From Twariire 1 to Tweriire 2 Politics: Commoditising Democracy to Resolve Agrarian Crisis in the Great Lakes Region

Twariire literary means “we have already eaten” or “we are eating”.

Tweriire literary means “we better eat” or “we had better eat”. Both these concepts gained currency in Uganda’s politics from the 1980s to refer to politics of eating or politics of the stomach.

On their part, some UPC die-hards were comparing Obote’s second coming of 1981-85 with Jesus’ second coming. Some have been talking of Obote III, implying his third coming.

The Monitor, 30 November 1993.

This was not a misplaced hope. In the current NRM government, Kigezi has six ministers. The seventh was censured by Parliament last year, 1998. Three of these are from Kabale District, two are from Rukungiri District and one is from Kisoro District. Even if the Ministers fail to bring developmental projects to their areas, still, the peasants become somehow contented that they too have produced a minister for the country. It is this, which partly explains why the peasants tend to despise those who come accusing the politicians of being corrupt.

Ndugu is Rugunda’s Dr. Ruhakana favourite political nickname. It is a Swahili word for “brother.” He addresses every male as Ndugu and this term fits well in the local language — Rukiga or Runyakitara.

The three candidates were doctors. They all won the elections and two of them were immediately appointed ministers to key ministries. Rugunda Dr. Ruhakana became Minister in charge of Presidential Affairs while Rwendeire Dr. Abel became Minister of State for Higher Education in Uganda.

Four of the six ministers from Kigezi were formerly lecturing at Makerere University, one of whom, is a professor in Veterinary Medicine. The fifth minister is a specialist doctor in Paediatrics.

Tweriire means “We better eat” or “we had better eat.” It is used here to refer to the response of the population to the politics of eating. This reflects the acceptance of the politics of eating by the population.

Twariire means that “we have already eaten” or “we are eating.” This was coined by the UPC to declare that they were winning elections. Gradually, the usage changed when they began to loot the public resources. It came to mean that the politicians were eating public resources.

Nyamurunga was a song extracted from a Rukiga fork story, in which the most beautiful girl, Nyamurunga, was lured into marriage by a man who had transformed himself into the most colourful, beautiful bird. The song initially composed by a Kabale UPC choir soon became the UPC song in the country. Obote soon became known as Nyamurunga. This UPC party song clearly said that whoever wanted salt for chewing had to join the UPC. Salt is the cheapest item, though very essential for life.

The MP of Bufumbira and the Kabale Women Representative raised the matter to the parliamentary Committee and the press. The LC V Chairman also raised the same problems to the press. The New Vision, June 6, 1997.

Omuramba is local brew from sorghum.

tonto is alcohol brewed from bananas.

Waragi is a potent liquor distilled from tonto or omuramba.

Rutanga Dr. Murindwa is Senior Lecturer, Department of Political Science & Public Administration, Makerere University, Uganda.