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Nicolas Opiyo’s attack on Muhoozi

Did Opiyo really talk to anyone who has interacted closely with Muhoozi?

THE LAST WORD | Andrew M. Mwenda | On Friday October 11, 2024, lawyer and human right activist, Nicolas Opiyo, posted a tweet of his “short musing.” It was a very personal attack on the intellectual competences of Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) of the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) and also son of President Yoweri Museveni. “All his [Muhooz’s] life,” argued Opiyo, “he has been thought of, by a vast majority of even his peers [sic], as a less intellectually inclined individual, a sort of privileged pumped-up kid- who, had he been made in a different bed to a different couple, would have been a village drunk.”

Who is this “vast majority of his peers” that Opiyo is quoting? Did Opiyo really talk to anyone who has interacted closely with Muhoozi? I am inclined to believe he didn’t. If he did, he would surely get a different answer. So, did Opiyo cook-up this evaluation? I don’t think he did. This is because in my many years of relating with him, I have found Opiyo an honest person not capable for making up such a lie. So he must have talked to people who claimed to know Muhoozi and bought their story line hook and sinker.

Opiyo knows (or should know) that many people would be inclined to tell negative stories about Muhoozi. This would be out of malice, envy and/or ignorance, not out of intimate knowledge of him. There are also many people who would claim or feign intimate knowledge of Muhoozi to score social points and to also make their claims sound credible. I am inclined to believe these are the “peers” of Muhoozi Opiyo is referring to.

Opiyo knows I am a very close friend of Muhoozi. I can say confidently that very few Ugandans have had prolonged intellectual engagements with Muhoozi as I have done over the period I have – 32 years. Hence, if  Opiyo was genuinely interested in giving the public a well informed opinion about the intellectual competences of Muhoozi, he would have called me. I have suspicions on why Opiyo did this hatched job. But I consider his subjective motivations less important. For now let me explain the person Muhoozi since he has been my sparring intellectual partner for decades.

Muhoozi is one of the most intellectually gifted Ugandans I have held discussions with and debated. I have found him to possess all-round intelligence – combining excellent cognitive/analytical ability with exceptional social and emotional intelligence.

Let me begin with his cognitive intelligence for which many people have spoken with ignorance, prejudice and malice. I think his cognitive skills come from two factors: He has an incredible thirst for knowledge and learning. This has made him a permanent student. He is always questioning, prodding and interrogating issues. Me and him always share books and documentaries. Reading is like physical exercise for the brain. The more you read and watch analytical documentaries, the more your brain expands. We do not agree on many things – so our discussions are always intense, some of them conducted without any debatorial etiquette.

The second thing that makes Muhoozi a ferocious intellectual is his personality. He is an extremely good listener. And I believe this is the reason many Ugandans have been denied the gift of his sharp mind. He lets people talk. Many who have met him have been impressed by his exceptional attentiveness when they are talking to him. Put him in a group discussion, he will listen carefully when others are talking. When he intervenes to make a point, it will be very brief yet the most insightful. He has an incredible ability to compress a powerful argument or insight into very few sentences –  so every word he speaks is pregnant with meaning. That is the true definition of an intellectually gifted person.

This understanding came to me in the mid 1990s. Between 1997 and 2000, myself, Muhoozi,  Robert Kabushenga, Kiwanuka Kiryowa and Simon Kaheru had a discussion group. All these guys are ferocious intellectuals. We used to meet in Kabushenga’s apartment in Bugolobi every week to discuss national, regional and international issues. The subject would be political, economic, military or geo strategic. It is these discussions that revealed to me the dynamic intellectual in Muhoozi. His arguments were always backed by a wide range of facts, revealing a mind not just deep in analytical power but also nourished with a good diet of knowledge.

Since then, Muhoozi and I have spent the years sharing documentaries, books and debating a wide range of subjects. One of the captivating topics is military history and strategy. Muhoozi is not just voluminous in the breadth of his knowledge but most critically, penetrating in his insights. With the exception of David Tinyefuza, Sabiti Mutengesa and perhaps a general called Ogik, I have not met a UPDF officer who has exhibited such great intellectual gifts – a total command of even the minutest details of a given military campaign combined with a sharp grasp of not just the military strategy behind it, but grand national strategy.

