By Isaac Wandubile
Soroti Playgrounds was the venue where thousands of NRM lovers converged on Saturday for belated NRM day celebrations for Teso sub region. The organizer was Mike Mukula, the incumbent and long-serving NRM Vice Chairman for Eastern Region, who is also seeking reelection for the CEC position.
The long list of guests came from across the country and they included Chris Baryomunsi, Ofwono Opondo, Salim Uhuru, Ministers Musa Ecweru, Peter Ogwang and Hellen Adoa. The last trio all hail from Teso respectively Amuria, Katakwi and Serere. MPs Chemaswet Abdi Fadhil Kisos and Emmanuel Omoding Okabe were also present.
Baryomunsi told the huge crowd that Mukula, while in CEC, is always very outspoken about Teso issues and it will be a mistake for the region to lose such a gem at CEC level at the time the man is at the peak of his service inside NRM.
He made it clear that delegates from Western Region, where he serves as NRM Regional Vice Chairman, will be voting for Mukula implying that the Itesots shouldn’t be the ones to pull down their own son.
Baryomunsi said the same about Speaker Anita Among who is vying for the position of Second National Vice Chairperson for NRM against his former ally Rebecca Kadaga.
The Information Minister also called on delegates from Teso to vote for him as Western Region Vice Chairman because he is part of what Ogwang explained to reporters to be a block of leaders who have agreed to come together to share synergies and promote each other in their respective regions or home areas.
Sanjay Tana, who previously stood against Mukula and narrowly lost, said he was here to assure the Itesots that his native Bukedi was behind Mukula. He said that now is time for consolidation and implored Itesots to shun the PHD syndrome which he said is synonymous with Pull Him Down.
He explained that the sub region of Teso needs all its political giants (VP Alupo, Speaker Anita Among & Mukula etc) to remain standing so that it’s easier for the President to continue channeling groceries to the people in Teso which remains poverty-stricken largely because of the war and general instability.
Ecweru, who over the years has had a complex relationship with Mukula, restrained himself from criticizing tycoon Calvin Echodu who is vigorously campaigning to oust and replace Mukula for the CEC position. He said Calvin and Mukula are all good people and sons Teso can’t afford to lose because of the fights for the CEC position.
Ecweru implored Calvin to eat a humble pie and bow out of the race to serve the larger political interest of Teso sub region. He asserted that the 2026 poll is going to be the most important election in a generation and Teso can’t afford to lose any of its political giants at a time the rest of the country will be sending their best to hold national positions in Kampala.
Ecweru added that Calvin Echodu should emulate Sanjay Tana who made a deal with Mukula to bow out in return for Speaker Anita Among’s support for him to become the National Chairman for NRM Entrepreneurs’ League, currently held by tycoon Mwesigwa Rukari.
He proposed that Calvin concentrates his resources and energy on Soroti City West MP Seat currently held by Jonathan Ebwalu who is an FDC-leaning independent. Ecweru suggested that Calvin can use that as a platform to continue lobbying development assistance globally to support the rapid transformation of Soroti which he described as a young City. He said Mukula equally has excellent connections which can be leveraged to amplify the transformation of Soroti City, Teso sub region and the whole of Eastern region.
Ecweru asserted that the Calvin Echodu he knows is a reasonable and objective leader who he is optimistic will see his point of view and bow out of the CEC race for Mukula. He said he was looking forward to having private talks with Echodu and make him see his point of view. He predicted that, with support of Mukula and all the other NRM heavyweights in Teso sub region, Echodu will easily destroy Jonathan Ebwalu and help NRM liberate Soroti City East MP Seat.
Ogwang amplified these very same talking points vowing to do all he can to make sure that Echodu beats Ebwalu and becomes the NRM MP representing Soroti City West. He added that time had come for Emorimori, the area cultural leader, to intervene by convening a session of three people during which he should be able to convince Echodu to bow out and allow Mukula to consolidate his support as opposed to being pushed into scattering his efforts.
All the different Speakers asked the Itesots not to abandon Gen YK Museveni for Presidency in favor of anyone else. The crowd repeatedly thundered back making it clear they were ready to vote back both Museveni and Mukula for the CEC position. On his part, Mukula didn’t make any mention of Calvin Echodu perhaps fearing that doing so would create more publicity for his philanthropic opponent for the CEC job. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
