Academician and aspiring Kampala District Woman Member of Parliament, Dr Stella Nyanzi has weighed on the current saga where Lawyer Male Mabirizi accuses presidential hopeful Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine of lying about his age.
In her usual full of feeling way of writing Nyanzi raised a series of questions that even herself left unanswered.
Here is Nyanzi’s take on;
Now, the one thing I really don’t understand is why a heterosexual man would formally tell lies about his age. Usually, it is vain women or effeminate gay men who are stereotyped as constantly cutting their ages by years. But a man running for public office, first as an MP and now as president? Why would such a person lie about their age?
Would it have mattered if Bobi Wine was born in 1980 or 1982? Would it be that detrimental if he was born in 1970 or 1975 or even 1978? Clearly, he had a beard and an Adam’s apple; indicators of physical maturity. He had a wife and biological children. He was an adult (presumably of sound mind) and therefore qualified for the political office of MP. Why did he fall for the temptation to doctor his age?
For me, it is the dishonesty that is disturbing. If he was born in 1980, he lied about 1982. If he was born in 1982, he lied about 1980. Lying about something as banal as one’s age reveals immense possibility of lying about much more. Call it trivia on my part, but this seemingly small matter raises deep questions about trust. How do we trust the words of a man who lies about his age? How do we plan with a man who lies about his age? How do we depend on the promises of a man who lies about his age?