Hello Ivan, could you briefly tell Quick Talk about yourself?

I am Ivan Bwowe Kakungulu. I am an advocate of the High court of Uganda. I am a sportsman, student and coffee farmer. I am among the several Museveni babies. My mother Venny Tibagwa is a farmer while my father, Richard Bwowe Buwembo is an officer in the armed forces.

A sportsman?

Yes! I am an award-winning swimmer. I represented Uganda in the All-Africa University games where I won a bronze medal. Even though I don’t do professional competitive swimming, I still regard myself as one.

Which schools did you attend?

I attended St. Francis of Assisi Kamaguwa PS in Kyotera, before doing my Primary Leaving Examinations at St. Charles Lwanga PS Kamaguwa. I proceeded to St Andrew’s Matale SS in Kyotera for O-level. Thereafter, I joined Seeta High School for A-level, then Makerere University for my degree in law before joining the Law Development Center for my postgraduate diploma.

I joined the University of Iceland where I did a postgraduate diploma in gender and equality studies. I am currently doing my master’s degree in law at Makerere.

And you wanted to become a Catholic priest…

Yes! I was an altar boy for 11 years. By God’s difference, the law became my choice by the end of senior four.

So, Ivan, are you seeing someone?

That question reminds me that society is tired of seeing me single. There is someone but I cannot disclose her because she loves it that way.

Does she have a connection to Riham…?

[Laughs]I can neither confirm nor deny, but….Okay!

Should we expect you to walk her down the aisle soon?

Of course, by God’s grace. I dream of that moment and can’t wait.

How was life growing up?

I grew up with my maternal grandparents. That meant a lot of farming. As you can picture a granny’s house, we were many. The love was immeasurable. I am a product of the community because everyone watched my behaviour and made sure my well-being was catered for. I can’t complain.

How did you become a lawyer?

The fact that I was raised by a mother informs the person I am today. My first experiences as a child are from my mother and grandparents. This has influenced everything I do from life to the religion I profess. I am a Catholic, although my paternal side is Anglican.

Why Public Interest Law?

Justice! I love contributing to the body of laws to adjust society. That’s where I get my justification.

You were also a guild president of Makerere…

I love leadership and politics. There were very many wrong things that were happening when it came to students’ rights. The university wanted to make education very expensive in a public university. The people who are advancing the idea for more tuition studied at Makerere free of charge.

They were even paid allowances to be at school and they got the best education. Not even 100 years later, the same people are saying that we should trade a public service like education at Makerere as a commodity that goes to the highest bidder.

Most former Makerere guild presidents are politically high-flying people! Are you eying the presidency?

With people of my nature, nothing is off the limits. Everything is on the tabs.

What’s your favourite book, Ivan?

The Art of War by Sun Tzu. Since I believe in planning, organizing, and building effective teams, this book has very many aspects of leadership in terms of command and control.

How many pairs of trousers do you own?

Huh! I think about 30 pairs.

And shoes?

About ten pairs. I am a traditional moccasin person. However, as time goes on, I am now an Oxford person. This is partly due to the violence of the age. I love push-ins but I detest crocs.

What do you think of the suspension of the student’s guild at Makerere?

It was a very poor decision. The situation would have been handled better. I think Makerere is cheating this nation by trying to take over and control student leadership. As a premier university in Uganda, Makerere has carved out its place as a source of national leaders.

When you dismiss, control, or try to curtail the freedoms of students and student leaders, you’re trampling on the future of this country. When you don’t open the free space for students to involve in the administration of the university, you then give room for clandestine operations.

This is an attack on the actual fabric of the country’s leadership.

But lately the student elections have become too violent.

The violence in student elections is a symptom of several things. The militarization of the university has driven us to where we are. You can’t look at Makerere independent of the events that characterize our elections as a country. I highly condemn any form of violence at Makerere, but what is our position about violence in our elections as a country?

Is the involvement of political parties in guild elections the problem?

No! Political parties should be encouraged to be in the university space. It is very defeatist to say the problem is political parties yet there’s a multiparty dispensation in the country.

Article 29 of the Constitution, gives us the right to associate, which includes choosing a political party because we are adults. Political parties were core in mentoring us, young leaders. They gave us basic leadership training. They cannot be the problem.

It is those that do not want to accept the actual problems that want to transfer the burden to political parties. It is escapist to advance such a school of thought. The Makerere administration should appreciate that they’re dealing with adults of sound mind. You cannot be the one deciding for adults what is good for them.

What is the antidote to violence?

Of all the things that should be done, suspending the students’ guild is not one of them. You cannot scratch your head when your foot is itching. You shall not solve anything. The university should be demilitarized. Makerere should accept civic and academic space for both lecturers and students. Makerere should accept criticism. The university administration and management should stay out of trying to control and manage student leadership.

What’s your favourite quote?

It is in Latin. Cogito ergo Sum literary translated as ‘I think, therefore I am’. I believe in reason and also believe that for every position that someone has, they should be backed up by reasoning.

Do you have any regrets?

I should have invested more time in identifying leaders in the years below and as simple as secondary schools. I wish I had invested in that area [as guild president]. We didn’t do something, but other leaders at university should.