By Cedrick Mwesigwa
December Monday 8th Bukedde TV 1 political talk show Akabbinkano turned rowdy after the prime minister Robinna Nabbanja lost the discussion and resorted to quarreling on the National TV which is followed by millions of watchers.
The show which is moderated by the soft and slow speaking Charles Matovu Sserugga was featuring four panelists; MP Richard Sebamala (DP), MP Elias Nalukoola (NUP), the Uganda Human Rights Commission’s head of legal affairs Pauline Mutumba Nansamba, and prime minister Nabbanja who joined in through a telephone link up.
Its main discussion was focused on the prevailing electoral violence against the opposition supporters by the security personnel with a view of exploring a lasting solution, given its far reaching implications on the country.
Part of its referential background was the December 6th incident of belligerent frogging of presidential candidate Bobi Wine supporters in Gulu city by the uniformed UPDF and Police officers with long sticks, which has ever since sparked public uproar.
Details as to why Nabbanja ended up on the panel remains scanty since the initial flier had announced MP Daud Kabanda (NRM).
The tripartite studio panelists approached critically the subject matter before the moderator Sserugga could make a direct phone call to the prime minister Nabbanja to share her insights.
However, Nabbanja whose much of the allotted time spent on lecturing other panelists about a litany of gains by her ruling NRM government, was the spark for the quarrel that spanned for quite long.
At this point, all attention by everyone on set was on Nabbanja who spent the largest time portion of the show un checked by the moderator, prompting Nalukoola to juxtapose a provocative question on whether other discussants (themselves) had not come to highlight issues, considering that she had not intentionally focused her views on the matter.
In response Nabbanja quarreled, questioning what had brought Nalukoola (opposition) on what she called Museveni’s TV. The emotionally charged Nabbanja chided at Nalukoola as an MP with urban excitement only playing to the gallery, wondering when he was attending to his constituents since much of his time was being spent running in the media.
Nabbanja’s verbal ballistics intensified while describing the oratory lawyer as a late arrival in the Ugandan parliament, saying, had it not been the death of Kawempe North legislator Muhammad Ssegirinya, he wouldn’t have entered the house.
At one-point Nabbanja wondered of who was watching Nalukoola on the TV show that airs through midnight. The Kakumiro district woman MP battle raged when Nalukoola threw more challenging words at her.
However, Nalukoola maintained his challenge, tasking her to address the prevailing question of electoral violence but in vain. Nalukoola questioned in return why Nabbanja was appearing on the same late night shown which is not watched.
Nalukoola insisted that he was regularly appearing on what was called Museveni’s TV because he was being invited by its programmers. “if they don’t invite me I would not be coming here”. He stated.
He faulted the leader of government business for stooping low by ignoring what he called the salient constitutional issues touch the country and issues at stake.
All that played out when other panelists were morass spectators of the show down.
