Father's Day: Following in dad’s footsteps

WHEN it comes to parenting, mothers are
primarily perceived as domestic care takers of children, while fathers, besides bread-winning, are supposed to provide direction to the children. As we prepare to celebrate Father’s Day, each of us in our own way, Joseph Ssemutooke looks at some people who took after their fathers in life and how they have turned out.

President Yoweri Museveni and Muhoozi Kainerugaba
Although he is believed to have initially been against his son’s joining the army, the Ugandan head of state is known to have been supportive of Muhoozi’s military career. He is a graduate of Sandhurst Military Academy, one of the most prestigious military schools in the world. Since graduating in 2001, he has served honourably in different sections of the army and risen to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Jimmy Akena and the late Milton Obote
In joining politics, the MP for Lira Municipality, James Akena took after the career path of his father, late former president Milton Obote. Akena says Obote’s passion for politics rubbed off on him from his father. He initially didn’t like politics, but while in exile in Zambia, he got involved when he served as his father’s personal assistant. He voluntarily decided to join politics in the 1990s. He says he learnt so much from working closely with the distinguished politician his father was, and that the challenges of the job taught him resilience.

Fiona Mukasa and Elly Wamala
Undisputably the most famous father and
child singers Uganda has had, Fiona Mukasa was introduced to music directly by her father, the legendary, late Elly Wamala, who also helped her grow in the trade. By the time she was an adult, her father had installed her as a vocalist in his band and shared a stage
with her, before she became a born again christian in 1987 and quit secular for gospel music. Many times, Fiona has vociferously lauded the role her father played in getting her into music, telling the story of how he mentored her musical development right from childhood. She continues to occasionally perform her father’s songs in tribute.

Susan Nampijja and MP Ken Lukyamuzi
When the IGG barred Ken Lukyamuzi from standing for re-election in 2006, he fronted his daughter to succeed him as MP for Rubaga South. Before that, Susan Nampijja had not been involved in politics at all. Yet upon election to parliament, she turned out to be as outspoken a legislator as her father. Lukyamuzi says he is his daughter’s mentor and he gives her the political tactics she uses. And he is very proud of her.

Kalundi Robert Sserumagga and Robert Sserumagga Senior
Kalundi Robert Sserumagga is more popularly known as the controversial journalist and selfstyled socio-political commentator who has often rubbed the government the wrong way. What many don’t know is that Kalundi Sserumagga is
an accomplished dramatist who has written a number of plays and has served as National Theatre director. That artistic side comes from his late father, Robert Sserumagga, who was an iconic dramatist and writer. Robert Sserumagga Senior is one of the earliest Ugandan dramatists to write in English and also served as director of the National Theatre in the 1970’s.

Robert Kayanja, Arch-Bishop John Ssentamu and Deacon John Walakira
Pastor Robert Kayanja of Rubaga Miracle
Centre and his elder brother, John Ssentamu, the Archbishop of York, England, are famous evangelists. But few know that they are walking in their late father, John Walakira’s footsteps. Walakira was a clergyman who rose to the rank of Deacon in the Church of Uganda. Pastor Kayanja, however, says if their dad influenced their foray into Christian ministry, it was morally, for they often argued with him on issues of faith.

Wasswa Lule and Yusuf Lule
Yusuf Lule is the former head of state whose presidential term famously lasted 2 months after the overthrow of Idi Amin in1979. Later, he became one of the founders of the NRA. Yusuf Lule’s son, Wasswa Lule, would later in his emulate his father by becoming a politician himself. In 1988, Wasswa Lule resigned a lucrative managerial position at Lloyd’s Bank in London and came back home to join politics. He began as Deputy Inspector General of Government (IGG) before moving to Parliament in 1995.

Winnie Munyenga and Martin Munyenga
Singer Winnie Munyenga’s father, Martin
Munyenga, is a retired singer who had his own band called Rocket Band. In her S.6 vacation in 1998, Winnie Munyenga decided, entirely on her own, to join the singing trade. Her father helped her get into the trade. Munyenga says he first allowed her to join his band, where she acquired her very first knowledge of singing with live musical instruments. Then when she found the music at her father’s band rather too oldfashioned
for her to continue with the band, the father apprenticed her to his friend, Tony Ssengo of the Badinda band, under whose mentorship she grew into an accomplished singer.

Arthur Blick, William Blick and the Blick Seniors
Arthur Blick Junior is the biggest name in motorcycle racing today having won
innumerable national championships, while his cousin William Blick was also
national champion before he retired from the sport. They both took after their
fathers, Arthur Blick Senior and Paddy Blick, who were motorcycle racing
champions back in the 1970s and 1980s. Arthur Blick says it was his own decision to join the sport, but the enthusiasm rubbed off from from his
father whom, as a child, took him to motorcycle races. He says his father also helped him launch into the career by
buying him his first racing bike, and the father is too happy to have had the son replicate his success in the sport.

David Obua, Eric Obua and Denis Obua
The man who called himself ‘Mr Football’ did not draw his pride just from the fact that he had himself recorded lofty success in the game. Rather, it was also because his sons successfully took him in their own right to become successful football icons. David Obua needs no mention being a Uganda Cranes stalwart and a European-based professional playing for Hearts
Football Club in Scotland. David’s younger brother, Eric Obua, is a talented midfielder playing for Super Division side URA FC. Obua Senior reportedly introduced all his boys to the game the moment they began to walk.

Sim Katende and J.W. Katende
Sim Katende is lauded as one of the country’s most brilliant young lawyers, while his father is considered a legend in the legal trade. The two were memorably in the limelight between 2008 and early last year, when they spearheaded and won the fight against the death sentence. Their challenging of
the death sentence led to its being declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in January last year. Neither will talk about the influence Katende senior has had on them, but it is said that he strongly influenced his son into the pursuit of a career in legal practice.And it is not just Sim, altogether, Katende has four sons and three daughters practicing law.

Aga Ssekalala and Ssekalala Senior
Aga Ssekalala is among the owners of Radio Simba, Club Silk, Ugachick and PAM Awards, among other businesses.
He says it was his own decision to follow his father’s career path into business and his father did not even give him starting capital like you might expect. Aga, however, says his father helped him succeed in business by offering counsel and guidance. The father always advised him on whether the idea he was taking up would
work out or not. He also advised him on how to make it work.