Uganda Today Edition: Balaam’s Blunders: Minister’s Endless Praise and Political Pandering Sparks Public Mockery
By Uganda Today Political Desk | April 15, 2025 | www.ugandatoday.co.ug
In a fast-circulating exchange on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Uganda’s State Minister for Youth and Children Affairs, Hon. Dr. Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi, has once again found himself in the spotlight—not for policy or developmental discourse—but for what many are now describing as relentless sycophancy and tone-deaf political commentary.
Balaam, in a post praising 90-year-old Gen. Moses Ali, gushed about the aged politician’s “pivotal role” in peacebuilding during the West Nile conflict era, referring to him as a national hero. The tweet was accompanied by a photo showing Balaam almost genuflecting to the visibly frail Deputy Prime Minister as he stepped out of his car, drawing sharp criticism from netizens.
But it was the blunt, biting reply by a user identified as Raymond, MBA that grabbed public attention:
“Stop kissing everyone’s ass Balaam, you will get gonorrhea. Focus on only one… MK… and maybe his father once in a while.”
The brutal response encapsulated what many Ugandans have increasingly come to feel—Balaam’s political utterances appear less about governance and more about strategic flattery, particularly of First Son Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba and President Museveni.
A Trail of Embarrassing Praise
Balaam’s history of sycophantic tweets is well-documented. From reposting nearly every controversial tweet made by Muhoozi with awkward affirmations to echoing bizarre conspiracy theories, the Minister seems more concerned with staying in favor of the ruling family than offering grounded political insight.
Just last year, Balaam trended online after commending Muhoozi’s cryptic and at times unhinged midnight tweets—once calling Muhoozi “a visionary beyond his time” after the General claimed he could capture Nairobi in two days.
His frequent attempts to elevate Muhoozi as the next best thing in Ugandan politics have left him resembling a “square peg in a round hole,” unable to fit into the mold of a rational, policy-driven leader in a country battling youth unemployment, social inequality, and civic unrest.
Stone Trucks and Kawempe Controversy
In another recent debacle, following the Kawempe North by-election, Balaam accused the National Unity Platform (NUP) of loading trucks full of stones to allegedly incite violence and disrupt voting. The accusation, which lacked any verifiable evidence, was met with widespread ridicule. It was seen as yet another desperate attempt to criminalize opposition while shielding the failings of the NRM-led electoral processes.
“Balaam’s utterances are not just unserious—they’re dangerous. They incite, they distract, and they mock the intelligence of Ugandans,” a civil society analyst noted.
The Bigger Picture: Sycophancy Over Substance
Critics argue that Balaam’s public conduct is emblematic of a larger problem within Uganda’s political elite—a preference for praise-singing over performance. While youth across the country demand better healthcare, education, and economic opportunities, their designated Minister seems more invested in crafting tributes than pushing tangible policies.
His continued defense of geriatric leaders, coupled with incessant praise for Muhoozi, has turned him into a walking meme of Uganda’s patronage politics—a jester in a court of power, saying what pleases the king rather than what the people need to hear.
Conclusion
As the 2026 elections draw near, Uganda faces a crucial crossroads. Will leadership be determined by competence and vision—or by proximity to power and social media applause?
For now, Balaam’s digital diary of devotion continues to amuse and frustrate, serving as a cautionary tale of what happens when loyalty to individuals trumps loyalty to the nation.
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