Eng Dr Badru Kiggundu is a civil engineer, academic and consultant currently chairing a select committee responsible for the supervision of work on two hydroelectric dams – Isimba and Karuma.
Although known to have a tight schedule, he agrees to meet Quick Talk in his office at UEDCL towers on short notice and after a few minutes we start our chat. He had promised Quick Talk just 30 minutes but the interview stretches a bit…
Good morning, Engineer,
Good morning, Quick Talk.
It has been long! [Quick Talk last interacted with him when he was still the Chairperson at Electoral Commission. His tenure there ended in 2016].
Yes! I did my part and moved on and now I’m here.
You are an accomplished scholar; don’t you regret accepting the Electoral Commission job?
I don’t regret. Why would I? That was an opportunity! My personal policy is that I take up opportunity as it comes…as presented by Allah. I like to take challenges. I don’t like easy things.
I’m an alternative thinker, I may not believe in your thinking but I respect and listen to every individual, whether young or old. I can’t fail to work with anybody unless they don’t want to work with me!
I see…
People say Kiggundu is ugly [Huh? Kiggundu is not ugly, for sure] but what can you change? He is God’s creation and there is nothing you can do.
So, what have you been doing since EC?
I’m the chairperson of the Steering Committee for the development of Karuma and Isimba power dams and also the presidential advisor on Infrastructure and Public Works.
Wow. Is this a form of reward for a job well-done at Electoral Commission?
[He shoots Quick Talk an ‘are you serious?’ look.] No! There was screening. Don’t ask me who did the screening. Anyway, I’m also a professional engineer… this is in line with what I studied.
Ok! Those elections; which one was the most hectic and which one was memorable?
Every election had its own events and successive agenda; requirements are always different. Human beings are very critical to elections….
Understandably… so what legacy do you think you left?
We came when democracy was taking root, or we can say it was rudimentary under one party [system] But we left a culture of multiparty democracy.
The public believe you were an NRM sympathizer…
[Looking dejected] Your thinking is different from mine, but I’m a principled person. Whatever we declared was from the voters. Where was I leaning? I was leaning [towards] Ugandans. My operations were in Uganda and I salute those who worked with me; the process was not that smooth.
Let’s talk family [all this political talk seems to be upsetting the amiable engineer]; I once saw you at Gayaza High School…
[Brightens up] Oh! I have a child there; I’m a father and I must balance the time I have between family and work.
You seem to be a hands-on dad.
Yeah! I have to optimize the time I have and the kids must share my time … one hour spent with a child is better than 10 hours [elsewhere].
Lucky children, if that’s your philosophy. So, when not in office…
I do farming. Mixed farming. I grow apples, but also I must eat and my kids must eat. I know I’m busy but I find time for that.
You do everything! And at your age.
Yes! I can do anything on the farm apart from rearing pigs [he is devout Muslim] but I can dig, clean the resting places for animals and other things.
At 73 you look strong; is farming your secret?
I eat well, exercise… I don’t just eat like you the youth [he laughingly remarks that youths can eat mountains of food! Kiggundu rides a bicycle, walks, and uses tread mills]
What defines ‘eat well’?
Posho, matooke, rice – but in moderation – less red meat but with a lot of vegetables. I also like white meat and fish.
But can you cook these things?
I don’t find problems with cooking. I once cooked on TV [Eng Kiggundu was once hosted on a cooking show at NBS TV].
What do you enjoy cooking?
It depends on the time I have. If it is quick food I can fix Pilau but if I have time, I can cook matooke and I can kusaaniika [wrapping the matooke in banana leaves the traditional Kiganda way. Wow, doctor!]
When was the last time you cooked?
[Thinks hard] I have lots of help; I have my wives, kids and house help… but I want to assure the public that I’m a better cook than you.
Hahaha…You’re right; Quick Talk knows nothing about Kusaaniika. Which food do you hate?
I eat all foods with moderation. I eat even kalo [millet bread], seafood – but pork is something I can’t touch.
Engineer, if you were to go back in time, what would you change?
I had options of becoming either an engineer or a medical doctor. If I were to change, hopefully I would become a medical doctor. Hopefully I would have been a good medical doctor.
Ahem…and mama watoto…?
[Assertively] I’m a Hajji.
Meaning?
I have more than one wife, or you can say I have multiple women. Baganda say, omusajja tabalirwa nzaalo (you don’t count a man’s children). Tell your editor to explain to you. [Sigh! That, again!]
So, did you have a crush at school like most boys?
[Looks confused, so Quick Talk rephrases the question] Ooh! I was not that frontal kid; my Headmaster Hon Ntege Lubwama used to advise us to stay away from women since we would get them in future [And headmaster was right, Quick Talk can see!]
So, how did you steal Hajjat’s heart? [He is initially hesitant to discuss his family, but Quick Talk can be insistent.]
I got my present wife through my sister while I was still in the USA. Love blossomed although it was a [long distance] relationship. I married her in 1983.
How was the first date?
It was cordial and we met in Nairobi.
How different was traditional dating compared to this era of social media?
Emirembe ngalo… meaning, every generation that comes has its things and specifics and we have to live with that. If you are born today you have to accept what you find, but things can change and you go with it.
The brain and technology; it’s the brain that is the engine and driver of the body. Don’t let the body drive the brain. Abakyala banji…ndagala namu. It means, that if you have a pretty lady it doesn’t mean [there are no prettier ones.] It is up to you to settle for one [Engineer, I see a career as a marriage counselor!]
But the rate at which marriages are failing today!
Technological error! WhatsApp, Facebook are taking quality concentration time in relationships. People pay more attentions to phones than partners.
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