The enigma

There's a guy who fell on us with a bang from heaven. Actually, he's not a literal symbol of the big-bang theory since he spent five years in the jungle ostensibly fighting for our liberation. But five years is nothing compared to the decades Joseph Kony has spent fighting without signs of ever seizing power.

Anyway, it was 30 years ago when this guy hit the scene and caused quite a splash. Many of you were not yet born but now are married and paying fees for your own children. That's how long this guy has been around but remains, in his own estimation, quite a revelation to Uganda; the only vision-bearer and mission-hungry revolutionary who cannot go away like that when the country still needs him.

President Museveni has been in power for 30 years and still counting

That self-image would not have been farfetched if this was still 1986. That was the year in which the rapid po-po-po and raat-aat-aatt-ttttt of gunfire ceased after he toppled the military regime of Gen. Tito Okello Lutwa. He didn't even have time to change into a suit; he was still wearing his green-military bush uniform complete with a cap when he stood on precincts of parliament for his inauguration, and said words that struck a chord in the hearts of many and provoked some tears of joy. 

 "This is not a mere change of guard, this is a fundamental," the then 40-year-old Commander-in-Chief said. There was a moving realness about everything he said that day including how Africa's major problem are leaders who overstay in power. Today we all agree that he knows a different definition of "overstay" than the dictionary offers! 

Anyway, this week the General's 30-year reign was celebrated in colour in Fort Portal. I followed the proceedings in my living room, grudgingly admiring his ability to ward off those that have all these years been clamouring for the topmost job in the land. It doesn't matter how much the old man with the hat ages, his iron-grip on power continues to tighten and nothing seemingly is about to

shake him off.