A Namibian politician named after Adolf Hitler has won a fifth term in office, keeping his seat with a massive majority.
Adolf Hitler Uunona first went viral during Namibia’s 2020 local elections after winning by a landslide. He has now repeated that success, holding his seat once again.
Uunona, 59, ran for district administrator in the Ompundja region. He has been in power there since 2004.
He explained that his father gave him the name without understanding the history behind it. “My father named me after this man. He probably didn’t understand what Adolf Hitler stood for,” Uunona said.
Uunona said he grew up thinking the name was normal. Only later did he grasp the full implications. “As a child I saw it as a totally normal name. Only as I grew up did I understand that this man wanted to conquer the whole world,” he said.
His wife calls him Adolf, and he generally goes by Adolf Uunona. His name was abbreviated to “Adolf H” on official candidate lists during elections.
Uunona stressed that his name has no bearing on his political ambitions. “The fact I have this name does not mean I want to conquer Oshana,” he said, referring to the region he administers.
He added, “It doesn’t mean I’m striving for world domination.” His comments were meant to separate himself from the notorious Nazi dictator he was named after.
After his latest win, Uunona said he has officially changed his name to avoid unwanted attention, the Daily Mail reported.
“My name is not Adolf Hitler, I am Adolf Uunona,” he clarified.
He noted that people have tried to associate him with the Nazi leader in the past, despite having no connection. “I have seen in the past people calling me Adolf Hitler and trying to associate me with someone I do not even know,” he said.
Namibia was once a German colony called German South West Africa. Germany controlled the territory from 1884 until the end of World War I.
The country still has a small German-speaking community, and some residents retain German names from colonial times.
Uunona’s story highlights the unusual situations that can arise from inherited names, especially ones linked to historical figures.
Despite the name and the attention it brings, Uunona has focused on local governance and has maintained voter support in his region.
His victory reinforces that his constituents judge him on his record and leadership, not the controversial name he was born with.
Uunona’s case also serves as a reminder that names can carry weight far beyond the intentions of those who bestow them. In this instance, the politician has successfully distinguished himself from the infamous figure he shares a name with.
