MOVT, UPC clash at funeral
Dec 27, 2004
Leaders of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) and the Movement clashed at the burial of UPC stalwart Prof. Adonia Tiberondwa in Bushenyi on Sunday.
By Raymond Baguma
Leaders of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) and the Movement clashed at the burial of UPC stalwart Prof. Adonia Tiberondwa in Bushenyi on Sunday.
It started when environment minister Col. Kahinda Otafiire, who represented President Yoweri Museveni, told mourners that party colours carried less significance and asked them to pay allegiance to their country above everything.
He cited UPC stalwarts Cecilia Ogwal and Yona Kanyomozi who defied the party’s president, Milton Obote and stood for Parliamentary elections.
“They were faithful to UPC but defied their chairman by going to Parliament to serve their country. Also, during the war, we fought UPC soldiers while wearing UPC shirts. We also fought the UPC government using UPC means and UPC bullets,†Otafiire said.
He asked the mourners to emulate Tiberondwa, saying he was a just and balanced person who did not witchhunt his political opponents.
“Disagreement in political ideas does not mean we are enemies.
That is why I shared my kisanja cash with opposition MPs. This is the ultimate of politics but we have not yet reached this level of understanding in our country,†Otafiire said.
In retaliation, East African legislator Yona Kanyomozi said Tiberondwa’s life offered lessons to learn for UPC and the Movement Government.
“As we have been told by Otafiire, apart from the Universal Primary Education, we now hope that we shall also access the State House scholarships,†he said.
Earlier, state minister for industry Richard Nduhuura hailed Tiberondwa but refused to acknowledge UPC’s achievements under Milton Obote.
However, Edward Rurangaranga said after the overthrow of Idi Amin, the Obote II government mapped out a programme to rebuild the country, restore peace and introduce programmes such as education.
Amid cheers from UPC supporters, Rurangaranga said Nduhuura would not be what he is today if it was not for UPC.
He said abandoning UPC for the Movement was tantamount to a mother abandoning a child she nurtured right from the womb.
“Forgive us, we have refused to change and to abandon what we started,†Rurangaranga said.
Ogwal hailed Tiberondwa for his contribution to reconciling her with Milton Obote.
She urged former UPC members, citing Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu, who crossed to the Movement, to return and build UPC.
But minister Prof. Tarsis Kabwegyere called on UPC supporters to join the Movement ‘instead of staying in a house that has caught flames.’
Hundreds of UPC diehards, relatives, friends and sympathisers thronged the deceased’s country home in Rwentuuha, on the Mbarara-Bushenyi highway to bid farewell to ‘Ado’ as he was popularly known.
The casket containing the deceased’s remains was wrapped in a cloth bearing UPC party colours of red, blue and black.
Mourners wearing clothes with a tinge of either colours braved the long eulogies and scorching sun.
At 5:00pm, amid tears, wails and dirges, the casket was lowered into the grave built with red, black and blue tiles. The grave was constructed in the deceased’s compound.
Prominent among the mourners were FDC’s Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu, Miria Matembe and Makerere University staff led by vice-chancellor Prof. Livingstone Luboobi.
EAC secretary general Amanya Mushega, MP Mary Karooro Okurut, EADB’s Godfrey Tumusiime, Catholic, Anglican and Muslim religious leaders from the region. Others were UPC top brass Dr. James Rwanyarare, Night Kulabako and UPC party delegates from Jinja and Apac districts.
Tiberondwa died of cancer last week at Mulago hospital.
Leaders of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) and the Movement clashed at the burial of UPC stalwart Prof. Adonia Tiberondwa in Bushenyi on Sunday.
It started when environment minister Col. Kahinda Otafiire, who represented President Yoweri Museveni, told mourners that party colours carried less significance and asked them to pay allegiance to their country above everything.
He cited UPC stalwarts Cecilia Ogwal and Yona Kanyomozi who defied the party’s president, Milton Obote and stood for Parliamentary elections.
“They were faithful to UPC but defied their chairman by going to Parliament to serve their country. Also, during the war, we fought UPC soldiers while wearing UPC shirts. We also fought the UPC government using UPC means and UPC bullets,†Otafiire said.
He asked the mourners to emulate Tiberondwa, saying he was a just and balanced person who did not witchhunt his political opponents.
“Disagreement in political ideas does not mean we are enemies.
That is why I shared my kisanja cash with opposition MPs. This is the ultimate of politics but we have not yet reached this level of understanding in our country,†Otafiire said.
In retaliation, East African legislator Yona Kanyomozi said Tiberondwa’s life offered lessons to learn for UPC and the Movement Government.
“As we have been told by Otafiire, apart from the Universal Primary Education, we now hope that we shall also access the State House scholarships,†he said.
Earlier, state minister for industry Richard Nduhuura hailed Tiberondwa but refused to acknowledge UPC’s achievements under Milton Obote.
However, Edward Rurangaranga said after the overthrow of Idi Amin, the Obote II government mapped out a programme to rebuild the country, restore peace and introduce programmes such as education.
Amid cheers from UPC supporters, Rurangaranga said Nduhuura would not be what he is today if it was not for UPC.
He said abandoning UPC for the Movement was tantamount to a mother abandoning a child she nurtured right from the womb.
“Forgive us, we have refused to change and to abandon what we started,†Rurangaranga said.
Ogwal hailed Tiberondwa for his contribution to reconciling her with Milton Obote.
She urged former UPC members, citing Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu, who crossed to the Movement, to return and build UPC.
But minister Prof. Tarsis Kabwegyere called on UPC supporters to join the Movement ‘instead of staying in a house that has caught flames.’
Hundreds of UPC diehards, relatives, friends and sympathisers thronged the deceased’s country home in Rwentuuha, on the Mbarara-Bushenyi highway to bid farewell to ‘Ado’ as he was popularly known.
The casket containing the deceased’s remains was wrapped in a cloth bearing UPC party colours of red, blue and black.
Mourners wearing clothes with a tinge of either colours braved the long eulogies and scorching sun.
At 5:00pm, amid tears, wails and dirges, the casket was lowered into the grave built with red, black and blue tiles. The grave was constructed in the deceased’s compound.
Prominent among the mourners were FDC’s Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu, Miria Matembe and Makerere University staff led by vice-chancellor Prof. Livingstone Luboobi.
EAC secretary general Amanya Mushega, MP Mary Karooro Okurut, EADB’s Godfrey Tumusiime, Catholic, Anglican and Muslim religious leaders from the region. Others were UPC top brass Dr. James Rwanyarare, Night Kulabako and UPC party delegates from Jinja and Apac districts.
Tiberondwa died of cancer last week at Mulago hospital.