Boda-Bodas give Museveni huge welcome

Jun 17, 2004

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni yesterday returned home from the United States and Brazil to a gigantic welcome from bodaboda cyclists, mini-bus and lorry drivers dressed in dry banana leaves and tree branches.

By Alfred Wasike

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni yesterday returned home from the United States and Brazil to a gigantic welcome from bodaboda cyclists, mini-bus and lorry drivers dressed in dry banana leaves and tree branches.

Hundreds of frenzied people clad in yellow T-shirts emblazoned with Museveni’s 2001 smiling portrait, lined up along the 40km Kampala-Entebbe highway waving dry banana leaves, locally known as essanja, to symbolise their support for him to run for a third term in the 2006 presidential election.

At the Kibuye roundabout, Museveni received a gargantuan reception where his supporters handed him a woven bouquet of essanja.

Museveni’s sleek Gulfstream touched down at Entebbe Airport at 6:10pm. He was picked up in his official armoured white Cross-country Mercedes Benz.

He waved with his trademark thumbs-up sign to the massive crowd that kept surging forward as they yelled; “Mzee, ekisanja, Mzee, third term.”

It took the convoy of more than 200 vehicles more than four hours to snake its way to State House in Nakasero.

Hundreds of his supporters followed him there. He ordered his staff to serve soda to the chanting supporters.

Last week, the president accompanied by his wife Janet, travelled to Sea Island, Georgia, USA for the G8 summit.

He also attended the state funeral and burial of former US President Ronald Reagan. He then flew to Brazil where he addressed the UN Conference on Trade and Development.

Bodaboda cyclists draped in essanja, chanted the “no change” slogan, waved tree branches and carried placards demanding for a third term for Museveni.

Other placards demanded that Parliament amends the Constitution to allow Museveni contest for another term.

Some placards asked district chairmen to draft a memoranda for Museveni’s third term, while others demanded for a referendum, saying it was the only way Ugandans would determine their future.

Museveni stopped over at Lido beach, Entebbe town, Nkumba, Abayita-ababiri, Kajjansi, Zana, Najjanakumbi, Kibuye and other places.

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