FORMER UN TOP DIPLOMAT, OLARA OTUNNU, RETURN TO UGANDA TO A HOSTILE RECEPTION AS POLICE BANNED PROCESSION AND HERO WELCOME PARTIES.
Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kampala City.
A career former UN top diplomat, and Minister for Foreign Affairs, has returned to his native home in Uganda after living in exile for 23 years, only to be met with a hostile reception.
The plane carrying Dr. Olara Otunnu, a former UN Under-Secretary for Children in Conflict Situations, landed at the Entebbe International Airport at about 10 AM {Local time} last Saturday morning amid tight security mounted by the Uganda police.
The police had earlier on clamped a total ban of all sorts of procession and ensured that there were no reception for the UPC party prodigal son, who is credited as a fierce opponent of President Yoweri Museveni as well as the possible challenger for the presidency in the year 2011.
What was earlier billed as the most elaborate and fitting hero welcome for the homecoming for Dr.Olara Otunnu turned to a nightmare affair after the police issued a stern order and tough conditions on any gathering of more than ten people at the Entebbe Airport VIP lounge.
Journalists too, were not allowed at the airport and no convoy of cars from Entebbe to Kampala City, a twenty two miles drive was allowed..
Political pundits in the Ugandan capital and Uganda Peoples Congress {UPC} party officials believe that Dr. Olara Otunnu’s UN credentials and money would upset political balance of forces during the 2011 general elections.
Considered as a fierce opponent of President Museveni, the Makerere University and Harvard University trained politician, Dr. Olara Otunnu returned home after 23s of living in exile to a hostile reception, raising fears that the police would be interested in questioning him over a few issues.
There was no hero welcome to one of the strongest critic of President Museveni and the ruling NRM regime. And according to local officials of the UPC party, who had planned a tumultuous home-coming party, the police had issued strict conditions, basically aimed at curbing any possibility of a carnival mood at the airport through to Kampala City center.
The UPC’s Moroto MP, Benson Obua, who was chairing the organizing of the home-coming welcome committee, told newsmen that the police had issued a firm instruction that no more than ten people were to be allowed at the airport VIP lounge. Journalists were also barred from covering the return of the “ hero”.
“We had agreed to the tough conditions imposed on us after serious negotiations”, Mr Obua told reporters at Parliament building the previous day{Friday},adding that even the earlier stated press briefing at the airport had been canceled abruptly and called off..
Dr Olara Otunnu instead addressed the press briefly at the Imperial Botanical Hotel. Obua was accompanied by two other legislators Okello Okello {Chwa} and John Odit{Erute}.
There were nothing reminiscent of the Jamboree that accompanied Big Brothers housemate Caitano Kaggwa’s return or that of FDC’s leader Dr Kizza Basigye return from exile, because police had banned any form of procession.
The tough police instructions issued by police prior to Dr. Olara Otunnu’s arrival Friday, and signed by a Francis Bwego, reads as follows;. ”I wish to remind the steering committee that when {Dr. Otunnu] return, the rules at City center will remain in force, and the welcomed party is hereby advised to observe this and cooperate with the police so as to avoid breach of the law and order.”
From this, it was not clear, however, whether Dr. Otunnu, a former Un top diplomat would not be questioned by the police over his persistent claims that the NRM government, led by President Museveni, had conducted “genocide” in Northern Uganda during the two decades of its war with the LRA rebels.
There was raised signals from the government over this matter, with the Internal Security Minister, Al-hajj Kirunda Kivejinja, earlier in the week being quoted as saying that security agencies would be interested in questioning Dr. Otunnu, if they feel it is necessary. The Minister’s remarks came only a day after his junior colleague, Mutu Kassaja, had said he was not aware of police plan to quiz Dr. Otunnu.
An assurance had ealier been issued by the army spokesman, Lt. Col Felix Kalayigwe, who hinted that the force would not arrest Dr. Olara Otunnu, “even if he is provoking us to arrest him”. He added that Dr. Otunnu’s silence on LRA abduction of children, even when he was the UN Under Secretary for Children in Conflict Situations, left many questions unanswered.
Dr Otunnu, who is being fronted by a section of the UPC politicians to run for the party’s presidency in the election later this year and probably to take on President Yoweri Museveni in 2011 general election has his work cut out for him.
The steering committee led by Obua had earlier announced that Dr. Otunnu would visit the grave of fallen UPC founder and two times Ugandan President, the late Dr. Apollo Milton Obote. But the late president’s immediate family reiterated that this would not be possible. Dr. Obote’s heir, Mr. Tony Akaki was quoted in a press statement last week as barring Dr. Otunnu from visiting the former President’s grave, arguing that the family had not been adequately consulted and informed in appropriate time about the high profile event.
If he choses to contest the presidency in the next general election, which is scheduled for 2011, Dr. Otunnu will be one of the best educated presidential candidates, but can this translate into tangible effect on the political landscape? This is the question many people are asking.
The former Makerere University Guild President has been living abroad for the last 23 years in exile.
A fierce critic of the current Kampala regime, Dr. Otunnu is reported to be eying the presidency of UPC and eventually the national presidency in 2011.
According to political pundits, Dr.Otunnu plans to make a country wide visits, pay homage, conduct meetings and public rallies in the country before making a decision on whether to contest the presidency or not.
He has come over clearly suggesting on the need for inter-party cooperation to defeat President Museveni’s government, and has promised to work towards that goal.
He arrived home at a time when UPC is sharply divided and facing political downward trend. The Moroto, MP Benson Obua, described his arrival as “a breath of fresh air” For UPC.
The party, which was founded by the late Dr. Obote way back in 1956 has been engulfed in endless internal political wrangling and leadership struggle. Out of power ever since 2005, this has hindered its performance at the party headquarters.
UPC has also been swallowed by a protracted war over who controls the Milton Obote Foundation, a revenue generating arm of the party.
Dr Otunnu is likely to face a stiff opposition and competition from within the party stalwarts like Lira MP Jimmy Akena, UPC presidential adviser Henry Mayiga, the party spokesman Joseph Otieno and Soul Luwero, all have declared interests for the party’s top post.
Ends
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com
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From: Leo Odera Omolo
Date: Tue, Aug 25, 2009 at 2:55 AM
Subject: FORMER UN TOP DIPLOMAT RETURNS HOME AMID HOSTILE RECEPTION