DAY-DREAM by George Kiwanuka

A DESIRE LUZINDA-FILLED WEEK

A Tale of Hypocrisy, Lessons, Criticisms & Moving Forward

Why All The Hate?

This last week, a Ugandan diva underwent something that no matter what angle you look at it from, most female musicians in our country would like to experience, ‘being the talk of the nation’. Not a day went by last week before Desire Luzinda’s name came up in all headlines screaming with a burning desire to provide the thirsty public with the gift of knowledge about the sexy curvy woman who gave us the gift of Nina Omwami, Equation among other songs that graced our then amateur charts at the time. Radio breakfast shows and social media had a field day with each wanting to be the bearer of new updates on the Desire story…really? Before I state whether I am going to risk by sympathizing and showing support for this superstar her fans will swear that she is or I will switch off my humanity and point a hypocritical accusatory finger to this voluptuous artiste. For the record let me say that I do not wish this on any woman out there no matter what kind of lifestyle she leads or how many strings of men she has come to be associated with. However on the bright side, Desire can turn this into a win-win situation by playing victim and releasing a song or two, appear on a few talk shows and run a campaign against revenge porn with the new Miss Uganda after all the latter owes Desire a favour for it is her who turned the public’s blood thirsty and poisonous tongue lashes from her direction.

There are two ways we as Ugandans can handle this: Either act callously by forgetting the fact that Desire is a mother and a fellow human being and sacrifice her, crucify her so she serves as an example but again, there is no law against taking nude pictures in the privacy of one’s room and am quite content that most of the people who were pointing that cruel heartless accusatory finger have a few nudies themselves. However we will also remember that celebrity lives are what sells the tabloids so as they ranted on in celebration I understood but for the general public to take it upon themselves to taunt her is atrocious. And when you hear the reasons being given…I hear Desire is promiscuous so she deserves it. I believe if Desire wants to give sexual favours for a few bucks to some men in town and out of the country, I truly believe that that is her business and none of us should make it our life’s purpose to taunt her over it. Desire Luzinda is a beautiful woman as per average standards. Since her early days as a television presenter on a show that was named Weekender or something like she has been known for having quite out of the average looks in the Southern hemisphere of her body structure that plus she has been at the core of some scandals involving a number of men including a former Mayor of our potholed city. A few years back there was a story in the press about what many claimed to be a staged up attempted kidnap of this star when she alleged that she had been attacked on the Northern Bypass by unknown thugs(obviously) who had threatened to take her dear life if she did not quit the industry. Well the public noted that this story came out at a time when she did not have anything up her sleeve musically speaking…plus she was not exactly the biggest star at the time that she was a big threat to someone’s career so majority of the public took it that Desire was trying to keep in the news. I think the public should stop judging her basing on the past and pause, put themselves in her feet and then raid all possible hide outs in search of Franklin….he is the villain in the story right?

I am not calling Desire a saint but experience has taught me to desist from over judging and much as that is a trait we Ugandans have in plenty its ideal that we keep an open mind to the possibility of the same misfortune befalling someone else. You may be so sure that you do not willing take nude photos but are you certain there are no possibilities of there having been a hidden camera in that house you spent that sleep-over at or that hotel room you once stayed in…all am saying is the important thing is that she has apologized to all the people who have looked up to her as a role model and acknowledged responsibility. Yes not those who have silently hated her guts and been praying, fasting and waiting for this day to come. Hey Desire has done some good things…remember that charity concert she put up to build a school in Kyebambe…let us keep the good she has done in our minds at this time. After all none of us is perfect. There is no such thing as entirely bad publicity so Desire, go ahead and use this after all Ugandans forget.