In the final send-off prayers by the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party to Adam Mulwana, an iconic singer and activist, different politicians from all walks of life came to pray for his soul at a function organised Wednesday morning at Katonga Road offices in Kampala.

Mulwana, 36, came to the limelight with the song praising former FDC party president and presidential candidate Col Dr Kiiza Besigye in 2016, sending shock waves among the opposition politicians in the country.

“Toka kwa Barabara” a Swahili song loosely translated to mean 'get out of the way' endorsed Besigye as a formidable challenger against President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni who has run the country for 38 years under the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government.

Former FDC party president and political activist Dr Col Kiiza Besigye speaking about the late Adam Mulwana.

Mulwana died on Tuesday, February 13, morning at around 4:00 am at Doctors’ Hospital in Seguku after suffering from a bone marrow biopsy condition for the last three years and has since been receiving treatment from Mulago Cancer Institute, according to Dr Besigye, the chief mourner and a close associate.

Besigye described Mulwana as a symbol of hope and revolution, as well as a dedicated servant for the new Uganda they wished when they joined the bush war struggle in the 1980s.

“Mulwana is a revolutionary son who never reached the Promised Land. I knew Mulwana in 2010 when he was introduced to me by Asuman Ssemakula but his death should re-ignite our energy towards liberating Uganda,” Besigye said.

“His sickness was unclear to us because he was on and off after coming from the 2016 general elections where we traversed the whole country with him.

“As any Ugandan, Mulwana was not educated to his capacity and did not receive necessary treatment due to the ailing education and healthcare system in the country. In a functioning country, every citizen should have a medical file where illnesses are monitored in case of an accident or any disease,” he said.

“His campaign song moved my mind, life and soul right from the 2011 general elections, and walk-to-work protests until it gained fame in the whole country in 2016.

“Mulwana had two songs for me. He had ‘Besigye wange nyamba mpone enaku yange’ and Toka kwa Bala-Bala which energised me every time I got annoyed by the traitors,” he added.

Besigye condemned politicians who want to elevate their political careers on the sick and dead.

He has asked the government to come up with legislation banning people from posing with sick people in pictures alleging assistance in sharing such posts online.

“Much as we need social media to advance our struggle, it is inhuman for us to pose with ill patients and post their conditions on Facebook, WhatsApp, X, and TikTok,” he said.

“When we must support our friends, let it be when they are still alive such that their families come to see our contributions to our friends,” Besigye added.

Politicians eulogise

The news of Mulwana’s passing was received with shock by the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) party president, Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi, who took to X, formerly Twitter, to express his great loss.

“I have received the very sad news of the passing of my friend, comrade Adam Mulwana, an artiste and political activist who dedicated his life to the cause for the freedom of Uganda,” he said.

When I last interacted with him, he was as devoted to the struggle as ever, despite his ailing health, he added.

“Such a pity he has passed on without seeing the kind of country he so much desired to live in. The best we can do for him is to accomplish the mission for which he sacrificed immensely. May his soul rest in eternal peace,” Kyagulanyi promised.

The Minister of State for Finance, Planning and Economic Development (Microfinance), Haruna Kasolo, described Mulwana as a patriot, a friend and an enterprising young man who served his nation.

“I helped Mulwana with campaign cash in 2021 when he contested as councillor for Makindye division though I am in the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party.

“He sent me audios for his sickness and I paid for his food supplements and he was promising me that he wanted to do business before he died,” he said.

The Mukono Municipality Member of Parliament, Betty Nambooze Bakireke described Mulwana as a fearless fighter who risked his life for the betterment of all Ugandans.

“Though I was still in the Democratic Party under Nobert Mao, I liked Mulwana for showing who he was during the 2011 walk-to-work protests. His songs energized foot soldiers who were seeking democratic change,” she said.

‘Special’

Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago conveyed his heartfelt sympathy to the family, mother, relatives, in-laws and friends of Mulwana who met him in the struggle.

“Mulwana was special because he lit the whole country with his soul-touching message to Ugandans yearning for change. He will forever be our inspiration for democracy,” Lukwago said.

“There is a big problem coming up from politicians posing with the sick people for fun and it happened in Nairobi while some people visited Kawempe North MP, Muhammad Ssegirinya.

“I saw other activists posing with Gen. Moses Ali when they visited him at his home and they posted him when he was barely talking and it was sad,” Lukwago added.

Mulwana is survived by his wife Hasifah Namyalo and two children and was to be laid to rest on Wednesday at his ancestral home in Buziranduulu, Butambala District.