Who will be the subjects of poor Kanyanya’s realm?

Aug 28, 2005

SIR — I am not certain about Joseph Wash kany-anya’s mental health. Kanyanya came from the USA, claiming that God had told him to declare Bugisu a kingdom, similar to the way Joseph Kony claimed he had been sent by “God” to lead the people of northern Uganda and probably the whole country to

SIR — I am not certain about Joseph Wash kany-anya’s mental health. Kanyanya came from the USA, claiming that God had told him to declare Bugisu a kingdom, similar to the way Joseph Kony claimed he had been sent by “God” to lead the people of northern Uganda and probably the whole country to the “Promised Land”. Kanyanya’s efforts were thwarted by rational Bagisu, who questioned the legitimacy of kingship among the Bagisu historically. He then threatened to sue all the people standing in his way to kingship, claiming now that it is his constitutional right to become a king contrary to his earlier claim that he had been commanded by God to become a king.
According to The New vison of Friday, Kanyanya now wants to buy land and make his own “kingdom”. It is not clear who will be the subjects in Kanyanya’s kingdom or how big this kingdom will be or from whom he will buy the land. Probably, he will convince his villagemates in Bukigai subcounty that he was sent by God to buy their land and that they should leave and relocate elsewhere.
Kanyanya’s problem could be just simple. Perhaps he thinks when one comes from America, he is really great and can make people do whatever he says.
He could either be tired of illegal kyeyo life and wants to come back home and rest like a king. But that is not what he should have done. He could have waited and at least contested the district chairmanship for Manafwa District, or vied for Manjiya county.
The people of Bugisu should be very careful of people like Kanyanya who invoke the name of God for earthly gains.

Robert Kuloba Wabyanga,
Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel

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