As a result of these interactions, and to keep myself up to date in these discussions, I became an avid reader of military history. When I sit down with Muhoozi, we reminisce every detail of the ancient military campaigns: of Caesar and Pompey, Alexander and Darius, Hannibal and Scorpio, Genghis Khan, Napoleon, Zhukov, Rommel, Guderian, Montgomery, Manschtein, Giap, Mao, Shaka Zulu, Kabalega, Cabral, Museveni, Kagame! It is unfortunate that by keeping away from publicity, Muhoozi has denied Ugandans an insight into his intellectual prowess. If I were to criticize him, I would say he is selfish with his intellectual gifts which he doesn’t share with the vast majority of Ugandans.

Immediately he was appointed CDF, I interviewed him for a book we are doing on this history of the UPDF. In just a few minutes and without much thinking, he gave me synopsis of what UPDF stands for, how it intends to deal with the changing global situation of emerging great power competition, his plans for it etc. I was just blown away. I’ve been thinking of publishing it in The Independent because the book we intend to publish will not have such a wide audience. When I showed it to a friend, he said: Andrew you must have been the one who wrote these things. I asked him why? He said Muhoozi is not capable of such intellectual articulation.

I was shocked but not surprised because I know that the worst of danger to intelligence is prejudice.  Also, I was not surprised even though I was shocked by Opiyo’s opinion. What surprised me is Opiyo, an otherwise sober, calm, balanced and thoughtful person could publish such ill-informed views without seeking the opinions of those who know Muhoozi well. He proved to all who know Muhoozi that another worst of dangers is offspring of little knowledge. The horrible parts were personal insults of Muhoozi because I didn’t know Opiyo to indulge in such cheap ghettoized posts. Otherwise many people make these ignorant  and prejudiced claims about Muhoozi’s intellect yet they all claim they “hear.” I’ve not met a single person who has engaged Muhoozi in an intellectual discussion who can claim him to be intellectually weak.

Beyond his sharp cognitive abilities, Muhoozi is gifted with excellent social and emotional intelligence. His ability to read his political and cultural surroundings and act with astuteness is unmatched. I have been the lucky beneficiary of his advice on how to handle situations and individuals in particular circumstances. On many occasions he has advised me on the best way to deal with his father, and to understand why the president makes the choices he makes, when I was rushing headlong into a mistake and thereby failing to get the decision I sought. And his emotional intelligence, the ability to read people and their moods and make them feel understood and appreciated, is inspiring. Everyone he meets doesn’t feel his power. He knows how to make everyone comfortable around him. Space does not allow me to delve into the details of his social and emotional intelligence. I will reserve that for another day.

If I had power to hang Muhoozi, it would be over what he has denied Ugandans – his sharp and analytical mind backed by his humility in spite of who he is. If he interacted with people more, talked to them, shared ideas, he would move mountains. And he doesn’t. For that, I will forever be disgruntled. Why? Because it allows the claims and biases of haters and envious people to gain credence. I am going to publish his interview with me about UPDF in the next post. It is an interview which he gave the least thought. If at his most careless he could display such brilliance, what would come from him if he sat down to write a paper?

******

amwenda@ugindependent.co.ug

17 comments

  1. I’ve always suspected this guy to be very bright given his wits/social media provocative posts which keep guys glued on his trails. I almost confirmed my suspicion on Gen Aronda’s memorial lecture day when Gen MK delivered his messages with that composure the public had never seen before.
    Now, if Andrew Mwenda believes that Gen MK is a great reader and intellectually a force to reckon with, then I believe him and rest my case.

  2. In short, Muhoozi is a genius, cerebral and a polymath.

  3. Mwenda you skipped major generals Muntu and Kulayigye. Back to General Muhoozi; I have never read or heard Mwenda paint any other Ugandan with golden fleece except perhaps his rwandese buddies. Muhoozi’s legion of tweets neither reflect intelligence nor well thought out reasoning. Public threats to his general staff is plainly lack of leadership. He is also well advised to avoid the bottle.

