On getting reports that some evil-minded individuals could potentially use the ongoing political tours to poison the President, the State House security handlers have taken stringent counter measures just in case.
On the President’s prompting, all the leaders coming for the regional meetings must be given transport refund and plenty of food and refreshments at every meeting.
The regional tours, aimed at politically reawakening the support for NRM and the President in the face of the new Bobi Wine wave, started yesterday Thursday with a huge gathering for Toro sub region. And, as expected, many people (President says more than 1000) attended the meeting after which Museveni addressed a public rally. Venue was Kalya Courts Hotel in Fort Portal town and the meeting lasted 3 hours. Museveni characteristically delivered a powerful message that centered on his favorite subjects like wealth creation, kicking poverty out of households and generally commercializing agricultural activities.
Reliable State House insiders say that desire to forestall plans by evil-minded actors, that might wish to use such events to poison the President (who tends to over relax and freely interact and sometimes eat with his supporters during such meetings) prompted State House comptroller Lucy Nakyobe to take charge of the procurement of all the food and refreshments to be served at every regional meeting.
The State House catering department is large but not large enough to feed such large number of people in different parts of the country. There had to be backup from private service providers.
“The companies complimenting the State House catering teams with the additional food and drinks have had to undergo rigorous security screening resulting into some being struck off the list. There is general fear that the President (famous for acting in very surprising ways) can become excited and decide to partake of the same food making himself susceptible to being poisoned. This is why this [feeding of delegates] is one area on which his security handlers couldn’t take chances,” says a well-placed State House source adding we are living in politically very unpredictable times. It’s further stated that the desire to shield the President against any breaches to his personal security had prompted SFC to throw out a number of senior Presidency employees from the President’s huge tent during the Toro leaders’ meeting.
After Toro (on whose premier radios he will be speaking this Friday evening), Museveni is expected to move to Masindi for Bunyoro sub region where the leaders’ regional meeting is slated for Tuesday ahead of the public rally the H.E. will address on Wednesday.
Other places slated to host the President who will similarly address political meetings include Lango (Oyam), West Nile (Nebbi) on 16th May; Madi/Adjumani on 18th May; Acholi (Pader) on 21st May; Karamoja (Moroto) on 23rd May; Teso (Amuria) on 25th May; Sebei (Kapchorwa) on 28th May; Bugisu (Mbale) on 30th May; Bukedi (Tororo); Busoga (Iganga) on 11th June; Greater Mukono (Mukono) on 13th June; Greater Luwero (Luwero) on 17th June; Greater Mubende; Greater Masaka (Masaka) on 21st June; Greater Mpigi (Mpigi) on 24th June; Kampala on 26th June; Ankole (Mbarara) on 28th June; Kigezi (Kabale) on 1st July and Rwenzori (Kasese) on 3rd July. Much of this is subject to being altered because of the unexpected changes that the President’s larger schedule is likely to occasion in the course of time. Bunyoro has already been affected by this prompting the President’s handlers to push the Masindi engagement from Saturday to Tuesday next week. (For comments, email us at mulengera2040@gmail.com).
