BUIKWE, Uganda — President Yoweri Museveni was forced to switch translators during a campaign rally in Buikwe district Saturday after Minister Diana Mutasingwa struggled to accurately interpret his remarks into Luganda.
The president initially chose to deliver his address in English to accommodate a linguistically diverse audience. He called upon Mutasingwa, who serves as the State Minister in the Office of the Vice President and the local Woman MP, to provide the translation for the majority Luganda-speaking crowd.
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The arrangement quickly encountered difficulties as Mutasingwa appeared to struggle with complex technical terms. At various points, the president took over the interpretation himself to ensure his message remained clear.
The linguistic challenges intensified when discussing economic policies. Mutasingwa faced particular difficulty translating terms such as minimum wage and bank interest rates. On several occasions, she inadvertently repeated the president’s English phrasing rather than providing the Luganda equivalent, leading Museveni to offer frequent on-stage corrections.
As the difficulties persisted, Museveni eventually called for assistance from the National Resistance Movement Deputy Secretary General.
“Namayanja please, come and rescue this young girl,” Museveni said, according to witnesses at the scene.
Rose Namayanja, a veteran politician known for her eloquence in Luganda, took over the microphone for the remainder of the event.
While acting as a translator for the president is traditionally viewed as a high-profile opportunity for local leaders to build political capital with their constituents, Mutasingwa appeared overwhelmed by the task. She is the only NRM flag bearer in the region to have retained her seat during the 2021 general elections.
This incident follows similar translation struggles involving NRM officials during the current campaign season. Earlier this year, Bugiri Woman MP candidate Eunice Namatende and former Rural Electrification Authority manager Godfrey Werihke faced similar criticism for their performances during presidential rallies in Mbale and Bugiri.
