By Our Reporters
Alice Alaso was a vibrant politician and undisputed kingmaker for Teso sub region until 2021 when Hellen Adoa of NRM unexpectedly sent her packing. But Alaso, who had served as Woman MP for 15 consecutive years, didn’t easily let go. She became aggrieved and dragged Adoa to court alleging vote rigging among other things. The matter went up to Justice Steven Kavuma’s Court of Appeal where Alaso still lost and was left with a consequent bill of court costs to pay which she for long kept exaggerating to be Shs500m yet actually it was just Shs59m. The voters became sympathetic and embarked on fundraising drives hoping they were contributing towards a Shs500m obligation. In the end, Alaso paid Shs59m of which Shs27m was pocketed by Adoa and the balance by the lawyers who were on the verge of dragging the former FDC Secretary General to civil prison as a judgment debtor. As we write, Alaso has determined to rise up and walk again as opposed to being overcome by self-pity. She is back to the political trenches of Serere vigorously campaigning to get back her seat in 2021. She has tactfully re-branded and toned down on the anti-Museveni and NRM rhetoric. And this gesture of toning down has strengthened her capabilities to materially prepare for the 2021 battle where she faces Adoa and former State House employee Irene Akiror who currently teaches at Kyambogo University having been expelled from State House by Museveni for the defiance she exhibited during the 2016 elections.
BRAND NEW TRACTOR
Alaso’s new approach of not being very antagonistic to the NRM has resulted into a brand new tractor being bought to boost her 2021 efforts. The tractor is already working for potential voters in the community and its acquisition has made people realize that ANT, the new Gen Muntu party for which she is defacto SG, isn’t going to be a party of the poverty-stricken. Alaso is also more tolerant to the poor with whom she these days comfortably sits during burials in the 10 rural Sub Counties making Serere district. She would (as incumbent MP) respond with apprehension when approached for funeral contributions but these days she is always willing to participate in funeral ceremonies even without being invited. She also no longer reacts belligerently when confronted by fellow leaders expressing divergent views. But there are several hurdles the elderly politician will have to address before finally overcoming Adoa and become MP once again.
WHAT ARE THEY?
A group of NRM leaders, led by Serere LC5 Chairman Joseph Opit, are determined to block her reelection and they have been almost everywhere saying all manner of things against Alaso, a very wealthy politician with 7 commercial buildings and two hotels in Soroti Town. They are referring to her decision to drag Adoa to court in 2016 to build a case painting her as politically a very desperate person who can’t survive on her own without voters favoring and sending her to Parliament. In comparison, Adoa was aggrieved in 2011 when Alaso defeated her at the inception of Serere district but she was courteous and didn’t go to court even when there was a lot of pressure from the NRM fraternity. That someone who had eaten for 15 years couldn’t stomach a defeat is indicative of how politically insatiable Alaso could be, critics say. The hostility with which Alaso has been attacking POA the new FDC President is something that has alienated her from a significant part of the population that has professed opposition since time immemorial along with Alaso who has been in four parties so far (UPC, NRM/Individual merit days, FDC & now ANT). Since the days of Col Omaria and the likes of Cuthbert Obwangor, the Itesots crave power and when POA became head of the biggest opposition party many felt proud and couldn’t understand why Alaso was leading others in walking away from FDC protesting the ascension of their kinsman to the highest office at Najjanankumbi. She has been to radio talk shows on radio VERITAS badmouthing POA whose strategy has been that of silence. But a group led by FDC big girl Sarah Epelu has been everywhere detoxicating things while demonizing Alaso for mourning POA’s victory yet he is a fellow Itesot. Such people who have been in opposition with Alaso for such a long time are convinced POA’s biggest headache has so far come from Alaso and not even Gen Mugisha Muntu. This is something that will no doubt diminish Alaso’s vote come 2021. Even her strong supporters quietly whisper that she is stingy making it hard for them to materially benefit from her even if she is reelected in 2021. In contrast, Adoa is very generous if her community support programs as MP are anything to go by.
CONTRASTING WITH ADOA
In just 3 of her being MP, amiable Adoa (who built schools and supported hospitals before joining Parliament) has supported faith-based organizations namely Anglican, Catholic and PAG/Pentecostal Churches in Serere by buying many motorcycles for clerics in all parishes. She has also funded the opening of bank accounts for all churches in the district and has also worked very well with the two male MPs namely Elijah Okupa (Kasilo) and Serere County’s Patrick Okabe (NRM). This is different from Alaso who (at the peak of her political career as FDC leading figure in Teso) never worked well with Okupa despite belonging to the same party. Any family that loses a loved one, whether opposition or NRM, they are sure of accessing free chairs and tents which are available free of charge as part of Hellen Adoa’s Corporate Social Responsibility programs. In place are 5,000 plastic chairs which one takes and sit mourners free of charge: Okupa benefited from this Adoa philanthropy recently when his mum died. Yet that isn’t all. Adoa also put in place a permanent fund from which a bereaved family is sure of getting Shs100,000 grant when an elder dies and Shs50,000 when it’s a child. She also has service vehicles which ferry mourners and burial-related requirements at all funerals even if the family affected is of opposition. There are two service vans one for Kasilo and the other for Serere County. All these were unheard of during Alaso’s days.
ALASO REBRANDS
The desire to get reelected has prompted Alaso to adjust and learn to become generous in old age but voters are skeptical hers are spontaneous actions. LC5 Chairman Opit has lately been bashing Alaso claiming she is very contradictory and unbelievable in the way she is lately very accommodative and tolerant towards President Museveni and his NRM. The Opits are reflecting on her past speeches at funerals where she would bash Museveni telling people he is worse than Amin and they now can’t believe her supporters are claiming that State House is more interested in her (Alaso) than Adoa and Okabe who have flocked with Museveni and NRM for an eternity. That in the past her supporters would openly pray for the President’s death and question God as to why he was taking too long to call him (Museveni). The Opits are planning to expose her as inconsistent because only a few years ago Museveni, who she these days says is more acceptable than POA, was her worst politician ever. In both the campaigns of 2011 and 2016, the Alaso camp members would ask voters to retain her on grounds that the Museveni government (having sold off the hills, lakes and rivers) was having its eyes on Itesots’ land in Serere and that only a strong legislator like Alaso would prevent the remaining land being taken. The question the Opits are raising is: Hellen Adoa has been MP for close to three years now but how come the Itesots land is still there and hasn’t been grabbed by the Museveni government as Alaso supporters used to say? These are contradictions the Alaso campaign will have to explain to the voters as the ANT big lady struggles to bounce back as MP. It’s also true that step daughter Anna Adeke’s bid to elevate from National female youth MP and become nearby Soroti district woman MP is something that will naturally complicate things for Alaso as the family risks being perceived as wanting to eat too much as if the region doesn’t have other potential leaders. Alaso has also had a problem of not keeping friends including Soroti Mayor with whom they don’t talk anymore yet they used to be very close political allies. Even Opit now leading efforts to frustrate her reelection bid was originally her protégé in FDC, a party he fled 8 years ago protesting her character of suffocating others and generally being threatened by emergency of other strong leaders in Serere. For comments, call, text or whatsapp us on 0703164755.
