How Otunnu missed Museveni handshake

Jan 01, 2010

THEY had talked foul against each other for the past 25 years. However, when circumstances led them to the same ceremony five days before Christmas, many were waiting to see how they would respond to each other’s presence.

By Chris Ocowun
    
THEY had talked foul against each other for the past 25 years. However, when circumstances led them to the same ceremony five days before Christmas, many were waiting to see how they would respond to each other’s presence.

President Yoweri Museveni and presidential hopeful Olara Otunnu had been invited to Gulu for the consecration of the Rev. Canon Johnson Gakumba as the seventh Bishop of the Diocese of Northern Uganda.
As planned, Otunnu arrived before the President, accompanied by Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) parliamentarians Livingstone Okello Okello (Chua County) and Benson Obua (Moroto County). He took a front seat in the VIP tent. Other guests in the same tent included the Acholi paramount chief, Rwot David Onen Acana II; Betty Aketch Okullu, the Uganda’s Ambassador to Sudan; Justice James Ogoola, the Principal Judge and several MPs.

When Museveni arrived at the function, Otunnu remained seated, while others stood up as a sign of respect for the president. A smiling Museveni waved at the audience as he walked to the presidential tent. Unlike others, Otunnu did not wave back.
In direct reference to the bad blood between the two, the Gulu district chairman, Norbert Mao, pointed out that Museveni and Otunnu had come face to face for the first time in over 24 years.

The two had last met in Nairobi in late 1985, when Otunnu was the foreign affairs minister under the short-lived regime of Tito Okello. Museveni was heading the guerilla National Resistance Army (NRA). The two parties held peace talks and signed an agreement in Nairobi, but the deal collapsed and the NRA captured power in January 1986. For many years to follow, Museveni and Otunnu did not say good things about each other.

Mao called upon them to reconcile. But when Museveni stood up to speak, he said meaningful reconciliation is possible only when troublemakers repent. He made specific reference to the Lord’s Resistance Army and people who have supported them in the past.

Often, Otunnu glued his eyes on Museveni, occassionally smiling and quietly taking notes as the President spoke. While others clapped and cheered Museveni, Otunnu remained emotionless.

Museveni, on the other hand, had a wider horizon. From time, he looked in the direction of the man who wants his seat.
After his speech Museveni, who was in a jovial mood, went over to the nearby VIP tent to greet the cultural leader, Rwot Acana. He was accompanied by energy minister Hillary Onek, international cooperation state minister Henry Okello Oryem, Gulu Municipality MP David Oceng Penytoo, Gulu Woman MP Betty Aol Ocan, chairman Mao and the Gulu resident district commmissioner, Walter Ochora.

Again, Otunnu remained seated while other occupants of the tent stood up as the President approached. Museveni shook hands with Acana and a few other guests, including the two opposition MPs, Obua and Okello Okello, who came together with Otunnu to the function. He then stopped four steps before Otunnu, who was still seated. Museveni then walked to his car, accompanied by the bishops, before the convoy sped off.

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