Banana leaves stay green in London
May 31, 2005
Movement supporters in London suffered a setback when the green banana leaves they airlifted from Kampala failed to dry up in time for the launch of the “Kisanja†Committee.
By Emmy Allio
Movement supporters in London suffered a setback when the green banana leaves they airlifted from Kampala failed to dry up in time for the launch of the “Kisanja†Committee.
A suitcase of the green leaves was flown from Uganda by members of the NRM UK and Ireland chapter for the occasion where Cabinet ministers launched the Kisanja Committee.
But as fate would have it, the London weather could not dry the leaves in time. From April to June is spring time in England. But many NRM supporters blamed juju (witchcraft) from the opposition that conspired to frustrate their project.
A member of the NRM UK/Ireland taskforce, Israel Ochwo Alecho, said the committee, through contacts in Kampala, Mbale and Mbarara, organised the delivery of the banana leaves and were overwhelmed by the demand for them.
“The leaves failed to dry in time. But they still served the purpose,†Alecho said.
Having no alternative, defence minister Amama Mbabazi, foreign affairs minister Sam Kutesa and Uganda’s High Commissioner to London, Dr. Thomas Sisye Kiryapawo, had to don green leaves for the launch last weekend at the Royal-National Hotel in Russell Square, London.
The NRM UK and Ireland Chapter formed a tasked force called the “Kisanja Committeeâ€, headed by Patrick Asiimwe, deputised by Alecho. Other members are Peter Magomu-Mashate, Julius Akunda and Charity Mbaira.
The function took place after an earlier debate where Mbabazi and Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) promoter Eriya Kategaya exchanged views on weather President Yoweri Museveni should have a third term.
Mbabazi said there was need for Uganda to depend on its own resources. He also stressed the need for the British government and other donors to respect the sovereignty of Uganda to decide the political direction of the country.
One member from the audience asked Mbabazi about the ‘millions of northern Ugandans’ whom he said had died in the conflict. Mbabazi said the total population of Acholiland was less than a million. “If millions have died then are there no Acholis living today?†the minister retorted.
Movement supporters in London suffered a setback when the green banana leaves they airlifted from Kampala failed to dry up in time for the launch of the “Kisanja†Committee.
A suitcase of the green leaves was flown from Uganda by members of the NRM UK and Ireland chapter for the occasion where Cabinet ministers launched the Kisanja Committee.
But as fate would have it, the London weather could not dry the leaves in time. From April to June is spring time in England. But many NRM supporters blamed juju (witchcraft) from the opposition that conspired to frustrate their project.
A member of the NRM UK/Ireland taskforce, Israel Ochwo Alecho, said the committee, through contacts in Kampala, Mbale and Mbarara, organised the delivery of the banana leaves and were overwhelmed by the demand for them.
“The leaves failed to dry in time. But they still served the purpose,†Alecho said.
Having no alternative, defence minister Amama Mbabazi, foreign affairs minister Sam Kutesa and Uganda’s High Commissioner to London, Dr. Thomas Sisye Kiryapawo, had to don green leaves for the launch last weekend at the Royal-National Hotel in Russell Square, London.
The NRM UK and Ireland Chapter formed a tasked force called the “Kisanja Committeeâ€, headed by Patrick Asiimwe, deputised by Alecho. Other members are Peter Magomu-Mashate, Julius Akunda and Charity Mbaira.
The function took place after an earlier debate where Mbabazi and Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) promoter Eriya Kategaya exchanged views on weather President Yoweri Museveni should have a third term.
Mbabazi said there was need for Uganda to depend on its own resources. He also stressed the need for the British government and other donors to respect the sovereignty of Uganda to decide the political direction of the country.
One member from the audience asked Mbabazi about the ‘millions of northern Ugandans’ whom he said had died in the conflict. Mbabazi said the total population of Acholiland was less than a million. “If millions have died then are there no Acholis living today?†the minister retorted.