Xavier Radio Ug News 24 7
By Ivan Kimuli Kigozi
1. Popularity is not a life sentence. In Kasese, Winnie Kizza still commanded respect and support. She could have won again. But she refused to be imprisoned by popularity. Ugandan politicians must learn this: being loved by voters does not mean you must occupy the office forever.
2. Knowing when to leave is a form of leadership Most leaders in Uganda only leave politics through courts, pressure, age, or death. Winnie Kizza left through judgement. Her retirement in 2021 proved that the exit itself can be an act of leadership intentional, peaceful, and dignified.
3. Clinging to office weakens even the strongest legacy Many leaders destroy their own names by overstaying. Winnie Kizza avoided that trap. She chose to protect her record instead of gambling it for one more term. The lesson is simple: staying too long often erases the good you once did.
4. Service is not measured by years in Parliament Ugandan politics wrongly equates longevity with value. Kizza rejected this thinking. By stepping aside while still relevant, she showed that impact matters more than duration, and that service does not end when a seat is vacated.
5. True confidence does not fear life after politics Fear keeps many leaders glued to power fear of irrelevance, fear of poverty, fear of obscurity. Winnie Kizza’s decision exposed this fear. She trusted that her worth was bigger than a parliamentary seat.
6. Leadership is also about creating space By not contesting again, Winnie Kizza opened political space in Kasese. She allowed new voices and new leadership to emerge. In a country where political positions are treated as personal estates, this was a radical and rare sacrifice.
7. Children learn more from exits than speeches Ugandan children see politicians fight, insult, rig, and refuse to leave. Winnie Kizza gave them a different image: a respected leader who stepped down voluntarily. That single act may teach more about democracy than a thousand campaign rallies.
Winnie Kizza’s retirement was not a loss to politics but a lesson to it. She left while still respected, still popular, and still in control of her legacy. In a system where leaders cling to power until it breaks them, her exit remains an act of rare discipline.
Those who have refused to foresee the consequences of not retiring honourably have faced heavy political punishments of their life in the just concluded elections!
