ALLAN ALOYSIUS SSEWANYANA, commonly known as Omusajja Wa Bwiino, is a sports analyst on Top radio and Makindye West member of Parliament.
He is also a former councilor at KCCA, most famous for leaping over desks and heads to stop then line minister Frank Tumwebaze from impeaching Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago. Quick Talk met with him last Tuesday at Parliament.
You are smart, Honorable! Where did you buy this suit? [He is wearing a charcoal-black suit]
I bought it from a shop called Allen Fashions at Mabirizi complex. The shop is managed by my wife. [He is married to Lydia Ssewanyana, with whom he has a daughter, 2, and a son, 7.]
Who chooses your clothes?
Myself. Politicians should be serious people that know what they want and take decisions for themselves.
What kind of daddy are you to your kids?
I am not very tough. I want to nurture my kids the same way I was raised. I have to raise them freely to enable them manage this world. The world is not for complex people. It is for people who have some laxity in the way they do things. That is what I am and that is what I want my children to be.
Would you force them into a profession they don’t like?
Yes, I would. I want my son to be a professional footballer as a must. [What?! This seem contradictory to your last answer, honourable…]
I don’t want my son to study things like law, medicine… these studies that took so much of our time. I want him to directly go into professional football. He is with Keystar Academy in Sweden and in holidays he trains with Proline soccer academy. [Wow…]
And your daughter?
I will let her continue with the normal education. I have not yet found a suitable career for her. Going by the trends in our country, I think a girl child needs to be educated to a high level.
Ok… and what kind of husband are you?
[He seems amused by the question] A very good one.
Hahaha…by that you mean?
I am respectful; I respect my wife. I adore her and I always do as commanded by her especially in some departments like housekeeping and managing the family. [Yes, honourable. You are a very good husband!] It is her mandate to do those things but when she asks, I help her out.
I will whisper this one; so, when she asks you to wash her underwear…?
No. It is not in our culture. I am a Muganda and Baganda men are very assertive and there are certain things they don’t do, so that they are not [undermined] by women.
Hahaha…But she can wash yours?
Of course! That is the culture I am talking about.
But Honorable, this is a dotcom era…
Yes, it is a dotcom era but it doesn’t wash away our culture. Women must be submissive to men.
So, does she also kneel for you?
[In a matter-of-fact tone:] Yes, she does.
Even in public?
Yes, but of course we avoid meeting [bursts into laughter.] Yes. If that is a problem, then we avoid meeting. When I see her, I change direction so that we don’t meet.
[Otherwise, she would be kneeling to greet him on Kampala road…?] Oh My God! Please tell me this is a joke.
No. It is not a joke. It is a fact that I am telling you. She must kneel, but if it will inconvenience her doing it in public, then we don’t have to meet.
How did you meet your wife?
You know, our parents were friends before we met. She comes from Nansana, where we both grew up. So, the friendship started with our parents, then it got to us, developing into a marriage.
Sweet. Now, if you had to pick between a bleached woman and one who has a bad body odour…?
… None. You must be natural. Those who bleach get skin challenges in future. You have a partner who you think you will be with for the rest of your life and then when they clock say 60 years, they get skin cancers and other complications. Also, ladies must use perfume.
What is your dream car, Honourable?
A Mercedes Benz. Any latest model of 2017. I currently drive a Ford. I also have a small Benz C-class [nicknamed kikumi by ‘more serious’ Mercedes Benz owners] and a Toyota Regius.
How old are you, again?
Thirty.
Which schools did you go to?
Nakivubo primary school, St Kalemba and Mengo SS. I went to Makerere University for a degree in Human Resource Management.
And finally who are your parents?
My father is called Aloysius Ssendawula and my mother is Sarah Ssendawula.
pbaike@yahoo.com
