Namibian Politician ‘Adolf Hitler Uunona’ Faces Regional Election Campaign
A Namibian politician named Adolf Hitler Uunona, known for his unusual name linked to the German dictator, is running for re-election in the Oshana region. The name, given by his father, carries no ideological weight, and he has stated that it does not reflect his political beliefs. The election is part of Namibia’s ongoing regional vote, with SWAPO as the ruling party.
Adolf Hitler Uunona, a long-time member of the ruling SWAPO party, is expected to retain his council seat in the Ompundja constituency in the northern Oshana region. While final tallies have not yet been released, several international outlets report he is projected to win by a wide margin, consistent with previous elections. SWAPO, which has governed Namibia since independence in 1990, has shifted from its socialist liberation roots toward a more centrist, market-oriented governing approach.
His German dictator-linked name — “Adolf Hitler” — was given to him by his father, he told the German outlet Bild, who he claimed did not understand the historical weight the name carried. “It was a perfectly normal name for me when I was a kid,” Uunona told Bild. “It wasn’t until I grew older that I realized this man wanted to subjugate the whole world and killed millions of Jews.” He said his childhood name reflected no political intent and stressed that he has never held extremist beliefs.
“The fact I have this name does not mean I want to conquer Oshana,” he said, adding in earlier interviews he generally goes by Adolf Uunona in daily life. Namibia was a German colony from 1884 to 1915, and Germanic names and place names remain common in some communities. Historians note that this legacy sometimes results in unusual or jarring combinations by modern standards, though they carry no inherent ideological meaning.
According to official information from the Oshana regional government, the Ompundja constituency has 4,659 inhabitants, 19 administrative centers and covers 466 square kilometers. Despite the controversial name, Uunona remains a prominent figure in his community, with his campaign focused on local issues rather than any political ideology. The election results are expected to reflect the continued influence of SWAPO, which has shifted from its socialist roots to a more centrist approach, indicating the party’s adaptability to changing political landscapes.