  4. This is public relations officer work, period!
    This very intelligent and astute general wouldn’t be tweeting with reckless abandon!
    Take a quick look at his comments about foreign affairs issues like a serving military officer posting unthoughtful partisan comments in Ethiopian internal political struggle between the people of Oromo region and Àhmed Abiyi’s government. The next tweet is his fantasy of marrying the Italian Premier with dowery of 100 Anklre cows as if the Italian government was running short of beef supplies; the intellectual general disappears in the dream world of invading neighbouring Kenya republic and capturing it in just two weeks with “his” army just like his father treats Uganda as his banana/ matooke plantation; next is his partisan tweeting about the Russia- Ukraine war; and then he rediscovers himself after issuing an ultimatum to U. S ambassador to Uganda to either apologize to his beloved dad (as though there aren’t many people with a loving dad) or leave the country by Monday 9:00 AM, which post he swiftly deletes before the expiry of the ridiculous ultimatum!! Gen Muhoozi’s dislike for the rule of law and constitutionalism doesn’t portray him as an intellectual astute, for he publicly indulges in partisan politics despite existing rules and laws barring a serving military or even cilvil servant from doing so All this is understandable because a mango tree can only bear mango fruits NOT apples, that’s to say his dad abhors anything like fair play rules, for he came with a gun whilst pretending to be a merchant of democracy, inter alia. Gen Muhoozi’s public threats and intimidation to his subordinates betrays his intellectual gift

    But as either a hired or self-appointed PR for the general, we’re meant to perceive all this deficiency as mere jokes of an otherwise very intelligent, analytical person! Words are used by the PR firms/ people to obsecure the truths from the public! What an intellectually gifted Andrew M9!!!

  5. I should declare my interest in this matter…I don’t like Muhoozi (not that I hate him.) I have patiently read Mwenda’s article… it’s a paean piece for the long long of Muhoozi (32 years, he states.) But be that as it may, I am inclined to state that Mwenda played Muhoozi a “fool’s mate!” By quickly coming out to defend a “faceless”, “nameless” and “damwit” character that Nicholas opiyo was referring to in his short musing…. Mwenda, unwittingly, placed his friend- front and centre in a rather a non-enviable situation.
    I want, therefore, to act an arbitrary role of being the judge!!!my earlier declaration notwithstanding!!!!
    In the most likely event that the”shoe” Nicholas opiyo was talking about”fits” the character of the person of Muhoozi Kainerugaba and that what Mwenda is saying is also true… how would the public come up with a conclusive judgement?
    We look at the history of the person in question
    Muhoozi is the first son Ugandans have come to know for the last 38 years.
    Muhoozi sat P.L.E at one of the best schools in the country, he wasn’t among the top performers, he sat his U.C.E at yet another high-flying school, he wasn’t among the best performers…he sat U.A.C.E at probably the best school…he did not join Makerere University (the best university Uganda could offer)….he, instead, joined a rather obscure university outside the country. Opiyo stated…that his peers (Muhoozi’s), attest to his less than desirable academic performances…yet Mwenda found Muhoozi to possess an “all-rounder intellect!!” But we all know that “Mwenda” isn’t an academic… he’s not an “academic institution”…so, one can only wonder the parameters that Mwenda used or he uses to measure “intellect.” No wonder, Mwenda states… that Muhoozi is his “sparring” intellectual partner…. what a betrayal…”sparring” in the contextual sense…is the same as “a mockery”…”pseudo”… “unserious exercise”… In trying to prove Muhoozi’s “intellectual prowess”, Mwenda engaged him in “unserious exercise!!!”
    I have subjected this, to a statistical examination…. and there are likely to be two answers….. 1.That it is true that that Muhoozi is less intelligent…. false positive
    2. That it’s not true that Muhoozi is less intelligent…. false negative
    The constant in both observations being…”less intelligent!!!”

    • Laker Gloria Grace

      📌 📌 📌 📌 📌 📌 📌 📌 📌 📌 📌 📌 📌

      I was just wondering why people don’t call Andrew M9 less intellectual.? What is the disperity between him and his alleged or confirmed less intellectual buddy?

