once wrote, �Abaganda balina (have) akajanja.� By recent events, I say �Bana-Uganda have akajanja.� I cannot think of a good translation of akajanja. The nearest I can think of is: �revelling in fleeting fads.�
The rich harvests that the M-net fellows stand to reap were outlined by Mr Alan Tacca in his brilliant, Is Gaetano Fame A Shame For Uganda? (Sunday Monitor, September 14). Presuming Tacca�s consent, I would recast the question to �Is Gaetano fame or shame to Uganda?�
Those who read Tacca�s anatomy know his views. Clocking 77 on 19th this month, I am rather conservative, backward if you like. I give my vote to Tacca.
Doubtlessly, skilful advertising agencies will help some companies to make money out of Gaetano; and that he himself may mint dollars out of the �royalties.�
Apart from the gifts that Gaetano might give to his respectable � and godly - parents Engineer Tony and Evelyn Kaggwa. Evelyn is a sister to another devout churchman Edward Nsubuga, proprietor of Ranch on the Lake.
I do not pretend to know what thoughts assailed them in the silence of their hearts, neither their private conversations during the progress of the lengthy saga of 106 days, as it rose to a crescendo.
What I know is that they have had to lock their metal gate against intruders who came to seek their views and presumably to congratulate them upon the escapades of their son. Was it embarrassment or pride?
What seems to be clear is that the church to which parents and relatives go, was not happy about the involvement of their family member in this spree.
Did I say that Baganda had akajanja? Remember when the late Idi Amin took power on January 25, 1971? I lived at Nateete then, next to Capt. Kamya, father of Beti Kamya. Foreign radios had reported an army rebellion (others a coup) in Kampala.
Kamya and I were sipping a beer at his house, waiting to hear from Radio Uganda. At about 4.00 or 5.00 p.m., a soldier reported the coup.
Presently Amin�s voice came on to tell us that upon the request of fellow soldiers, he had accepted the country�s leadership �He was a man of few words�He would hand over power to an elected government as soon as he had cleaned up Obote�s mess.
Kamya (bless his soul) and I stood dumbfounded as crowds of branch-waving Baganda rode on APCs and military lorries welcoming Amin: the one who had, with or without [Milton] Obote�s authority, smoked Uganda�s first president, Edward Mutesa, out of his palace and country into exile, poverty and death, just five years before!
Did I say Ugandans had akajanja? Amin had not ruled for long when it was discerned that he did not like to restore kingships. Then delegation after delegation came to Entebbe to declare their loyalty to his wise rule and to tell him that, �in the interests of unity�, kingships must not be restored.
Appropriately, Baganda, who have never deviated from their love and loyalty to the Kabakaship, were silent on the subject. Later, they were able to slyly persuade Amin to make Prince Ronald Mutebi the Ssabbataka or head of Buganda�s clans; or tacitly, king.
Interestingly, the Ankole kingship-denouncing delegation was led by the Omugabe Gasyonga himself. This reminded me of Hitler�s Nazi persecution of the Jews. They were made to demonstrate against themselves on the streets, wearing and waving placards; some of which read �Down with us!�
On the day that Gaetano arrived, Mutebi was travelling to South Africa. People talk of a red carpet laid for Mutebi that Gaetano was restrained from treading by those who knew its royal purpose.
They also say that Mutebi was all but ignored by crowds who bypassed him on their way to see or glance at Gaetano. Yes, enter Gaetano; exit cultural decency. Will the Baganda ever live down that shame?
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