Bernard Luyiga: Vocal for the right cause or own interests?

Oct 24, 2007

KAMPALA<br><br>For Bernard Luyiga, nothing is too hot to handle. In his political life of less than three years, Luyiga has been jailed several times.

KAMPALA

By Joshua Kato

For Bernard Luyiga, nothing is too hot to handle. In his political life of less than three years, Luyiga has been jailed several times.

Even as a gray saloon car whisked him away to Luzira Prison, Luyiga smiled and clenched his right fist. The fist is the symbol of the Democratic Party, his political party. His transition from a talkative boy to Makerere University councillor, has been as dramatic as his arrest for alleged bribery.

Luyiga was evidently shocked by his arrest.

“When arrested, the man who has been putting Kampala City Council (KCC) and the Government on the edge lost his voice,” says one of his friends.

Previously, Luyiga has been in jail for causing civil disorder through demonstrations. This time, he is back in jail on allegations of bribery and corruption, the ills he has been condemning — at least in public. Luyiga is accused of soliciting a bribe from KCC town clerk, Ruth Kijjambu, so that he withdraws a petition in council against her “very poor performance.”

Although Luyiga studied Social Sciences, he understands almost every legal document and refers to them at will. His friends and political allies say he is very good at organising demonstrations.

When Prof. Gilbert Bukenya’s name was dropped from the list of candidates for the post of Makerere University chancellor, Luyiga came out against the move.

“If you do not put Bukenya’s name back onto the list, you will be responsible for what happens next,” he warned. Bukenya’s name was reinstated.

When there were rumours that the Balaalo were settling in Kiboga, Luyiga mobilised his colleagues and went to Kiboga to “fight for the Kabaka’s land.”

When Makerere University was closed after a students strike, Luyiga went on a hunger strike for three days. He picked a mattress, a blanket and legal books, including the Constitution and staged a one-man strike in front of the university’s main gate.

“It took the intervention of the Inspector General of Police, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura, for Luyiga to end the strike,” says a KCC councillor.

During the demonstrations over the give away of Mabira Forest to Mehta, Luyiga mobilised students at Makerere University.

“He moved from room to room talking to students until he convinced them to join the demonstration,” says a student.

Luyiga was subsequently arrested with others and the case is in court.

A few months ago, Luyiga tried to pass a vote of no confidence against the mayor, Nasser Sebaggala. “He is incompetent. We have to remove him from office to save this country,” Luyiga said. However, the petition flopped.

It is in this wake that Luyiga started his “vote of no confidence” against Kijjambu. This time, however, he seems to have misjudged his steps, hence the arrest.

According to his colleagues, Luyiga is a very ambitious man, who will leave no stone unturned to get what he wants.

“But this may land him into problems,” says a councillor.

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