Uganda’s game of thrones

__________

WHAT’S UP!

In the game of thrones, you either win, or you die’ George R.R. Martin’s novel series, A Song of Fire & Ice, is a classic tale of the perils of the pursuit of power. It is ‘a brutal examination of the consequences of unrestrained ambition’. The first book in the series is titled Game of Thrones, and gives its name to the immensely successful TV series.

In Martin’s fantasy world, the ruler of the Seven Kingdoms sits on the Iron Throne, which is made out of the swords of vanquished enemies. It is the ultimate symbol of power, but it is also an uncomfortable, dangerous seat with twisted blades, barbs, and edges sticking out everywhere that often cut kings who dare sit on it.

Just like the ancient Greek tales of tragedy, although much darker, Martin drives the point home that power and its pursuit are ultimately empty. That power is violent, destructive, ugly and completely corrupts those who pursue it. Those who fight for the Iron Throne are ultimately consumed by it.

The lately unlamented former Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, would have done well to study, if not the ancient Greek writers, at least read Martin’s seven books (we are still waiting for the last two). Do Ugandan politicians have the time to read? But she should have made time to watch the TV series.

Martin’s characters are all flawed, and the good guys like Ned Stark quickly learn that trying to play by the rules in a system that has none can be fatal.

But, which of all those flawed characters would resemble Among? I asked Google, and the name Cersei Lannister came up. She is ruthless in her pursuit of power, and ultimately, she pays the price and loses everything. She is paranoid, manipulative, and extremely vindictive. Many who have crossed paths with Among would probably recognise those traits.

There are more parallels between Among and Cersei. The latter gains power through manipulation and patronage, marries the ruler, and becomes mother to a king. Among manipulated her way to Speaker by taking advantage of the patronage system in the ruling party. Cersei used her position of influence to consolidate her power and purge any perceived enemies.

Among used her position as speaker of Parliament to consolidate her power and influence, and was on the way to creating a parallel centre of power. That was obviously a play for the Iron Throne, and she got badly cut.

Cersei’s downfall came when erstwhile allies started leaking damaging information about her. Ultimately, they abandoned her, and without the influence, her power and control disappeared.

Among’s excessive greed, blatant corruption and ostentatious living would diminish her power and influence. Although a censure motion against her and the parliamentary commissioners who awarded themselves ‘service awards’ worth hundreds of millions of shillings was blocked, the writing was already on the wall.

International sanctions against her and her husband, Federation of Uganda Football Associations president Moses Magogo, only served to accelerate her fall.

Hubris was defined by the ancient Greeks as an overwhelming pride that defies everything, but ultimately leads to ‘nemesis’, the inevitable fall that follows.

Cersei believed in her ability to outmanoeuvre and manipulate everyone and everything; Among was so convinced of her invincibility that at the height of an intense battle for the ostensibly third most powerful position in the country, she chose to import a billion shilling Rolls Royce into the country.

Again, another lesson she could have learnt from the Greeks: that ‘whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad’.

Both Cersei and Among were mad; they lost judgment, made self-destructive choices, and walked straight into their own ruin. The gods don’t need to strike anyone down; they just remove their ability to see clearly. Their judgment is clouded by paranoia and pride right before their fall.

Game of Thrones can be taken as a manual on how power collapses, which it is, and it is bound to, sooner or later.

The quote ‘in the game of thrones, you either win or you die’ is taken from Cersei’s conversation with Ned Stark. Among made her play for the Iron Throne, but she lost. Ironically, in Martin’s world, no one who sits on the Iron Throne actually wins.

Like a critic wrote, ‘The Game of Thrones is a zero-sum system built on fear, debt, and violence. If you lose, you lose everything: land, title, life.’

Ultimately, the only winners in the Game of Thrones are those who don’t play it. You, me and the ordinary folks who just want to get by and live their lives, who don’t drive expensive cars and wear designer clothes.

The lesson here is very clear: There are really no winners in the Game of Thrones.

Everyone eventually loses, maybe some not as dramatically as others. But the Iron Throne will consume all those who desire to sit on it. If you don’t believe me, ask Anita Among.

You can follow Kalungi Kabuye on X: @KalungiKabuye