Last Thursday afternoon found Quick Talk in the members’ lounge at Parliament for an interview with STEPHEN KANGWAGYE RWAKANUMA, MP for Bukanga in Isingiro district. The 31-year-old legislator is full of interesting stories.

What does the name Kangwagye mean?

The name Kangwagye means a child who makes his parents happy.

Oh, your parents must have been so happy upon your birth. When were you born, Honorable?

I was born on June 25, 1985.

Goodness! You are really young!

[Laughs] No, I am not! I turned 31 this year.

Your constituency was badly hit by drought and famine. How is the situation now?

We have tried. I talked to the Office of the prime minister and we met the Prime Minister [Dr Ruhakana Rugunda]. He sent Hon Musa Ecweru, Deputy Minister for Disaster Preparedness. He brought some food, which we distributed to the worst-hit people.

Other organisations like churches, NGOs and well-wishers got on board. I really want to thank all the people who stood by us in that hard time.

I’m sure they are reading. Tell me about your family background.

I come from a polygamous family. From my mother, I am the middle child of three. We are all boys. [Kangwaye was born to the late Adonia Rwakanuma and Jovia Rwakanuma.]

Are you married?

Absolutely yes! I am married to Jackie Kangwagye. We are now nine months old in marriage. [Smiling] I am glad we took that step.

How did you meet?

I was just starting my master’s degree program at Uganda Christian University [Mukono] when I saw a beautiful girl. I had never wanted to marry someone I did not know, but upon seeing her, I was mesmerized. We dated for three years before getting married. We have an eight-month-old baby boy called Maison Kaibanda Ntunga.

When did you last take her out on a date?

You know, politicians have a big schedule that is predominantly about service delivery…[oh, don’t start, Honorable!]…we don’t have much time for our families, but the sacrifice is worth it, because we seek to transform the lives of the people we represent [hopefully not at the cost of the happiness of the people you love, dear honourables.]

A good leader must always sacrifice himself for his people.

Well…

But we are together; we have no issues. We are a happy, young family and we trust and respect each other. I love her and respect her, I give her my all and she knows me. Whatever she needs, I am always there for her before she even asks.

How sweet! Tell me about your educational background.

I started my P1 in 1994. I went to Nyamarungi P/S, later I went to Nshwere P/S and I sat my PLE in Kanyaryeru P/S, Kiruhura. For O-level, I went to Lake Mburo SS and did my A-level in Ngabo Academy, Mbarara.

I then joined Nkumba University for a degree in Procurement, Logistics and Management Supplies and graduated with a second upper degree. I immediately enrolled for a master’s degree in Business Administration.

And what was your first job?

[Smiling:] This is my first job [wow, not a bad first remuneration package at all!]

Immediately after school, I joined politics. It is a challenging but interesting job. It teaches a lot. It brings out your true character and personality because we deal with so many people with different backgrounds and mindsets.

Do you know how to cook, Honourable?

For sure, I have never cooked. I cannot lie to you and to God. [Speaking with emphasis:] I would really love to cook but I have never practiced. I cannot even boil milk.

Seriously? Milk?!

I am being sincere. And yet milk is my favourite food. I eat matooke and other foods, but milk is my favourite. I grew up taking milk. I hardly ate anything else as a child and so did my entire family. We are cattle keepers and we mostly eat meat, milk and [cow] blood, although I personally don’t like meat.

Oh, blood is popular among the Karimojong too…

Exactly; we share the same life [the Bahima, like the Karimojong, are nomads]. So, for the other foods like matooke, posho, we just learnt.

How do you spend your free time?

I like farming so much. As long as I am not doing my political work, I go to my banana plantation and weed it; I feed my cattle and milk them. [Passionately:] I enjoy the time I spend  on my farm.

And what do you do for fun?

I like playing football and watching it as well. We have a small playground in my neighbourhood and I play with some people in my neighbourhood.

And what position do you play?

I am a striker! I play number 9 and 10 because I am very fast. I am a good runner. [Kangwagye is an Arsenal die-hard.]

What kind of music do you enjoy?

To be honest with you, I enjoy local music. Mostly Chameleone’s songs, Nigerian music and that old South African music by Yvonne Chaka Chaka and others.

Which radio station do you listen to?

Capital FM and Sanyu FM. They have the most current news.

Okay… MPs look sharp. Where do you buy your clothes?

There is this shop called Lavie and another shop opposite Kampala Casino. I forget the name.

And who selects the clothes you wear?

My wife does, but I also know how to select. I love this suit because it is the suit I wore to my introduction [See? MPs are sharp dressers. Imagine wearing your wedding attire to work!]

By the way, who polishes your shoes?

I do, because they are mine [clearly honourable has not heard of husbands who complain to family elders that their wives don’t polish their shoes…] If you cannot polish your shoes, will you be able to tie those laces? I polish my shoes and iron my own shirts. I also iron for my wife, but I can’t let her polish my shoes. She is a lady and I cannot let her do such tasks.

Where do you draw your fashion inspiration? [Quick Talk has noticed Kangwagye is very fashion-conscious.]

Let me tell you, much as we sometimes borrow a leaf, being smart is an inborn thing. It is not a taught thing and it does not depend on how expensive your clothes are. A stylish person will look smart even when wearing something of low quality.

Great insight, there! So, what has been your best family moment?

Last month our son had just grown a tooth [awww!] We were so happy we went to a small hotel called Casa Miltu in Ntinda and later we went to Acacia mall. We had a good meal, different from our local homemade meals.

[Well, we all can’t wait for the day baby makes a year, then! After more pleasantries, Quick Talk thanks the MP and departs the august House.]

pbaike@yahoo.com