Excitement, intrigue at UNAA 2009
Sep 06, 2009
PEARSON International Airport, Toronto, September 3, 3:18pm<br>The road to the Uganda north American Association UNAA Convention in Chicago begins here. We have just cleared US immigration and border services, and now waiting for the American Airlines fl
By Opio Oloya
PEARSON International Airport, Toronto, September 3, 3:18pm
The road to the Uganda north American Association UNAA Convention in Chicago begins here. We have just cleared US immigration and border services, and now waiting for the American Airlines flight to Chicago.
We have an hour to kill while waiting for the flight to Chicago O’Hare International Airport. The convention will be right on Chicago’s famed Gold Mile, a famous strip.
Meanwhile, I must admit being taken aback this morning by an unsigned e-mail purporting to come from the UNAA president. It launched a very vitriolic attack on candidate Moses Wilson, calling him all sorts of names.
I would like to believe that Lt. Musisi did not author or sanction the message in any way.
In any event, my flight is just about ready, and I must get up and get in line to board.
Chicago, 8:05 pm
The trip downtown in the rental was very slow as we crawled at snail pace along the I-90 E. It took the better part of an hour before we arrived at the Chicago Marriott at Ohio Street and Michigan Avenue North.
The lobby of the hotel was buzzing with Ugandans from all over North America and from Uganda.
I met some familiar faces like Kassiano Wadri, the MP for Terego, Nyombi Thembo, the Minister of State for Luweero Triangle, Fred Opolot, the executive director of the Uganda Media Centre and others.
It was a lively gathering in the foyer with many happy convention goers catching up with friends they have not seen in a long while.
Later I met current UNAA president Lt. Frank Musisi. The first thing we spoke about was that e-mail. He told me he had not seen the e-mail, and it could very well be a part of his campaign team that had sent it. “I correct them when they go wrongâ€, he said.
Friday, September 4, 8:45am
We had a buffet breakfast downstairs in the restaurant.
After breakfast, I attended a meeting to streamline the Northern Uganda forum.
It was a small caucus tasked with ensuring that what transpires this weekend would have meaning to the process of bringing change in northern Uganda.
Northern Uganda forum
The First Lady, Janet Museveni, thrilled UNAA delegates Saturday afternoon with a polished performance that got a standing ovation from the crowd. She addressed issues of corruption, why the UPDF had taken 20 years fighting the LRA, and waded calmly into term limits.
Janet was the keynote speaker at the UNAA’s Northern Uganda Forum chaired by Dr. Ben Omara Abe from Seattle, Washington.
She said the real work had just begun in helping to rebuild the war affected regions. “The degree of hope your country has in you means that no Ugandan should be left out of the effort to rebuild Uganda,†she said amidst cheers.
Other panelists included Opiyo Oloya (Toronto), Dr. George Otto (Toronto), and Rosette Serwanga (Boston).
Election intrigue
Even as the UNAA presidential candidates made their pitch Saturday for final push for votes, another intrigue was in making. Late Saturday night, Musisi revealed that an injunction had been filed in Cook’s County preventing the elections from taking place on Sunday.
He said said a UNAA member had filed the lawsuit, and he was duly served by the courts. Amidst boos and jeers, he announced that elections could not, therefore, take place as scheduled because he had to appear in court on Monday.
As delegates absorbed the news, debate moderator Dr. Muniini Mulera, clarified that the court injunction was aimed at the UNAA election committee and as such, elections would continue while the committee prepares to appear in court.
The evening was filled with upbeat supporters of the three contenders, Flex Kabuye, Moses Wilson and Musisi. To the question of executive powers, Musisi won some applause and boos when he said UNAA elected president retained executive powers to make decision.
However, both Kabuye and Wilson responded that the power of the UNAA president resided in consensus rather than dictatorship. “UNAA is you,†said Wilson to a huge applause.
Musisi also denounced the rule that allows those outside North America to vote in UNAA elections.
Voting started 6:00am on Sunday through most of the day.
PEARSON International Airport, Toronto, September 3, 3:18pm
The road to the Uganda north American Association UNAA Convention in Chicago begins here. We have just cleared US immigration and border services, and now waiting for the American Airlines flight to Chicago.
We have an hour to kill while waiting for the flight to Chicago O’Hare International Airport. The convention will be right on Chicago’s famed Gold Mile, a famous strip.
Meanwhile, I must admit being taken aback this morning by an unsigned e-mail purporting to come from the UNAA president. It launched a very vitriolic attack on candidate Moses Wilson, calling him all sorts of names.
I would like to believe that Lt. Musisi did not author or sanction the message in any way.
In any event, my flight is just about ready, and I must get up and get in line to board.
Chicago, 8:05 pm
The trip downtown in the rental was very slow as we crawled at snail pace along the I-90 E. It took the better part of an hour before we arrived at the Chicago Marriott at Ohio Street and Michigan Avenue North.
The lobby of the hotel was buzzing with Ugandans from all over North America and from Uganda.
I met some familiar faces like Kassiano Wadri, the MP for Terego, Nyombi Thembo, the Minister of State for Luweero Triangle, Fred Opolot, the executive director of the Uganda Media Centre and others.
It was a lively gathering in the foyer with many happy convention goers catching up with friends they have not seen in a long while.
Later I met current UNAA president Lt. Frank Musisi. The first thing we spoke about was that e-mail. He told me he had not seen the e-mail, and it could very well be a part of his campaign team that had sent it. “I correct them when they go wrongâ€, he said.
Friday, September 4, 8:45am
We had a buffet breakfast downstairs in the restaurant.
After breakfast, I attended a meeting to streamline the Northern Uganda forum.
It was a small caucus tasked with ensuring that what transpires this weekend would have meaning to the process of bringing change in northern Uganda.
Northern Uganda forum
The First Lady, Janet Museveni, thrilled UNAA delegates Saturday afternoon with a polished performance that got a standing ovation from the crowd. She addressed issues of corruption, why the UPDF had taken 20 years fighting the LRA, and waded calmly into term limits.
Janet was the keynote speaker at the UNAA’s Northern Uganda Forum chaired by Dr. Ben Omara Abe from Seattle, Washington.
She said the real work had just begun in helping to rebuild the war affected regions. “The degree of hope your country has in you means that no Ugandan should be left out of the effort to rebuild Uganda,†she said amidst cheers.
Other panelists included Opiyo Oloya (Toronto), Dr. George Otto (Toronto), and Rosette Serwanga (Boston).
Election intrigue
Even as the UNAA presidential candidates made their pitch Saturday for final push for votes, another intrigue was in making. Late Saturday night, Musisi revealed that an injunction had been filed in Cook’s County preventing the elections from taking place on Sunday.
He said said a UNAA member had filed the lawsuit, and he was duly served by the courts. Amidst boos and jeers, he announced that elections could not, therefore, take place as scheduled because he had to appear in court on Monday.
As delegates absorbed the news, debate moderator Dr. Muniini Mulera, clarified that the court injunction was aimed at the UNAA election committee and as such, elections would continue while the committee prepares to appear in court.
The evening was filled with upbeat supporters of the three contenders, Flex Kabuye, Moses Wilson and Musisi. To the question of executive powers, Musisi won some applause and boos when he said UNAA elected president retained executive powers to make decision.
However, both Kabuye and Wilson responded that the power of the UNAA president resided in consensus rather than dictatorship. “UNAA is you,†said Wilson to a huge applause.
Musisi also denounced the rule that allows those outside North America to vote in UNAA elections.
Voting started 6:00am on Sunday through most of the day.