‘Captain Calamity’ Andy Mwesigwa Quits Facebook Over Trolls

Uganda Cranes captain Andy Mwesigwa decided on Thursday that the abuse had simply become too much too take. With no final sign-off to his so many followers, he never said goodbye to Facebook and deleted his personal account.

Anonymous Mwesigwa lead Cranes into yesterday’s game needing just a point to return to the Africa Cup of Nations finals after a 37-year absence. The FC Ordabasy defender’s poor judgment told in both goals as Uganda lost 2-0 to Guinea in Casablanca, Morocco.

The captain lost control of his ship way early, committed so many unnecessary fouls before his send-off tore down Micho’s script. He may not play for Uganda again. Angry Ugandans actually warned him about returning with the team to Kampala after evidently his worst ever performance in a Cranes jersey.

It’s obvious Mwesigwa is closer to an exit door if not already there. Against Ghana last weekend, Mwesigwa was saved from a sending-off by Savio Kabugo covering him when he employed a rugby tackle on Majeed Waris.

A few weeks earlier, it had been the turn of Miss Uganda 2014 Leah Kalanguka to air her frustration with so-called trolls posting abuse to her on social media. She said she had nothing to do over vile and unacceptable messages from two anonymous Facebook and Twitter users.

There appears to be a growing wave of abuse targeting high-profile but unlikable Ugandan personalities on social media, prompting heated debate about free expression on the internet.

Meanwhile, former Cranes star Tom Lwanga has advised Mwesigwa to retire from the national team.

“The writing is on the wall. It is time up,” insisted Lwanga after Mwesigwa’s blunders shattered Uganda’s Nations Cup qualification dreams.

Lwanga also told a local daily that age is also not on Mwesigwa’s side. “He is clearly slower. He is always late while under attack. He should borrow a leaf from his former team-mate Ibrahim Sekagya and leave when he is still liked.”