Lira residents welcome Obote’s son
May 03, 2005
BUSINESS came to a standstill in Lira town for about three hours on Monday as Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) supporters jammed the streets to welcome Jimmy Akena, son of former president Dr. Apollo Milton Obote.
By Ali Mao, A. Ocen and Moses Ayo
BUSINESS came to a standstill in Lira town for about three hours on Monday as Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) supporters jammed the streets to welcome Jimmy Akena, son of former president Dr. Apollo Milton Obote.
Clad in a party T-shirt, Akena, who has been in exile for 20 years, arrived in the town at 1:00pm from his ancestral home in Akokoro, Apac district. The party’s UK coordinator, Joseph Ochieno, accompanied him.
The supporters, who were holding placards with Obote’s portrait, party flags, tree branches and wearing UPC colours (red, blue and black) thronged the streets, chanting UPC slogans.
UPC district organising committee chairman Nassur Ogwang welcomed Akena.
Akena said in Luo, “Apwoyo jola wunu paco,†(I thank you for welcoming me home).
He was led to the newly-opened UPC offices on Kwania Road. However, MPs from Lango did not attend the function. Lira municipality MP Cecilia Ogwal was at Lira municipal council hall launching the registration of UPC members.
Ochieno called for unity and reconciliation.
Akena and his entourage attended a service at St. Augustine’s Church.
While on a talk-show on Unity FM on Monday, Akena said he would cut his hair when the Movement Government introduces democracy.
“I vowed not to cut my hair if the dictatorship under President Yoweri Museveni is still in power. I am still on strike because of the bad laws of the Movement government that do not give equal rights to people,†he said.
Akena allayed fears that he wanted to unseat Dokolo County MP Okot Ogong, a Movementist.
“But UPC is going to field a candidate who will take the seat,†he added.
He encouraged the youth to join politics and seek wisdom from stalwarts. Akena refuted reports that his father was ill, saying he would not have returned if that had been the case.
“A united and organised UPC will address Uganda’s problems,†Akena said.
BUSINESS came to a standstill in Lira town for about three hours on Monday as Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) supporters jammed the streets to welcome Jimmy Akena, son of former president Dr. Apollo Milton Obote.
Clad in a party T-shirt, Akena, who has been in exile for 20 years, arrived in the town at 1:00pm from his ancestral home in Akokoro, Apac district. The party’s UK coordinator, Joseph Ochieno, accompanied him.
The supporters, who were holding placards with Obote’s portrait, party flags, tree branches and wearing UPC colours (red, blue and black) thronged the streets, chanting UPC slogans.
UPC district organising committee chairman Nassur Ogwang welcomed Akena.
Akena said in Luo, “Apwoyo jola wunu paco,†(I thank you for welcoming me home).
He was led to the newly-opened UPC offices on Kwania Road. However, MPs from Lango did not attend the function. Lira municipality MP Cecilia Ogwal was at Lira municipal council hall launching the registration of UPC members.
Ochieno called for unity and reconciliation.
Akena and his entourage attended a service at St. Augustine’s Church.
While on a talk-show on Unity FM on Monday, Akena said he would cut his hair when the Movement Government introduces democracy.
“I vowed not to cut my hair if the dictatorship under President Yoweri Museveni is still in power. I am still on strike because of the bad laws of the Movement government that do not give equal rights to people,†he said.
Akena allayed fears that he wanted to unseat Dokolo County MP Okot Ogong, a Movementist.
“But UPC is going to field a candidate who will take the seat,†he added.
He encouraged the youth to join politics and seek wisdom from stalwarts. Akena refuted reports that his father was ill, saying he would not have returned if that had been the case.
“A united and organised UPC will address Uganda’s problems,†Akena said.