      Andrew M9? Please call a.spade a spade and a spoon spoom, not calling a spade a big spoon. I still remember the days when you would rain fire on the first family and their ebigenderakos….many people like me are still here. And we are watching the space.
      You can not explain to Ugandans what they know better than you and even see.

      When you see shit you, immediately yank off, you won’t call it bread. Andrew Mwenda, please stop calling shit bread. Ugandans are not stupid. Seeing that the fellow is not an intellect does not require rocket science or special special calculations like your narratives. The whole country is saying M8 is very dull, respectfully. He is a simple, less intellectual personality with his brain on his forehead, who thinks after doing. Infact he doesn’t think, he is told after doing. He lacks it completely. I am sorry to say what the whole world is seeing and saying. So don’t come for me please. You will not finish Ugandans? Because they all think the same way about your sparring friend, respectfully. May be that is the result of his father playing the absent dad in his early life becauseof the Bush War. I geel really sad. But that is the brutal truth that you must unpublish your PR post and return with.

      What you posted dodnt work. Will not work. Respectfully.
      If you are doing it for the job, then we pity you, for tou have equally lost your mind by being by a less intellectual.

      This is not you Andrew Mwenda. Comeback to what you used to be before or you have lost your relevance. Many of us are so disappointed in your new mindset right from tbe time of the Capital gang ans club Obligato. We mourn your passing, you have lost it. We have lost tou. Ugandans who used to look up to you have lost you. May you RIP Andrew Mwenda. I mourn the old you that brought me forth.

      Rest in peace Andrew. 🙏
      Amen.

    • Too bad to think someone’s intelligence is measured by how they perform in class.
      You don’t need class grades to determine someone’s intelligence, I don’t know why you have to read this man’s tweets with so much bias that you miss the screenplay!

      • Muhoozi aspires to be president of Uganda. Does Uganda need someone who failed academically to be a commander in chief. Muhoozi has not challenged himself in debates anywhere on TV, Radio etc to show how smart he is. Even in the army, tell me if he has seen any action on a battle field.

  6. Usual blah blah blah from M9. Spare us the noise we can tell on our own who is an intellectual person

  7. Abasirukale nga Amin basiru kale. They are called to stop legal public demostrations they brand as illegal. They shot to kill. They return home for lunch. In the sitting room mourning relatives are seated over a dead body of one of the soldiers wives. She was shot in the head as she joined in the just ended public demostrations!

  8. one statement or two from a person, the tone, target audience, choice of words can be used by any competent psychoanalyst to tell the cognitive ability of a person speaking such words.

  9. Simply put, Mwenda is pibolar, but if not, he is to money driven that he can to do anything for money. Another African elite

  10. No, Andrew is not an African elite. Hold that back. He though seems to attach so much importance to association with powerful people and politicians, which is okay, but to claim that he understands them better than other independent minded people to provide a nuanced viewpoint is not only wrong, but also misleading. First and foremost, friendship or desire to belong has a big effect on impartiality. In most cases, it blinds and compromises impartiality. This is the case of Andrew lens on Muhoozi. Besides, Andrew is a businessman with a magazine that he founded to make money. He started well to grow readership, but over time turned his magazine into a PR and money making venture, which is the real motive he started it. Whereas many impartially see Muhoozi as less intellectually gifted , Andrew notes that “Muhoozi is one of the most intellectually gifted Ugandans I have held discussions with and debated”. If Muhoozi is one of the most intellectually gifted Ugandans, then the country is lost and indeed a banana republic. Doctors, don’t need to live with a patient to understand and diagnosis the disease. Patient presentation to them in words, thoughts, signs and symptoms can guide a medical practitioners to apply approved guidelines and practices to assess the condition. Muhoozi has offered some vital insight for many in Uganda and beyond to adequately assess his intellectual capacity. For a very few magazines he ever allowed to give an interview; One thing about him, he can’t engage in an open debate, you have to give him all the questions in advance, strictly stick to them, and give him a final draft to review with his ‘helpers’ to change before printing the story

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