Uganda: Evicted Maureen Lands Today At 10 - 00am

MAUREEN'S animated face on DStv's Big Brother Africa is no more. After 84 dramatic days of winning friends and haters, a cosy romance with Malawi's Code, and living lavishly, the Ugandan housemate became the ninth evictee from the Big Brother house on Sunday.

I saw it coming. But like a frontline commander who maintains the hip-hip-hurray banter even when all the soldiers are getting wiped out, I had to keep the bugle loud. But deep down inside, I knew our girl had done her best, just that her time was up. Even the best dancer leaves the stage.


Her coming out as the fourth has done Uganda proud. Whoever thought she would not go this far should be ashamed of themselves. Gaetano Kaggwa in the first episode of the reality show in 2003 came out fifth. Who knows? Uganda might continue ascending to the top in the coming episodes until the jackpot comes home.

After presenter Kabelo announced her eviction, Maureen was not as surprised. She had earlier seen it coming after Richard, Tatiana and Ofunneka started sidelining her. They mistook her trying to stay close to them for a move to win favours.

Nevertheless, the peace- lover in Maureen hugged Nigeria's Ofunneka first, and then the Richiana couple before leaving the house to join her fans outside.

She broke down in tears on seeing her mother, Margaret Pulle. But after Kabelo's comforting embrace, she recovered just in time to answer the presenter's questions.

With much vigour and animation, she looked Kabelo right into the face and prophesied her love for Malawi's Code. "I love Code and I am still loving him," she said of the eighth evictee. She hailed herself for giving the other housemate a good run for the staked $100,000, and having managed to bring down Bertha and Lerato, who had tried to make her fail during her head-of-house tenure. Ghana, South Africa, Angola, Botswana, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Namibia, Zimbabwe and the rest of Africa voted to evict Maureen. Ofunneka got votes from Malawi and Uganda, while Zambia voted against Tatiana.

At the live eviction show in South Africa, Uganda's sought-after musician, Jose Chameleone thrilled the audience with raga-infused tunes mixed with African rhythms to hits, among which, Kipepewo.

The crowd kept asking for more, just that he was permitted to perform only two songs. And at the MTN-sponsored eviction party at Faze2, revellers were also thrown into frenzy when Chameleone stepped on to the stage clad in white, with a Ugandan flag draped over his attire. He was flanked by two members of his Leone Island crew. What a good way to receive our Maureen from the house! Meeting Chameleone at her eviction night must have given her a feeling of self importance.

Meanwhile, two fake housemates have been introduced into the house to eliminate the likely boredom. The moles are Ashanti from Kenya and Victor from Zimbabwe. But the finalists; Tatiana, Richard and Ofunneka have been fooled to think the two moles are also competing for the jackpot. They will take part in all the tasks and have diary room sessions like the others.

With two weeks left to the November 11 finale, viewers can now vote the winner, without including the moles.

And following Saturday's scenario in which Richard and Ofunneka disgraced the face of television with raunchy scenes behind Tatiana's back, none of the two can be seen to win. So why not give the money to Tatiana? It could help her take care of her sister who suffers from Leukemia. Type Vote Tatiana and send to 15626 (MTN), 5626 (utl), 0903015626 (Celtel). You can also vote online at www.mnetafrica.co.za/bigbrother. Meanwhile, Maureen arrives today at 10:00am. Let us give her a hero's welcome since she has done us proud by not having sex on television among others.