Celebrity endorsements are gradually becoming a staple in Ugandan politics nowadays and this year’s elections was no exception. Both Bebe Cool and Dr. Jose Chameleone managed to muster a long line-up, of more A-listers to support the NRM party, but the celebrity moment of the campaign definitely goes to Adam Mulwana for his ‘Toka Kwabarabara’ song for FDC (a typical Grass to Grace Story}.
That may well be remembered, but the B-and-C-listers of our celebrities, who flashed different party signs and symbols to get ‘something’ and some attention will now vanish back into oblivion.
Bebe Cool and Jose Chameleone during NRM campaigns
I can confidently talk of the friends I lost at both end of the divide; some I gladly unfriended, others did the same to me. Election time can create some awkward moments, with friends and family on the other side of the political divide.
Most of the political chat among friends was on Facebook, and some guys could get easily irritated; impatient and somewhat bad-tempered at times, with inflammatory political posts, and angry re-posts (make a quick clever reply to an insult or criticism).
I took extreme care about what to say politically – both online and in person – to keep the temperature down. Now that it’s over, we can get back to not being so divided!
Dixon Okello
