By Mulengera Reporters
On Tuesday, hundreds of fallen NRA veterans’ children and grandchildren converged at NRM Chairman YK Museveni’s national chairman office (ONC) based at Kyambogo where they shed tears and begged for help while explaining the destitute life they are living under.
The fallen veterans’ children were led by Richard Todwong’s wife Anna Lumumba Ruyondo (daughter to fallen NRA war hero Patrick Lumumba) and Patricia Magara whose dad, Sam Magara was gunned down by Obote’s UNLA soldiers in the early 1980s at Nakulabye where he had gone to execute a war errand as was assigned to him by Museveni who was the NRA overall commander.
Juliet Kazini, a daughter to fallen former UPDF commander Janes Kazini, was also there and the organizers narrated to Premier Robinah Nabbanja how she too is struggling to make ends meet by serving out as a small time money lender downtown Kampala. The veterans’ children narrated to Nabbanja how they are struggling to the extent of having no jobs nor basic cash to look after themselves.
Sergeant Stephen Sekyanzi from Luwero district narrated to Nabbanja how he personally used to wash and iron Museveni’s clothes during the bush war, besides carrying his briefcase, yet today he can’t even provide a decent meal for his family. “We sacrificed a lot and we knew all of us can’t be in government but we have been neglected for too long yet it’s us who risked to get the President into power,” Sergeant Sekyanzi cried out imploring Nabbanja to use her leverage as Prime Minister to cause the President to remember them.
They thanked Namyalo for being a people-centered servant of the President whose door is always open to them. They said she has always given a shoulder for them to lean on. In comparison, they told Nabbanja people at all the other public offices dislike them and always treat them with stigma while chasing them away using their bodyguards each time they reach out to share their grievances.
“It’s only here at Kyambogo where we can freely come and be given audience to narrate our problems and we thank the President for deploying Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo for us. She has always shared the little she has with us because she is always determined to prioritize our welfare. She is also always very encouraging asking us not to give up,” Patricia Magara told Nabbanja. This same assertion was amplified by Anna Ruyondo, the wife of NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong, who thanked the President for identifying and deploying Namyalo in a position where she was best suited to serve from.
NABBANJA PRAISES NAMYALO:
When her speech time came, Nabbanja started by praising Namyalo who she conceded isn’t only the most effective cadre and mobilizer Museveni has ever had but is also fearless and very courageous.
In a veiled reference to the ruthlessness with which PLU online supporters have been attacking whoever contradicts their view that come 2031 the President has to be Gen MK, Nabbanja implied that there aren’t many Movementists who can have guts to organize such an event and praise anyone else apart from the CDF aka the standby generator.
Nabbanja said that you have to be a Namyalo to dare organize such an event. She said even herself, she was originally uncomfortable about the event and only got guts to come after the President personally rang her in the Tuesday morning and delegated her to drive to the Kyambogo-based ONC and even deliver his speech.
“He gave me his written speech and Shs30m in this envelope which he said I must deliver to his Muzzukulu Namyalo to enable her meet the expenses of organizing this birthday event,” Nabbanja said as she passed on the huge khaki envelope that was given to her by the State House Comptroller.
Nabbanja called on cadres to keep around and not ever desert the ONC offices for fear of the unknown because from what she knows, Namyalo still enjoys the President’s love, backing and support because she is a mobilizer of unrivalled credentials.
As if to indirectly contradict rumors that people in the PLU universe were planning an attack on Namyalo, who previously announced she was ready for her basement moment, Nabbanja added that she is certain that ‘no one is going to ever touch’ the Special Presidential Advisor (SPA) in charge of ONC. Nabbanja said that there are things which only Namyalo can effectively do when it comes to mobilizing for the President.
“I’m the Prime Minister but I also fear that child Namyalo [she called her omwana oyo] when it comes to certain things. There is a way of mobilization which God only gifted to her. That’s what needs to be acknowledged,” said Nabbanja whose speech was largely delivered in Luganda before proceeding to read her boss’ written speech which was unusually brief.
Nabbanja, in a special way, thanked Namyalo for selflessly giving the platform which the aggrieved veterans and their children and grandchildren were able to fearlessly use to air out their grievances.
While seated in the tent, as the poverty-stricken veterans laid out their case, Nabbanja shed tears before proceeding to ring Senior Counsel Kiwanuka Kiryowa who serves as the Minister for Defense and Veterans Affairs. She grilled KK who responded by humbly explaining that he is aware of the Shs10bn at the Mbuya-based Ministry which is dedicated to helping such surviving veterans, their children and grandchildren. KK also explained to her about several government interventions tailored towards aiding veterans.
These include the defense ministry buying their produce at uniquely good prices to feed the soldiers. She was also told about the SACCOs in place to aid retired soldiers and some combatant veterans to an extent. She was also told about free education and a special UPDF recruitment quota being available exclusively for such veterans’ children.
That education is wholly free for them at all army schools. The army also helps them with medical treatment. When Nabbanja announced all these, it became clear many are not aware of such interventions by their government. Only few kept saying they know and have been benefiting. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
