Otunnu gets lukewarm welcome in Jinja
Aug 24, 2009
THE former UN undersecretary, Olara Otunnu, yesterday visited Jinja and Tororo as part of his countrywide tour. His convoy included four vehicles, two mini-buses, a Toyota salon car and a Nissan Patrol. He travelled in one of the mini-buses with internat
By Donald Kiirya
THE former UN undersecretary, Olara Otunnu, yesterday visited Jinja and Tororo as part of his countrywide tour. His convoy included four vehicles, two mini-buses, a Toyota salon car and a Nissan Patrol. He travelled in one of the mini-buses with international journalists.
In Jinja town, a handful of police officers were deployed, one at the Jinja Police roundabout and another at the Mailo Mbiri roundabout.
Otunnu was accompanied by MPs Benson Obua and John Odit and Aliro Omara, a former human rights commissioner.
Otunnu, who returned on Saturday after 23 years in exile, was received in Jinja by about 15 UPC district executive members and supporters.
His meeting with the UPC executive and constituency chairmen at Daniel’s hotel was cancelled, reportedly due to limited time.
UPC leaders who welcomed Otunnu included Patrick Muyingo, a director of Kiira radio, Robert Kanusu, Richard Osinde and Rebecca Eremye.
Otunnu featured on a talk- show on Kiira FM radio for 20 minutes. He expressed shock over the state of Jinja town.
“I expected to see a vibrant city of Jinja. I am shocked that the town is very much a shadow of what it used to be.â€
Otunnu said he would join other compatriots to solve the problems of the country such as poverty.
He again expressed his support for a party coalition to challenge the ruling National Resistance Movement in the 2011 general elections.
When asked whether he could join the NRM, he answered: “I do not see myself having a role in the NRM much as they have been promising to give me bigger posts like appointing me as a prime minister, vice president and minister of foreign affairs.â€
After the talk-show, Otunnu toured the defunct Busoga grower’s cooperative union and the closed British American Tobacco industry from outside.
THE former UN undersecretary, Olara Otunnu, yesterday visited Jinja and Tororo as part of his countrywide tour. His convoy included four vehicles, two mini-buses, a Toyota salon car and a Nissan Patrol. He travelled in one of the mini-buses with international journalists.
In Jinja town, a handful of police officers were deployed, one at the Jinja Police roundabout and another at the Mailo Mbiri roundabout.
Otunnu was accompanied by MPs Benson Obua and John Odit and Aliro Omara, a former human rights commissioner.
Otunnu, who returned on Saturday after 23 years in exile, was received in Jinja by about 15 UPC district executive members and supporters.
His meeting with the UPC executive and constituency chairmen at Daniel’s hotel was cancelled, reportedly due to limited time.
UPC leaders who welcomed Otunnu included Patrick Muyingo, a director of Kiira radio, Robert Kanusu, Richard Osinde and Rebecca Eremye.
Otunnu featured on a talk- show on Kiira FM radio for 20 minutes. He expressed shock over the state of Jinja town.
“I expected to see a vibrant city of Jinja. I am shocked that the town is very much a shadow of what it used to be.â€
Otunnu said he would join other compatriots to solve the problems of the country such as poverty.
He again expressed his support for a party coalition to challenge the ruling National Resistance Movement in the 2011 general elections.
When asked whether he could join the NRM, he answered: “I do not see myself having a role in the NRM much as they have been promising to give me bigger posts like appointing me as a prime minister, vice president and minister of foreign affairs.â€
After the talk-show, Otunnu toured the defunct Busoga grower’s cooperative union and the closed British American Tobacco industry from outside.