The minister of Health Dr Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero led a procession through Lira city in northern Uganda to celebrate the successful nomination of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party candidate Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in Kyambogo, Kampala as a presidential candidate.
Aceng, also NRM flag bearer for Lira city Woman MP seat, who recently came under criticism for defying her own directives against social gatherings as a preventive measure against coronavirus, was on Monday backed by different groups of NRM supporters including the WEBALE Museveni's Limited project, the Women's League, and low-interest earners such as boda-boda riders who successfully marched without any interruption through the streets of Lira city.
They set off from Uhuru Bar roundabout along Soroti road moving towards Juba road before crossing to Oyite Ojok Lane through Obote Avenue and finally settled at Lira Golf Course, chanting "President Museveni Oyeeee" and "yellow has made us strong."
Some people, mostly business women operating from the Lira Main market abandoned their businesses to join in the procession. Aceng called upon the masses to vote for Museveni come 14th February 2021. She called on especially the women and mothers to be the ones responsible for spreading the good gospel about Museveni and herself.
They set off from Uhuru Bar roundabout along Soroti road moving towards Juba road before crossing to Oyite Ojok Lane through Obote Avenue and finally settled at Lira Golf Course, chanting "President Museveni Oyeeee" and "yellow has made us strong."
Some people, mostly business women operating from the Lira Main market abandoned their businesses to join in the procession. Aceng called upon the masses to vote for Museveni come 14th February 2021. She called on especially the women and mothers to be the ones responsible for spreading the good gospel about Museveni and herself.
"We're excited about the nomination of our party president, we're excited about the achievements of the NRM government. We're excited about the solidarity among the members of the NRM fraternity and we're now getting prepared for the upcoming elections. All the other candidates of NRM have already been nominated and finally, our party president has been nominated, so it's only right that we join together and celebrate," Aceng said.
She was also quick to advise the masses to follow the ministry of Health issued standard operating procedures (SOPs) because coronavirus is real. Police and the Electoral Commission have severally warned the aspirants against holding processions that would mass people together due to the threat of coronavirus.
"People put on your masks correctly always; meetings and processions can be better conducted in open places that have open air circulation and remember to stick to the SOPs because this virus is a deadly one," Aceng said.
"People put on your masks correctly always; meetings and processions can be better conducted in open places that have open air circulation and remember to stick to the SOPs because this virus is a deadly one," Aceng said.
Uganda yet again registered two more coronavirus deaths and 228 new cases from the tests conducted on November 1. Current total deaths stand at 114 while the total cumulative cases stand at 12,971.
Nelson Otim, an NRM supporter who participated in the procession says there is no problem with holding a procession for as long as SOPs are observed. He claimed the NRM supporters were all wearing masks, and that in any case, they were socially distanced.
Moses Eyen, the vice chairperson of Lira City East Local Council One Association, says their procession is a clear symbol of solidarity for their party president. He emphasized the need for cooperation between the local council one chairpersons, opposition parties and the NRM party if Lira city is to develop.
Molly Akite, the former aspirant for the Lira Woman MP seat who doubles as the chairperson WEBALE Museveni's Limited project believes that Museveni is still the best presidential material to lead the country in the next coming years.
According to Akite, Lango as a whole should be proud to vote for Museveni whom she says brought stability in the North.
"We're happy that he has taken another mantle to lead us again for the next five as he prepares another leader who is like him. The president has been an excellent leader, we give credit where it is due, if you can't give the president the credit, then you don't know our history. For us our history has been the bush, we have known the bush as our house but right now we're happy that the house is now our home. So that is why we're thanking the president, we're happy that he's leading and it is us who should make us lead," said Akite.
Francis Okello Opio commonly known as Dano ma bor who was recently appointed senior presidential adviser for Lira City East division after losing in the NRM party primaries, called upon the people of Lira to vote for Museveni as the next president saying his leadership has done a lot for the country. He also used the opportunity to campaign for minister Aceng.
"The president cannot work alone; he needs people like the minister to be near him and other so all your votes should go to NRM candidates."
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