Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
Yes, that is actually his name.
Voters in northern Namibia are returning to the polls this week, and one familiar local figure is once again drawing global curiosity.
The candidate’s politics are unremarkable for his region — but his name never fails to attract international attention.
But there is some logic to his name.
Safe seat expected
According to Express, Adolf Hitler Uunona, a councillor in the Ompundja constituency, secured an overwhelming victory in 2020 with 85% of the vote, according to previous results reported in Namibia.
He won 1,196 ballots against 213, a margin that placed him firmly on the regional council for the ruling Swapo party.
His constituency counted just over 2,500 registered voters at the last election, and preliminary indicators from the country’s electoral commission suggest he is again on course for a comfortable majority when Namibians vote on November 26.
Name draws attention
Uunona’s rise would likely have remained a local story if not for his unusual name.
The councillor became widely known abroad after international media highlighted the coincidence.
Speaking to the German newspaper Bild, he made clear that any link ends with the name itself.
He insisted he had “nothing to do” with the ideas associated with Adolf Hitler and has repeatedly rejected any connection to Nazi beliefs.
Speaking to the outlet again this week, he promised that he is not “striving for world domination“.
Family history
In the interview with Bild, Uunona explained that his father chose the name without understanding its historical weight.
“He probably didn’t understand what Adolf Hitler stood for. As a child I saw it as a totally normal name,” he told the outlet.
German-style names remain relatively common in Namibia, reflecting the period when the country was under German colonial rule.
As he recalled learning more about the dictator’s legacy, Uunona added: “It wasn’t until I was growing up that I realised: This man wanted to subjugate the whole world. I have nothing to do with any of these things.”
Swapo, his political home, was established in 1960 and later became Namibia’s governing party after independence.
It has long positioned itself against colonial domination and white-minority rule, shaping national politics for decades.
Sources: Express, Bild
