KATAKWI TENSE AHEAD OF M7 VISIT TODAY

By Mulengera Reporters
All isn’t well in the NRM camp in Katakwi district as two rival political camps organize to host the President Saturday today. Whereas former Minister Jessica Alupo plans to host the H.E at her home in Ongongoja Sub County, another group led by LC5 Chairman Walter Elakas are insisting the main event will be in Apewuru-Awodot parish where Museveni will condole with 38 families whose members were massacred by the Karamajong cattle rustlers in 2001 after overcoming the UPDF soldiers who were guarding the IDP camp. Museveni has since that time been promising to help these families in vain. Insisting she currently doesn’t hold any elective position and that the Apewuru is the only official function organized by the district leadership, Alupo’s rivals have been pleading with Mzee’s advance SFC and State House protocol teams to cancel the engagement at her residence. The anti-Alupo groups have had the active support of area MPs Peter Ogwang for Usuk County and woman MP Violet Akurut whom Alupo wants to replace in 2021. On her part, Alupo has support of some key influential clerics including Soroti Diocesan caretaker Catholic Bishop Emmanuel Obbo and priests like Fr. Kefa and Fr. Imallinga. Even after the State House protocol hurdle was overcome and Alupo got her event included on the big man’s itinerary for the day, there remains wrangling on where he goes first. The Elakat group wants him to start with their condoling ceremony in Apewuru-Awodol parish and go to Alupo’s place after. In fact, to belittle Alupo’s ceremony and diminish its significance, the Elakat camp members are insisting on referring to it as a mere stop over by the President. At Apewuru, Museveni is expected to hand over lots of cash as a way of condoling with the 38 bereaved families and whoever will be there could reap some political capital by telling beneficiaries that he or she is the one who lobbied the H.E to deliver the groceries. The area MPs haven’t only concentrated on promoting the Apewuru event but have also vowed not to attend the ceremony at Alupo’s home for various reasons. Whereas one elected leader said s/he wouldn’t attend because s/he hadn’t been invited, another elected leader said “Me attending a private ceremony? That would be giving too much honor to Alupo.” There is also the issue of the lists of SACCOs of mostly youths and women in which Museveni promised to put money. It’s said that taking advantage of the big man’s insistence that cash will only go to organized groups, Alupo’s camp has prepared to unleash youths and women groups with well registered SACCOs into which Museveni will be pouring cash. This could leave the rival Elakat camp members with an egg on their face as they are said not to have registered any SACCO groups as yet. For comments, call, text or whatsapp us on 0703164755.