By A. Lubowa
KAMPALA-UGANDA/NEWSDAY: The fallen former Rubaga South MP, a top actor and comedian Paul Kato Lubwama was an entity of talent, courage, a fighter but above all an ardent Democratic Party supporter and a religious figure.
He traded his destiny in his palms with explicit decision making ready to penetrate any obstacle on the way to achieve what he wanted.
I first met the late Kato Lubwama Mid 1992, when I was in A – Level at Kampala High School.
Literature in English being one of my subjects enabled me to rub shoulders with artistes when I became a junior actor with in The Defunct Black Pearls of late Omugave Nduggwa Ssemakula who hired Riverside theatre as their home.
At the time, Kato Lubwama was a big drum in the theatre flying high with the likes of Abbey Mukiibi of CBS as he was popularly known, Mariam Ndagire , Masanda and Luliibe.
Kato’s appearance on stage often attracted thunderous applause even before uttering a word because his entire body and the rolling eyes were dramatic- enough to attract even individuals who would not want to laugh.
Kato was therefore a giant and a top crowd puller to Black Pearls but that never barred the star to associate with small recruits like myself.
He exercised oneness even with the little one like myself- many times engaging us in consultations and offering advice so that we became better people and one would easily think he was the leader of the drama group it was Ndugwa and uncle Abbey Mukiibi as producer.
For although I left after a year to concentrate on my books before joining Makerere university, Kato remained a friend and I occasionally visited him or met him at Martin road where his mother, Nalongo worked.
During my association with him he openly announced how he was planning an exodus from Black Pearls and was moving with mega stars the likes of Mukiibi and Mariam.
Open minded
With his open mind, Kato who died from Sterna medical Centre, Kitebi in Lubaga Division in the wee hours of Wednesday had for some time criticized the mode of operations in Black Pearls. He would tell the boss director Ndugwa in his face how Ndugwa exhibited a lot of financial appetite and extravagance. Kato was often uneasy with Ndugwa who chose to take expensive rides, renting mansions yet he would better buy his own and somehow save the company money for senior actors to live their lives since they pulled the crowds.
No wonder that after Kato and other seniors moved on to form Afri Talent and Diamonds Ensemble respectively, Black Pearls waned and Nduggwa relocated to USA after suffering multiple evictions at theatre and residence.
Sky is the limit
For the new literally sister groups, the sky was the limit. Kato’s courage and that of his counterparts had paid off and they were swimming in money winning local and international contracts.
The sun continued shining in their favor when CBS was born and uncle Abbey Mukiibi now a senior manager at the station moved his team to Mengo which also boosted their theatre performances and amplified their names the more. Their founding program Kaliisoliiso remains the most listened to program.
Kalisoliiso
Although Kato Lubwama Biiso later left the program when he became a Parliamentarian, his former boss Mukiibi ordered Kato would remain a permanent crew member of the program free to rejoin at will.
Kato was also a powerful radio advert creator.
He succumbed to heart attack after having a jovial evening with friend at Ewooma Pork joint. He had previously survived various abdominal surgeries in Kampala and abroad in which he had corrections on his large intestines.
His tenure as a legislator in the 10th Parliament will be remembered as a gift to him by the Lubaga South voters who sent him to Parliament to “eat.”.
He was born on 16, August 1970, completed his primary seven (PLE) in 1993, at the former Nabagereka Primary School. In 1988, Lubwama sat for his Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE), at Old Kampala Secondary School. Between 1991-1992, Lubwama obtained his Special University Entry Examination, Certificate at Makerere University Kampala and in 1994, obtained a Diploma in Music dance and drama from Makerere University Kampala.
The bubbly comedian who was a staunch catholic, typical Muganda and a DP would later move on to serve as an MP in 2016 after a protracted campaign. I remember running his first question and answer interview, a full page which I ran in the defunct Buganda’s Eddoboozi where I served as an editor soon after leaving Bukedde before moving on else where.
In parliament he was less vocal and joked freely about the burden of English saying since Uganda was no longer a colony it would be much better if legislation was in local languages.
Sometimes he would say he was eating first before sealing it that he came to eat with his constituents.
Since he left parliament, he has been re-establishing himself in the entertainment field constructing a storied building near his mansion which he planned as a modern theatre.
He had founded B24 TV, started a YouTube channel and made regular appearances on other digital platforms, most memorably on NBS TV’s UnKut and Kasuku. Rest in peace friend, Kato. Lubwama.
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