Museveni hugs Besigye

By Titus W. Kakembo President Yoweri Museveni hugs Col. Kizza Besigye intimately in the neighbourhood of state house. With his customary herders hat, wearing that fatherly smile, Museveni dressed in a navy blue arms wide open, while Besigye readily falls in. Feeling the pulse of Museveni's heart beat Besigye opens his palm wide, accepting defeat. All this happens as former president Godfrey Binaisa looks on with his bald head reflecting glittering rays of hope in the Movement leadership. Well, this scene could only have happened through the stroke of a creative artists brush. Stephen Gwoktcho's art has been exhibited at Nommo Gallery since May 10. Gwoktcho says "Binaisa says he is the father of the Movement through his one umbrella political philosophy. Having him tower over Museveni and Besigye is symbolic of a father seeing his off - springs blossom". The reconciliatory oil on canvass piece can be yours for only sh1.5m. Gwoktcho says, "Besigye says he is ready to work with Museveni. Even if it is not getting a post in the cabinet but to take the country to the promised land". The politics in the artist screams loud and clear in one of Gwoktchos pieces called Stepping Stone. On the larger than life piece the artist's son Emmanuel steps on the national flag while sipping a soft drink. "This is typical of many Ugandans who plunder the state through corruption for self betterment. None has the country at heart anymore. There is no patriotism. Evidence is the chopper saga and the infectious corruption eating up the whole country," said Gwoktcho. The appealing art of Gwoktcho is an intermarriage between abstract and realism. His vibrant colours grab the eye and keep it held teasingly with greys and purples. He is torn between classical and modern art. Tickling the ribs of art lovers at the exhibition hot moments of the presidential race are kept alive. There is a dramatic piece when Besigye's eyes nearly popped out of the sockets while protecting Okwir Rwabwoni from arrest at Entebbe airport.