The Uganda Love-Political Triangle That Has Got Tongues Wagging

Gossiping about others, particularly our politicians, is not necessarily negative; it can very well be positive or even neutral. More specifically, the current inhuman treatment of Besigye in Luzira Prison seems to be a great deal of discourse internationally, especially in Kenyan forums as that was where he was abducted last year. And because we, as a collective, have a natural inclination to entertain gossip and drama, and the like, the love triangle involving Yoweri Museveni, Kizza Besigye and Winnie Byanyima, is a controversy that has come to dominate most discussions at the moment.

There is something about powerful men that attracts women; so I have little doubt that most powerful men in Uganda and elsewhere had temptation placed in their way. It is only in fairly recent times that politics has abandoned all decency, so that if a president is found out, it will be widely published for political gain.

According to Sam K. Njuba in his book,"The Betrayal", Museveni was completely, unabashedly, and irrefutably, an utter 'horn dog' throughout the early years of his presidency, making no attempt to conceal his affairs even from his wife, but it was ensured that his staff behaved with absolute discretion. A fact that was probably known to the press corps, but the papers behaved with the very same discretion also. However, such loyalty would be vastly different today with the role of social media and lack of reliability amongst certain staff.

The book, "Kizza Besigye and Uganda's Unfinished Revolution", details how Byanyima was 27 years old when Museveni had first taken over power in 1986; she stayed with Museveni as a couple while Janet Museveni continued living in Sweden. Officially though, she was Museveni’s secretary.

Besigye had first met Winnie whilst both were studying at Makerere University, but, at the time, their relationship was nothing more than platonic. He had a girlfriend then who was a medical student and was the one that influenced Besigye to become a doctor.

Museveni had met Winnie when the former was staying at Nzee Byanyima's home whilst attending high school in Mbarara and had publicly become a couple before the Bush War during the 1980 elections. Meanwhile, Winnie was working for the NRA during the Luwero Bush War and was simultaneously studying at a university in Manchester, UK; she then later returned back to Uganda in and, after the war, she stayed alongside Janet Kataaha in Statehouse. Museveni eventually decided to end the relationship with Winnie and stay with his wife, Janet.

"It was painful but it wasn't acrimonious - painful for both of us......"(to quote Winnie's exact words). Janet had returned to Uganda from exile in Sweden in February 1986.

Following this, Winnie then moved back to the UK to pursue her masters in engineering and after concluding her studies, received a job at UNESCO, courtesy of Museveni, and was also made deputy ambassador in Paris.

Paris, in particular, is renowned to be the 'City of Love,' boasting highly-regarded architecture and a rich romantic history-- the very same place where Besigye had managed to capture Winnie's heart, through being very supportive and an attentive listener. In addition, Besigye and Edith Byanyima (Winnie's sister) were mutual friends through Charles Katungi (our former ambassador to Kenya), making Besigye’s advances a bit easier. Anyway, I hear women all love Besigye so much-- I have been given a reason but I can't say haha.

Afterwards, Winnie moved back to Uganda after the 'City of Love', and it was during the CA elections that Besigye’s relationship with Winnie had finally become public; she first lived with her sister before moving in with Besigye.

Personally, if a friend of mine ever made the decision to get together with any of my former girlfriends, he would not be considered a friend any longer. I would say the only exception would be if it had been years and years and a friend knew that I didn't or definitely do not any longer have any feelings whatsoever for a particular ex. It is stated that Winnie said that both Museveni had a mutual agreement to give each other five years before moving on with other people, and she did exactly that.

At the same time, I believe it to be quite sad when you see two people who are strongly attracted to each other, who would be great together, who are great friends and want to pursue something more, not get together because of the possibility of the best friend- ex getting upset. That ex should well and truly be over it by now.

The best way to deal with it is by being very happy for them. That used 'toy' you no longer want went to the less fortunate individual you also no longer want; I call that a win-- two birds with one stone.

In 1996, Besigye bought land in Kasangati, he started a piggery farm there, and later built a home he continues to share with Winnie and their children. At this very minute, he is wasting away in prison on unfounded treason charges and nobody has any idea whether he will ever have another holiday with his Winnie again.