ELIAS LUYIMBAZI NALUKOOLA, 42, was recently sworn in as the member of parliament representing Kawempe North constituency after a bitterly fought and violence-filled by-election.
Speaking to Quick Talk, the MP who replaced now-deceased Muhammad Ssegirinya said he had had ambitions of being a journalist, then a musician but ended up becoming a lawyer. But the reason for the three professions was the same; speaking for the downtrodden.
There is a Nalukoola we didn’t know until very recently; tell us about Nalu, the DJ Dandy…
You know I have had three dreams in my life. When I was young, I wanted to be a journalist. Why; because I wanted to be the mouthpiece of the marginalized. When I became a school dropout, I… …
Sorry, first tell me about becoming a school dropout
After senior one, I was promoted to senior two but I couldn’t continue because we had no fees. We had economic hardship in our family.
Ok, let’s go back to Nalu, the musician…
I used to be a fan of revolutionary music and I thought I would be the mouthpiece of the marginalized through music. At that time, I was working with my uncle at the New taxi park.
We were selling garments. In the evening I would meet artistes such as Bobi Wine, Master Parrot and others around Luwum street.
What years are we talking about?
About 1997. I used to meet them because I had a dream of becoming a great musician. But it never worked out.
Why? Did you have a terrible voice?
No, it was still economic hardships. For music to work out, you have to have resources to hire management and also record. One time Shanks Vivie D had asked for a music demo, but we had to go to the studio to have such a recording [Shanks was one of the most celebrated artistes of the late nineties and noughties]. I never had money.
So, how did you get back to school?
In 2001, my sister with whom I was living got married; so, I got relieved. I went back to school in May that year. I went to senior three at a school called Nile SS; it used to be where Broadway High School Kawempe currently is.
In 2002, I sat for O-level and got a first grade and then went to Kawempe Muslim Secondary School, where I scored 25 points [in UACE].
Who was paying your fees?
After five years, my father [Sserugooti Swaib who was a vendor in Owino market, trading in sweet potatoes] had somewhat stabilized and I had also got some money. So, things somewhat worked out.
I was one of the best students in the country and I was sponsored by the government to do law at Makerere University. At this time, I had changed my mind about being a musician to now being a lawyer. By the way, I was also head prefect while at Kawempe.
Is it the points you scored that changed your view from being a musician to a lawyer?
The environment in which you live determines your dreams. When I went back to school, my views changed.
Most young people, when they start earning money, they forget about school…
Every time I attended a graduation ceremony, I would envy those graduating. I told myself I had to return to school and also graduate. Once in a while, I would go back to those places I used to live.
In fact, on one of those days I found Bobi Wine at a pub around Lugoba. At that time, he had done his breakthrough song, Akagoma Kalubendera. Imagine we had met around 1997 but all that time he never had any breakthrough until 2001. Now you know, it takes really long to break through when you come from a humble background.
What kind of music were you involved in?
Ragga and reggae. I used to sing like Shaggy [for a moment, Quick Talk imagines Nalukoola singing ragga in his unhurried way… ya man!] I do not know another Nalukoola; meanwhile…
Nalukoola belongs to the Mamba clan. It means a person who is a loner. My father named me Luyimbaazi Elias. I was born in Kirokole in Kawempe. My mum [Madina Nantongo] died when I was around P3.
I went to Kawempe Islamic seminary, Kyerima UMEA primary school in Butambala, Kawempe Muslim primary school, St Paul SS where I studied only senior one, then Nile SS and Kawempe Muslim.
How many children does your father have?
I think we are around 10.
You speak very hard Luganda yet you were born in Kampala…
One way of learning a language is by speaking it. And when you choose to speak English speak English, don’t mix it with any other language.
But I learnt Luganda from Butambala and Masaka where my mother comes from. We used to visit our grandparents there.
People make fun of the slow pace at which you speak…considering the world is so fast-paced.
I speak like my mother. But I find no problem in speaking the way I speak because there is nothing that I will be deprived of because of being slow. What’s mine will be mine.
Doesn’t the slowness manifest in how you do other things?
Even the way I do things sometimes is slow. I may take long to take action, save in some circumstances. Sometimes you have to run, but if it’s not necessary, why should I run?
Politics is a fast-moving activity; won’t you be left behind?
What is important is to think fast and not to talk or act fast. Even when we are determining cases; we use the mind. Someone cannot be convicted of any offence if there is no blameworthiness of the mind.
In parliament they give two minutes of speaking time; if you’re not fast, you might not be able to make a point…
You have to know your strength and weakness; you have to go straight to the point.
When security dragged you on the tarmac and tore your clothes, we even saw that your undergarment was red…tokisusizza [aren’t you over-doing the NUP thing]?
I’m NUP and if you are something, you must be that something throughout. I’m a Muslim, when I’m confronted with any predicament, before I think about the law, I first think about Islamic principles. So,I am what I am.
What was the reaction of people at home when they watched you being dragged on the tarmac?
I never wanted my children to watch those videos, but they did. I have not sat with them to express to them that I was suffering. But I can tell from the prayers they make when I’m leaving home that they were affected with what they saw.
How do you spend your time?
My time is largely consumed by other people’s issues. I have offered pro bono services for so long to people. I want to say, I’m a good lawyer without connections.
If you are born in slums, you might want to serve your fellow poor people if you are to be significant. But once in a while, you might handle a case where one is willing to pay cash.
Are you keeping the law firm open?
I have a team with whom I work and I’m also going to keep practicing. There is no way I can stop practicing law. Many of my clients are people who belong to my political party, who are being persecuted.
What makes you angry?
I rarely get angry because there are not so many people who can make me angry.
What food do you enjoy?
I like greens, fruits, roast meat and chicken.
Is there anything in particular that you are badly looking out for in parliament?
I’m aware that in the current situation you can’t do much to change things before you remove Gen Museveni. I know the role of an MP, but in the current Uganda, you might not change a lot but you get influence, you can also inspire people and change their mindset to influence them to do the right thing.
How far do your political ambitions go?
I’m not very ambitious. I have contentment within in me.
There is some wariness among some NUP supporters about elites like you…
I’m not that kind of person who can be treated generally. I’m so unique. You might have had many who speak good English and betrayed you, but I’m not among them.
I’m Nalukoola, I’m a son of my mother and father; I’m not like those people. Look at me, where have I betrayed? I have been a man of substance; even where I have had bargaining power, I didn’t use it.
I could have chosen to go with Norbert Mao to NRM [he was in the Democratic Party before joining NUP]. I believe I’m needed especially among those who think they are not like me. I take the words of Mother Tereza who said, “I can do what you can’t do and you can do what I can’t do, but together we can do great things.”
If there have been others who have betrayed the cause, I’m not them and I shouldn’t be measured on what others have done.
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