By Ndawula Ronald
Magandaazi and Bukenya were brothers and war veterans who grew up together in Luwero subcounty, Bukuma village in particular.
Magandaazi was a glutton by nature who when they were growing up used to eat unproportionately too much food.
When they grew up and each had his own family , Magandaazi as a perfect Muganda was a focused administrator who commanded all the proceeds of his sweat at home and he could take no chances.
When he bought meat source at home for soup he commanded even the pieces that should be got from a kilo of meat or the pieces to be cut out of his chicken and fish.
On Easter Sunday, Magandaazi bought his chicken and as usual organised how it should be shared before cooking.
On Easter day Bukenya woke up early and by 10.00am he was at Magandaazi’s home because he had nothing arranged for the day, his family had gone to visit relatives in Kiwoko, Nakaseke district.
Bukenya was offered a seat in a shade where the big man sat.
They exchanged pleasantries and started discussing about the many trending issues like Oulanya poison and the many contradictory versions of his cause of deaths and they agreed that the father must have been told the truth.
They discussed about the prices of commodities and the impending Muhoozi birthday party.
Magandaazi was emphasising that the man who has never made a birthday party how could this be one?
Bukenya informed his brother how this will bring in Presidents of the neighbouring countries and this only emphasized his position that the young man is launching his Presidential bid.
Bukenya also wondered if it’s a birthday thing and those Presidents come then he will know that Africa’s Presidents are not really very busy.
Magandaazi faulted Muhoozi for holding the party in Kampala and why he didn’t consult Museveni his father who always started his ventures in Luwero.
That party would fit very well in Luwero stadium and the veteran fighters would share ,atleast a cow.
Secondly, the luck of the fallen soldiers who have always been a good omen will not be with them this time.
The conversation spilled to the war in Ukraine and the Karimojong in Teso. Bukenya and Magandaazi concurred about the unfairness of the Vinci coffee agreement which was signed by Minister Kasaija and his cronies.
He wondered whether there’s some heart and fairness left in Ugandan leaders.
They both agreed to meet their MP to voice their discontent but Magandaazi asked whether any of the MPs has ever said anything in Parliament.
Bukenya advised that maybe we talk to the woman MP because for her she speaks good English and highly educated like Sseggona or Dr.Bwanika.
They concurred that Hon Luttamaguzi will be easy to contact because he sometimes passes through that road to Nakaseke if for some reason they don’t get in touch with the woman MP.
Magandaazi started worrying about the Visitor who was not leaving yet LUNCH seemed fast approaching and the man seemed prolonging the conversations and bringing useless topics.
Magandaazi excused himself and went to the kitchen to inform the wife that he should hold on to serve food till the Visitor goes away.
Bukenya deep in his heart knew his brothers attitude towards food and he decided to be patient because he knew he had to have lunch at his brothers home no matter what.
Time reached 3.30pm and the conversation seemed endless and there was no sign of any preparation for food on the horizon, then Bukenya knew for sure there must be something out of the ordinary as to why food was not being served especially it was Easter day!
Bukenya thought about it and decided to say bye to his brother who seemed not bothered by the biting hunger on easter day but very eager to see him off.
Mr Magandaazi decided as usuall to escort his visiting brother upto to the nearby corner and waved him off.
Suspecting foul play on as to why food was not being served on time Bukenya decided to double check.
He released the pressure valve from his bicycle tyre and went back to Magandaazi’s home to ask for a pressure pump to fix his bicycle.
He found Mr Magandaazi serving the chicken himself and almost half the chicken was on his plate!
Bukenya with a sigh of relief said, I wanted a pressure pump to fix this bicycle but let me first have lunch.
I wish you could see Mr Magandaazi’s face!
He silently retorted, these are bad times, museveni has brought poverty and you can’t just interrupt people’s food when they didn’t budget for you.
Poverty is too much and we should use our scarce resources flugary .
Grudgingly, he continued ‘We can only afford to give you soup because all meat has been given out!’ Things are very difficult my brother.
Magandaazi politely told Maama Namatovu that give your husband (Bukenya) that piece on your plate I will buy another chicken next week , after all Baganda women should not eat chicken.
Those who think can eat the whole of Uganda and enrich yourselves when others are crying of hunger it’s not sustainable. At the end of the day no one has ever eaten a big meal so as not to need again.
Share with the hungry.
Ndawula Ronald, the author is the former Chairperson of Luwero district
