By Our Reporter
Political war has erupted in the politics of Serere district where local leaders are up in arms against what they are terming betrayal by President Museveni who they say is a very ungrateful user who doesn’t appreciate their many years of sacrifice in supporting the ruling party. Led by LC5 chairman Joseph Opit Okojo, Serere NRM cadres are disappointed with the generosity with which Museveni treated Kasilo County MP Elijah Okupa (superficially a supposed FDC strongman) recently when he lost his mother. Even when he is an FDC man, Museveni cheerfully accepted being chief mourner and even sent in Shs10m which was delivered by Mike Mukula who represented him. In his message, Mukula praised Elijah Okupa as a very excellent MP and hurt the NRM leaders present even more by disclosing that this was a message from the President. A large crowd of more than 10,000 people attended the funeral and Okupa who had just jetted in from China had the best time as all NRM leaders that spoke showered praises on him. Mukula specifically said Okupa was a very good man who Kasilo must re-elect because he led the mobilization that showed him solidarity when he had problems with IGG and ended up being jailed in Luzira.
One of the things that annoyed NRM local leaders like woman MP Hellen Adoa and Serere County MP Patrick Okabe was the fact that they have previously lost dear ones and Museveni never extended any condolence or even sending a representative at the burial. Besides Adoa, Okabe and Opit, George Owanyi (who has been carrying the NRM flag against Okupa) is another NRM heavyweight who is choking on anger over the Museveni betrayal as manifested in Mukula’s message. Usuk County MP Peter Ogwang is another NRM leader that praised Okupa in a manner that angered Opit and Co. Ogwang in his speech went as far as leading the crowd in chanting “Okupa oyee.” This angered Opit (who is understood to be eying Okupa’s seat) to physically confront Ogwang as he left the burial in Serere. Opit has since vowed to drive to Usuk and decampaign Ogwang in 2021. In a phone interview with Mulengera news, Ogwang defended himself saying there is nothing wrong he did in being courteous to Okupa because its common practice in Africa to avoid uttering hostile statements against a man or woman on the day his mother is buried. The manner in which Museveni favored Okupa during the bereavement period, has sparked rumors sweeping through Serere that the FDC strongman (having been disappointed with Muntu’s failure to register a strong party) is on his way to officially join the National Resistance Movement and it won’t be surprising if he defects early enough and seek re-election in 2021 on the NRM ticket. For comments call, text or whatsapp us on 0703164755.
