Museveni rides on bodaboda
Apr 18, 2004
WHEN President Yoweri Museveni’s helicopter landed at Boma grounds in Fort Portal on Saturday, his convoy was missing.
By Raymond Baguma and Simon Mugenyi
WHEN President Yoweri Museveni’s helicopter landed at Boma grounds in Fort Portal on Saturday, his convoy was missing.
Museveni did not waste time but beckoned boda-boda youths for a lift to King Oyo’s palace, some two kilometres away. Oyo was celebrating his 12th birthday at the Karuzika palace. Museveni was to officiate.
“I am sorry I came to the King’s palace on a bodaboda,†Museveni said once at the palace. His five-bodaboda (motorbike) convoy was heavily guarded.
This was the second time in just two days Museveni used ordinary transport. On Friday, he travelled from Rwakitura to Kamwenge in his food pick-up truck after his helicopter broke down at takeoff.
Museveni last rode a bodaboda during 2001 presidential campaign.
He told the celebrants, “I saw my boys on bodaboda and told them, ‘come and we go.’†Museveni arrived at 5:30pm from Mubende.
The bodaboda cyclists reportedly bagged sh70,000 each.
Earlier, Museveni met the Sudanese foreign minister and officiated at the Beef Day celebrations in Mubende.
Acting presidential press secretary Onapito Ekomoloit said Museveni’s bodaboda ride “disproves allegations that the President is full of fear and is surrounded by heavy security.â€
Although Museveni had been invited to Oyo’s celebrations, his secretaries did not alert him.
Museveni is the Omujwara Nkondo (the Toro kingdom crown guardian).
“How can the king have a day like this and I am not informed?†Museveni asked.
He said he learnt of the ceremony the day before in Kamwenge where he met Queen Mother Best Kemigisa at a fundraising.
Museveni also closed the inaugural Toro conference, part of the activities to celebrate the king’s birthday.
Responding to the request for financial assistance, Museveni said the Government would start assisting kingdoms in the next financial year and that a cultural policy was underway.
King Solomon Iguru of Bunyoro and the Omugo (Queen) attended the function. Others included Kaaya Kavuma, Buganda’s deputy Katikkiro, area MPs and a team led by Central division chairman Charles Serunjogi.
Meanwhile, on Friday Museveni apologised for arriving late at the Kamwenge fundraising. He said his helicopter broke down and he had to use a truck for the 80km journey.
Speaking in Runyankore, Museveni said, “As we were taking off, the helicopter developed problems and I had to travel eighty miles in the car that brings food from the market.â€
“Those who don’t want the Movement wanted to disrupt our function by sending kifaaru (demons).â€
Earlier, the car of the Indian high commissioner overturned four kilometres before Kamwenge town, but he escaped unhurt to attend the function.
Museveni said travelling by road after a long time helped him see the situation on the ground.
He said he had retired from the army to challenge those opposed to the Movement ideologies and the power of the peasants. “The President, MPs and local council officials are all servants of wananchi. How can a servant be more powerful than his master?†he asked.
Museveni said, “I have retired from the army where I was not saying a lot because they (the opposition) thought I would scare them. Now I am out and will explain to them as a Movementist. I can do more kakuyege (campaign).â€
Museveni called on Kamwenge to support the Movement and thanked them for defeating ADF rebels. He said the Kamwenge road would be tarmacked and Kasese and Gulu rail lines revived.
WHEN President Yoweri Museveni’s helicopter landed at Boma grounds in Fort Portal on Saturday, his convoy was missing.
Museveni did not waste time but beckoned boda-boda youths for a lift to King Oyo’s palace, some two kilometres away. Oyo was celebrating his 12th birthday at the Karuzika palace. Museveni was to officiate.
“I am sorry I came to the King’s palace on a bodaboda,†Museveni said once at the palace. His five-bodaboda (motorbike) convoy was heavily guarded.
This was the second time in just two days Museveni used ordinary transport. On Friday, he travelled from Rwakitura to Kamwenge in his food pick-up truck after his helicopter broke down at takeoff.
Museveni last rode a bodaboda during 2001 presidential campaign.
He told the celebrants, “I saw my boys on bodaboda and told them, ‘come and we go.’†Museveni arrived at 5:30pm from Mubende.
The bodaboda cyclists reportedly bagged sh70,000 each.
Earlier, Museveni met the Sudanese foreign minister and officiated at the Beef Day celebrations in Mubende.
Acting presidential press secretary Onapito Ekomoloit said Museveni’s bodaboda ride “disproves allegations that the President is full of fear and is surrounded by heavy security.â€
Although Museveni had been invited to Oyo’s celebrations, his secretaries did not alert him.
Museveni is the Omujwara Nkondo (the Toro kingdom crown guardian).
“How can the king have a day like this and I am not informed?†Museveni asked.
He said he learnt of the ceremony the day before in Kamwenge where he met Queen Mother Best Kemigisa at a fundraising.
Museveni also closed the inaugural Toro conference, part of the activities to celebrate the king’s birthday.
Responding to the request for financial assistance, Museveni said the Government would start assisting kingdoms in the next financial year and that a cultural policy was underway.
King Solomon Iguru of Bunyoro and the Omugo (Queen) attended the function. Others included Kaaya Kavuma, Buganda’s deputy Katikkiro, area MPs and a team led by Central division chairman Charles Serunjogi.
Meanwhile, on Friday Museveni apologised for arriving late at the Kamwenge fundraising. He said his helicopter broke down and he had to use a truck for the 80km journey.
Speaking in Runyankore, Museveni said, “As we were taking off, the helicopter developed problems and I had to travel eighty miles in the car that brings food from the market.â€
“Those who don’t want the Movement wanted to disrupt our function by sending kifaaru (demons).â€
Earlier, the car of the Indian high commissioner overturned four kilometres before Kamwenge town, but he escaped unhurt to attend the function.
Museveni said travelling by road after a long time helped him see the situation on the ground.
He said he had retired from the army to challenge those opposed to the Movement ideologies and the power of the peasants. “The President, MPs and local council officials are all servants of wananchi. How can a servant be more powerful than his master?†he asked.
Museveni said, “I have retired from the army where I was not saying a lot because they (the opposition) thought I would scare them. Now I am out and will explain to them as a Movementist. I can do more kakuyege (campaign).â€
Museveni called on Kamwenge to support the Movement and thanked them for defeating ADF rebels. He said the Kamwenge road would be tarmacked and Kasese and Gulu rail lines revived.