Museveni tours East Africa by road, decorates Moody Awori
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni yesterday travelled by road on a tour of Kenya and Tanzania to discuss the East African Federation, State House said.
By Carol Natukunda and Nathan Etengu
in Busia
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni yesterday travelled by road on a tour of Kenya and Tanzania to discuss the East African Federation, State House said.
Museveni, accompanied by his wife Janet, arrived at Busia customs post at around 2:30pm. He stopped for a chat with the district leaders, including RDC Robinah Nabanja, LC5 boss Patrick Were and Samia Bugwe North MP Steven Mugeni Wasike.
The President thanked the people of Busia on the Ugandan side for abandoning magendo (smuggling) to embark on genuine business.
“Magendo was a result of scarcity of essential commodities. But now, there is production on both sides of the Uganda, Kenya border,†the State House, in a statement, quoted Museveni as saying.
He stressed that the East African Community would facilitate easy movement of goods and services. “A large market is good for producers,†he said.
Business at the border had been at a standstill since 9:00am as the gates on either side were closed. Transactions at the customs yard were also down as most of the clearing and forwarding agents could not reach their clients and the other side of the border.
Some desperate truck drivers and casual loaders complained of the “un-called for delay,†while others lamented that the “custodian of the law†was being given priority.
The convoy of 17 vehicles, including a truck that carried a spare vehicle, then crossed into Kenya, where the President was received at the country home of the Kenyan vice-president, Moody Awori, in Funyula, about 24km south-east of Busia town.
Museveni honoured Awori and his wife with Nalubaale medals for their contribution to the liberation of Uganda from the Idi Amin regime, reports Reuben Olita.
Museveni said Awori helped Ugandans get jobs in Nairobi.
The medal is awarded to people who participated or supported the 1981 to 1986 guerrilla struggle that brought Museveni to power.
The vice-president’s brother, Aggrey Awori, who stood against Museveni in the 2001 presidential elections, attended the function.
“I came here today with my family (Janet) to say thank you Mzee Awori and tell you that you were indeed Uganda’s freedom fighter. All freedom fighters in Uganda are awarded these medals and you are one of them,†Museveni said as the crowd cheered.
“When Ugandans had problems, Kenyans helped us. We are now consolidating that friendship with my friend Mwai Kibaki to ensure we realise a political federation,†he said.
Awori, on his part, said Kenya respected Museveni’s leadership and urged him to continue in power to consolidate the good relations between the neighbours.
It was a big honour, he added, for Museveni to pay him a courtesy call, describing it as a rare phenomenon.
Museveni arrived at the border to a thunderous welcome from the cheering Kenyans who pleaded with him to address them. He obliged. On his way to Kisumu for the night, Museveni was received by cheering crowds in all major towns.
At Awori’s residence, Museveni held private discussions with his host for 40 minutes. No details of the talks were divulged.
However, Kenya’s foreign affairs minister, Raphael Tuju, said the talks centred on the good relations between Kenya and Uganda.
Museveni will also travel by road today to Musoma, Tanzania, where he is expected to honour posthumously former president Julius Nyerere for his contribution to the liberation of Uganda.
in Busia
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni yesterday travelled by road on a tour of Kenya and Tanzania to discuss the East African Federation, State House said.
Museveni, accompanied by his wife Janet, arrived at Busia customs post at around 2:30pm. He stopped for a chat with the district leaders, including RDC Robinah Nabanja, LC5 boss Patrick Were and Samia Bugwe North MP Steven Mugeni Wasike.
The President thanked the people of Busia on the Ugandan side for abandoning magendo (smuggling) to embark on genuine business.
“Magendo was a result of scarcity of essential commodities. But now, there is production on both sides of the Uganda, Kenya border,†the State House, in a statement, quoted Museveni as saying.
He stressed that the East African Community would facilitate easy movement of goods and services. “A large market is good for producers,†he said.
Business at the border had been at a standstill since 9:00am as the gates on either side were closed. Transactions at the customs yard were also down as most of the clearing and forwarding agents could not reach their clients and the other side of the border.
Some desperate truck drivers and casual loaders complained of the “un-called for delay,†while others lamented that the “custodian of the law†was being given priority.
The convoy of 17 vehicles, including a truck that carried a spare vehicle, then crossed into Kenya, where the President was received at the country home of the Kenyan vice-president, Moody Awori, in Funyula, about 24km south-east of Busia town.
Museveni honoured Awori and his wife with Nalubaale medals for their contribution to the liberation of Uganda from the Idi Amin regime, reports Reuben Olita.
Museveni said Awori helped Ugandans get jobs in Nairobi.
The medal is awarded to people who participated or supported the 1981 to 1986 guerrilla struggle that brought Museveni to power.
The vice-president’s brother, Aggrey Awori, who stood against Museveni in the 2001 presidential elections, attended the function.
“I came here today with my family (Janet) to say thank you Mzee Awori and tell you that you were indeed Uganda’s freedom fighter. All freedom fighters in Uganda are awarded these medals and you are one of them,†Museveni said as the crowd cheered.
“When Ugandans had problems, Kenyans helped us. We are now consolidating that friendship with my friend Mwai Kibaki to ensure we realise a political federation,†he said.
Awori, on his part, said Kenya respected Museveni’s leadership and urged him to continue in power to consolidate the good relations between the neighbours.
It was a big honour, he added, for Museveni to pay him a courtesy call, describing it as a rare phenomenon.
Museveni arrived at the border to a thunderous welcome from the cheering Kenyans who pleaded with him to address them. He obliged. On his way to Kisumu for the night, Museveni was received by cheering crowds in all major towns.
At Awori’s residence, Museveni held private discussions with his host for 40 minutes. No details of the talks were divulged.
However, Kenya’s foreign affairs minister, Raphael Tuju, said the talks centred on the good relations between Kenya and Uganda.
Museveni will also travel by road today to Musoma, Tanzania, where he is expected to honour posthumously former president Julius Nyerere for his contribution to the liberation of Uganda.