President Museveni potrays true leadership

By Samuel Oduny

Recently the President Yoweri Museveni surprised people when he was seen attending the traditional marriage of MP Jimmy Akena the son of former President of Uganda the late Dr. Apollo Milton Obote and his wife Betty Amongi.

Most people have a misconception about President Museveni towards the family of the late Milton Obote. There could have been some political differences but that alone should not create any political enmity.

To work with President Museveni is always very simple because he puts himself very low to the grassroots people. He is not like the past Presidents of Uganda who were very difficult to approach. But President Museveni has time to meet with people and interact with them

The attendance of President Museveni in the traditional marriage of the son of the late Dr. Obote indicated the good heart and will he has for the people of Uganda. Most people do think that the President attends only wedding of very important people. And that attitude had been with former leaders of Uganda.

In northern Uganda, President Museveni always tells us the relationship he had with the people of the region especially during the struggle to remove Amin from power. When narrating his efforts he does not forget mentioning the names of the late Okello Jacob, Labeja and Obwona from Atiak who really helped him in the struggles. Although these people are not alive, President Museveni remembers their days in Uganda.

What is most important for us is to learn to reconcile with one another. We have a saying that a drop of milk once poured down is difficult to recover. We had a lot of good opportunities that are no longer there but the only alternative is to open a new chapter in our lives.

Honorable Jimmy Akena and your beloved wife, Betty Amongi, and not to forget Mama Miria Obote, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for inviting His Excellency the President of the Republic of Uganda to attend your traditional marriage at Minakulu in Oyam district.

Akena you are now wearing the hat of your father Dr. Apollo Milton Obote. Baseless politics of division was not with your father. The late Obote was a mediator of politics on the continent of Africa. Milton Obote was also a nationalist.

Mama Maria you are now the grandmother in Ugandan politics. Let the spirit of leadership of Dr. Obote shine on you and the children. In Uganda’s politics, you are the first woman to be referred to as the First Lady who was wedded in 1963 in the history of Uganda.