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Luyinda, better known as “Kabaka Mwanga” on social media, was given a bursary at the Bukalango-based school early this year. He became an instant star.
His candidature announcement last week was therefore no surprise, and was welcomed with enthusiasm by fellow pupils.
The learners however, were shocked at the start of this week when the school administration announced that Luyinda, who had already printed out campaign posters, would not be contesting for Head Prefect.
Instead, they placed him in the race for Entertainment Prefect.
“We want to know why posters for our candidate say “head prefect” and you are telling us Entertainment,” shouted one of the pupils at a campaign rally on Wednesday.
One of the teachers who took the microphone to calm the learners said he too had “complaints” about the school decision.
He invited the school head teacher, who explained to the pupils that Kabaka Mwanga was deemed more beneficial to the school as an entertainment prefect.
“We saw as the staff, directors and I as the head teacher, the great influence of Luyinda whom you call Kabaka Mwanga,” he said.
“When he applied for Head Prefect, we found that as a school we would benefit from him more when he is an entertainment prefect…we have seen his influence on TikTok and Facebook and we believe that as entertainment prefect we shall benefit more that way.”
The 12 year old P6 pupil stumbled into instant fame from a single TikTok video which he playfully recorded at his village home in Rakai district last Christmas.
In the video, he remarks, “Nanyilira… Kabaka Mwanga.” “Nanyilira” as he marvels at his great looks.
In a television interview, he said he stole the phone of his sister who was home for Christmas and that when he opened the front camera he was surprised at how good he looked.
It was his first time holding a smartphone.
He said when he returned the phone to the sister after taking the video, she decided to upload it on her TikTok account and it went viral.