By Ddungu Jordan “In what started as a short journey to tour the source of the Nile in Jinja City, I found myself engaging in a long trip that covered the entire Eastern region.”
I took a break to tour the source of the Nile in Jinja City and some other parts of the Eastern region. On my tour, we made a stopover at Namawojolo to re-freshen up as colleagues feasted on roasted meat & chicken commonly known as “mchomo”.
I got astonished meeting an old woman wearing a T-shirt printed; “General Muhoozi Kainerugaba is my next president with his image.” Very hospitable!, that I decided to buy two bottles of sodas to support her business. As we had an interesting conversation about the T-shirt she was putting on, she said in Lusoga “Bwekibanga babawe yasobola okwilizawo Banna Uganda emirembe, Kati lwaki mutabani we omukuulu/oweisanu talikuuma.” Translation – “If his father managed to restore peace for Ugandans then why not the son who am buoyant will maintain it”.
Amazingly as the bus set off, the old woman yelled; “Mwidukulu wange, tandiika okuvaala omudoozi oti no’ gwange” Translation – “My grandson, you should also start wearing a T-shirt like mine .”
Approaching a security checkpoint in Mabira forest, as the bus slowed down I realized a young man riding a boda-boda was also wearing a similar T-shirt labeled “General Muhoozi Kainerugaba is My Next President”. Throughout my journey to the source of the Nile, this triggered a tumultuous thought about “Why different people are donning Muhoozi Kainerugaba T-shirts” are on the verge (all the way from Kampala).
As we approached the NEW source of the Nile bridge, at Kayunga road Stage two young men in black faded T-shirts of the same kind written on “Muhoozi K is my next president 2026” were operating chapati stalls.
At 3:00 pm, Jinja City is still bustling with activities and many streets still colored with posters of President elect H.E Yower Kaguta Museveni.
I checked-in at my hotel around Mpumudde market and shortly left for the Source of the Nile where white or black; everyone enjoys the beautiful nature at the river.
A soft drink in my hand and strolling around many people talking about peace, security, stability, and the freedom they enjoy in Uganda. This sparked my mind in remembrance of the insurgencies that had rocked the Eastern region including (LRA) rebel group that was fiercely fought by the UPDF soldiers commanded by General Muhoozi Kainerugaba even when he was a junior officer.
In the bushes of Teso in 2003, Afande Lt. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba having a pep talk with the troops before a difficult operation against the LRA
In 2003, at just the age of 29 after completing the Intensive Military Training both in Uganda and abroad, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba took a deliberate sacrifice when he pitch camped in the Teso subregion commanding UPDF troops to flash out the LRA rebels that had invaded the area.
During his many months of operations, spending sleepless nights & restless days within Teso, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba and UPDF soldiers were able to restrain the LRA rebels from waging attacks on civilians.
In the same operation, LRA’s most notorious Division Commander, Charles Tabuley, and hundreds of LRA rebels were killed in an ambush mounted by the UPDF and arrow boys under the command of General Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
No wonder several people of different age groups and backgrounds are now seen comfortably, openly appreciating, and identifying with the positive contributions of General Muhoozi Kainerugaba including peacebuilding, stabilizing the Eastern region & Uganda at large.
My next episode will focus on the Northern region. Ddungu Jordan (Twitter @jordan_posts) is a youth and good governance activist.
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