Molly Kamukama and Nicholas Opiyo fight
By our writer
The Presidential Press Secretary Molly Kamukama has bitterly exchanged with human rights lawyer Nicholas Opiyo over a picture of Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine, fuelling an escalation of bad blood between the state and the embattled lawmaker’s camp.
Trouble started when Kamukama posted a picture of Bobi Wine on a plane with wife Barbie Kyagulanyi and Bukedde gossip writer Josephat Seguya and tweeted that Bobi looks like someone who is going for a meeting accompanied by his wife, she called Bobi’s sickness katemba (drama).
Kamukama was responding to comments by a prominent journalist Onyango Obbo who had earlier on posted his Twitter handle a condemnation of the “barbaric violence” meted out against Bobi Wine and other opposition figures by government and pelting of Bebe Cool during the all-stars concert at Lugogo by “intolerant fans for his pro-regime stance”.
Obbo said that these actions showed how “repression has radicalized politics” before warning that Uganda could be “hurtling off the cliff.”
Kamukama ‘s response picture of Bobi and his wife Barbie aboard an unknown plane, purportedly to cool Obbo was accompanied with wordings to the tune, “That one does not fit your description. Just someone going to attend his meetings accompanied by his dear wife.”
Opiyo, who is among Bobi’s lawyers, did not spare Kamukama, saying “This is an old picture.”
“Posting to insinuate that it is the picture of the two on a plane is plain disingenuous and disgusting of a person working for the presidency,” Opiyo launched a scathing attack on Kamukama.
Apparently hit below the belt, Kamukama fired back at Opiyo: “Are you sure the worker of the president can’t get photos of old and new Nicholas? You too are becoming not disgusting but pathetic to say the least. Who gives you the right of abuse, you joker?”
This, according to a review of Kamukama’s Tweets, was not the first time she was taking on opponents on the micro-blogging social site.
She recently blasted the East African newspaper for reportedly painting the Uganda Airlines as a failing project.
Opiyo did not take long before blasting Kamukama.
The controversial lawyer recalled what he described as Kamukama’s “old days at the Electoral Commission,” during which she was “a humbled wretched commoner.”
Opiyo told Kamukama that “Ever since you got a brush of makeup and sucking the teats of power you have really been puffed. But like a balloon you too will be deflated.”
Ugandans quickly joined the conversation with some calling for restraint. Below are the tweets:
Replying to @mollykamukama and 6 others
This is an old picture. Posting it to suggest or insinuate that it is the pic of the two on a plane is plain disingenuous & disgusting of a person working for the presidency
4:07 PM – Sep 1, 2018.
Replying to @nickopiyo and 6 others
Old pic, Doctors being followed, a disgusting worker of the presidency! Are you sure, the worker of the President can’t get photos of old and new Nicolas? You too are becoming not disgusting but pathetic to say the list. You gives a right of abuse, you joker?
4:11 PM – Sep 1, 2018.
Replying to @mollykamukama and 6 others
In your old days at the Electoral Commission you were a humbled wretched commoner. Ever since you got a brush of make up & sucking the teats of power, you have really been puffed. But like a balloon, you too will be deflated
4:16 PM – Sep 1, 2018
Molly Kamukama@mollykamukama
Replying to @nickopiyo and 6 others
I was a senior officer at EC, meek as still now, but that doesn’t mean foolishness. You don’t need to abuse people for them to get your point of view which may correct or wrong. Just ideas otherwise, we join the match of abuses.
4:21 PM – Sep 1, 2018
Replying to @mollykamukama and 7 others
but @mollykamukama i thought u r better than this……. so pittyful
2:58 PM – Sep 1, 2018
Molly Kamukama@mollykamukama
Replying to @lbgisa and 7 others
When it fits your views, I am sensible. When Katemba is too much to hide, Molly stooped too low.
Sarah K. Kasande@skasande2
Replying to @mollykamukama and 7 others
If you are going to peddle propaganda to manipulate public opinion, at least do so with a level of sophistication. You cannot use an old internet photo which can easily be debunked. That’s laziness, try harder! Earn your keep! I am sure @KagutaMuseveni pays you well
8:16 PM – Sep 1, 2018
Apuuli Robert@tugumeroberts
Replying to @mollykamukama and 7 others
The Mollies are the real fighters of President @KagutaMuseveni . No wonder they told Mzee that Zaake had escaped from police & was wanted yet he was lying half dead at Lubaga. The Mollies should be charged with treason for spreading lies as to remain relevant to the president.
5:00 PM – Sep 1, 2018
Clever@clevermulowoza
Replying to @mollykamukama and 7 others
This is where presidential patronage has brought us. When you pick yo unqualified and daft nieces and nephews to do PR for a country, that’s what you get.
10:20 AM – Sep 2, 2018
Molly Kamukama@mollykamukama
Replying to @clevermulowoza and 7 others
That’s where you will continue to be where you put yourself. Those presidents nieces& nephews are voters for sure, you dehumanizing them! You lose votes, credibility etc. Nieces&nephews of former presidents have been big resources to our nation. Path of subtraction always.
Joshua Ssebuwufu@JoshuaSsebuwufu
Replying to @mollykamukama and 7 others
I thought you trusted your doctors. Perhaps the medical care they provided hi. Was enough to get him up and running. Your double standards are worrying! We are tired of your arrogance and sheer stupidity!3:50 PM – Sep 1, 2018