Former Rubanda West Constituency Hon Henry Banyenzaki lost the pomp

FHenry Banyenzaki, the former Rubanda West MP, captured public attention when as an NRM legislator he regularly questioned decisions of the government and asked its leaders tough questions especially in the 7th and 8th parliaments.

Whether it was in party caucus meeting or on the floor of parliament, Banyenzaki always caused trouble for his party. He became a thorn in NRM’s flesh and it was not long before he earned the moniker, “rebel MP.”
In the process, Banyenzaki became a darling of the media, especially some radio journalists at parliament, who rarely separated substance from form (honourable, njagala ku ka sound byte!).

Those who covered the 2008 NSSF-Temangalo saga, where former premier, Amama Mbabazi, was accused of peddling influence to force the fund purchase his land, remember how Banyenzaki’s antics injected a dose of comedy and drama into the COSASE proceedings.

“Mr chairman, this man is a certified liar. And he is called a super minister,” Banyenzaki said when Mbabazi appeared before the committee. Mbabazi, always calm and restrained, just stared and him before protesting that there should be some decorum when one MP is addressing another.

Yet even at the height of his criticism of Museveni (2001-2009), one could tell, through the threads of Banyenzaki’s sleek suits and designer cotton shirts, that his opposition was more rhetorical than genuine.
I have always been wary of showy and flashy people. Most of them tend to live beyond their means and in many cases, their flamboyancy is a cover-up for something sinister.

Those who have interacted with Banyenzaki know that he is a show off (many MPs are!). He used to brag (it is worse when you do it in front of lowly paid journalists who earn a slave wage), how he dons suits that cost Shs 5 million and wears designer perfume of Shs 1 million.

Although he was earning big, somehow you could tell he was living beyond his means (he drove big SUVs with personalized number plates).

It was not long before it was revealed that he was drowning in debts. As the 8th parliament drew to a close, Banyenzaki’s criticism of government waned.
He became cagey and the hilarious sound bytes that he used to freely dish out to journalists became a trickle. Reports emerged that he had met the president, trying to seek financial help. After 2011, he was appointed a state minister. Having joined the eating club, he shut his mouth (I am told its bad manners to talk while you are eating). He shunned journalists (opportunistically, he again embraced them during his botched bid to become EALA MP this year).

This change in tone affected his political fortunes in Rubanda West. Before long the constituency started to slip from his fingers.

When the president during election campaigns went to Rubanda West and Banyenzaki went up the podium, people shouted him down. When he continued talking, they switched off the PA system.

Museveni smiled sheepishly before calling for calm. But the point had been made: Banyenzaki’s parliamentary (and political career) was on the rocks and only a miracle would salvage it.

Deep down, the president knew he had put Banyenzaki in his place. Once his fierce critic, now he badly needed Museveni’s support.

The president did not give a hoot whether Banyenzaki came back to parliament or not.
In the end, Banyenzaki was comfortably defeated and a promising political career came tumbling down like a pack of cards.