Nagenda’s English is superb but....

SIR—I have read Dr James Kimbugwe’s letter commenting on John Nagenda’s writing style. I have also read Mr Kahuma’s praising Nagenda for his style. Rev Enyagu of Mukono Christian University also wrote supporting Kimbugwe. Nagenda responded in his usual abusive know-it-all and condescending manner dismissing Kimbugwe’s and Enyagu’s observations. I have this to say: There is no doubt Nagenda’s English is superb. However, Dr Kimbugwe’s observation is valid. nagenda’s style is elitist and succeeds in shutting out average readers although he insists that even guards and cooks find it very easy and like it. I have the privilege to know Dr Kimbugwe. He is an associate professor of Comparative Literature and Linguistics. Therefore, there is no way he could have had difficulties understanding Nagenda’s language. What he stressed was suitability of nagenda’s style in a newspaper. For reasons best known to himself, the columnist deliberately writes the way he does. It is not something he has no control over. The proof is in his Monday article, “UPC is on the war path again”. Had the article not carried Nagenda’s byline there was no way it could remotely have been associated with the man. Was it written for him or was it a bad piece?Jonathan LukwagoKampala