Fighting for your cake

The Optimist has not morphed into a political pundit but cannot help adding two cents worth on the episodic battle between Singh Katongole and Moses Kasibante over the Rubaga North parliamentary seat.

Kasibante - the people's choice

I'm thinking Kasibante is still delirious with joy after getting reinstated by the Court of Appeal as the true winner. Katongole has meanwhile refused to back down and is vowing to proceed to the Supreme Court. He must love Yogi Berra’s famous adage: "It ain't over 'till it’s over!"

It's a funny drama, but significantly, is what it has to teach us about life and human behaviour; how easy is it to lose disgracefully, and how exploiting the foibles of men can help you fly like an eagle to greatness.

If Katongole was a shrewd politician with honest ambitions for his electorate, he would have conceded defeat in the first round and returned to the drawing board ready to bounce back in 2016 for it was obvious from the word go that Kasibante whose voice was familiar through his radio shows on CBS and who did not have his rival's financial muscle and 'high and mighty' political connections was the people's choice.

Singh lost disgracefully

Did Katongole's claque at the Electoral Commission really expect their man to survive after defying a court order to stop the recount on the basis of its illegality? The last time I checked it had a boomeranging effect, for as the "learned gentlemen" can testify "contempt of court" is abominable and cannot go unpunished.

Even then, it was not going to be easy for Kasibante. But beneath his easy demeanour is a warrior who won the test of patience by shock-absorbing intimidation and refusing to give leeway to any deterrents in his quest for justice.

In the opposite corner, a bullish Katongole threw tantrums, at one time going for Erias Lukwago's neck in so undignified a manner that it was easy to understand why the people of Rubaga could not trust him. Then, his potbelly and glossy lips give him a spitting image of a gourmand that makes you want to think that in parliament he would have worried over his stomach first before the needs of his people.

I guess the point of the story is that learning to lose honourably is essential if we are to go up the rungs. And those who, through effort and dedication, fight unfair processes will be rewarded. That is why you should not envy Kasibante while he enjoys his cake.