Museveni thrills NRM delegates with Kololo run
"Young people, you know I'm now 80 years old; no blood pressure. If you want to run, I can challenge you here," he said, drawing rapturous cheers and applause.
President Yoweri Museveni remarking during the NRM delegates’ conference at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds in Kampala. (Photo by Miriam Namutebi)
By Umaru Kashaka
Journalists @New Vision
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President Yoweri Museveni livened up the National Resistance Movement (NRM) delegates’ conference at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds in Kampala by breaking into a run once again.
Museveni, who has led Uganda uninterrupted since capturing power in January 1986, thrilled the more than 23,000 delegates when, after delivering his speech, he walked briskly and then broke into a run for the second time in two days.
This happened during the closing ceremony of the first meeting of the fourth ruling party national conference on Thursday, August 28.
Wearing a long-sleeved yellow shirt instead of his trademark hat, Museveni later returned to the podium to remind delegates, especially the youth, that although he was 80 years old, he remained in good health.
He challenged any delegates who doubted his ability to join him in a run at Kololo Grounds.
"Young people, you know I'm now 80 years old; no blood pressure. If you want to run, I can challenge you here," he said, drawing rapturous cheers and applause.
Earlier, he had sat quietly for hours listening to speeches, including those from international delegates, and watching performances of traditional Ugandan music.
He attributed his medical fitness to avoiding unnecessary stress.
"If some problem come, I handle it rationally and not emotionally. So, this issue (of chaotic youth elections) is simple. Facts will come and it will be handled," he said.
As NRM national chairman, the President urged aggrieved youth not to worry about the outcome of the polls held on Tuesday, August 26.
"You don't have to have blood pressure or worry yourselves over this because the mistakes that happened, happened here on earth and not in heaven. We can trace back and see what happened," he told them.
Museveni suspended the National Youth League elections, which had dragged into the night after supporters of the main candidates became chaotic amid allegations of gross irregularities.
The suspension came just hours after Collins Tanga, son of the NRM electoral commission chairman Dr Tanga Odoi, was declared winner with 1,567 votes against Brenda Kiconco, the President’s assistant private secretary on youth affairs, who polled 1,355.
The results were announced at about 5:00am on Wednesday, August 27.