Upclose, President Museveni still has the charm, charisma, cunning and eloquence. He is hopeless at timekeeping. After making us - with our PhDs - frustrated from waiting for him for four hours seated under plastic tents in the hot Kampalan sun, dude showed up in an immaculate Italian suit and a big sombrero on his head. His impressive convoy included a fleet of mean-looking sleek black metals-on-wheels, an ambulance, a pick up that carries his pulpit, and a heavy-duty iron truck that carries his toilet. His chair, carpet and table are carried privately. Presiding over celebrations to mark Makerere University Security Week organised by our guild officers in conjuction with the Uganda Police Forces, the President wowed the student and faculty in his audience. He reiterated that he is going to pay the 10% fees increment for all first year students beginning with this year. He is also taking over the entire wage bill of faculty at public universities. He is going to give us higher remuneration. Usually a busy hive of resistance, dissent, dessidence and booing, the university was full of ululations, hand claps, cheers and jubilation. Dude still has the power to hold his audience captive. Dude sent us into spasms of laughter during his address. Although I had fallen out with him in the past many years, listening to him in the hot September sun today, I saw sparks of the young revolutionary who inspired and mesmerised me in the past. Museveni is cunningly hot. He is buying the hearts and loyalty of academics and their students in time for the 2016 elections. If he cannot regain our love and respect, hell at least buy our ululations and hope he gets our votes too.
Posted on: Fri, 12 Sep 2014 16:02:09 +0000
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