Tumukunde fails to address Lira supporters

Dec 05, 2020

Instead of addressing the crowd, Tumukunde just waved at them and headed to a nearby building where he spent nearly 30 minutes talking to his agents.

POLITICS   2021 ELECTIONS

LIRA - Independent presidential candidate Gen. Henry Tumukunde on Thursday arrived in Lira for his political campaigns but left voters disappointed. 

Tumukunde's convoy arrived in Lira city at about 6:06 pm and headed to Akii Bua stadium where he found nobody waiting for him but only the two giant tent houses erected to house people undergoing COVID-19 treatment. 

He then headed to the second venue at Adyel Division open ground and got some dozens of people waiting for him. 

"Tumukunde our man, Tumukunde our man," the crowd shouted on his arrival. 

Instead of addressing the crowd, Tumukunde just waved at them and headed to a nearby building where he spent nearly 30 minutes talking to his agents. 

Starting with his official vehicle, his motorcade started leaving the ground one by one and the anxious crowd only spotted him entering his vehicle from a distance and sped off at breakneck speed. 

Nick Obonyo, a resident of Junior quarters in Adyel Division who is a strong supporter of Tumukunde said he expected to hear from Tumukunde but was disappointed because he left without saying a word to the people. 

"Now how can me as his supporter convince others who came to hear his speech, he let them down," Obonyo said. 

Vicky Akulli, 61 said she expected Tumukunde to talk something about livestock compensation but was surprised to realise that he had no message for the people of Lira. 

Sam Olwa, a boda boda rider who was among the cheering team said Tumukunde should arrange a day and return to Lira because his act of making people wait for him and he did not address them disappointed so many people.  

However, some people speculated that the general could have been mindful and never wanted to brush his shoulders with the law by campaigning beyond the time allowed by the electoral commission. 

Sylvia Opio, a vendor at junior quarters market said Tumukunde's decision of not addressing a rally beyond the campaign saved the area of the wrath of the security people. 

She said the memory of teargas and gunshots during age limit consultation that was being conducted by MPs including Dokolo Woman MP Cecilia Atim was still fresh in her mind. 

"I think this man is wise by not addressing the crowd beyond the time, let him find a better avenue to give Lira people his message," she said. 

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