MBALE – Honking horns, banging pots, dancing in the streets and waving flags saying our future is secured – National Resistance supporters in Mt Elgon sub-region gathered on street corners, on the streets and outside their homes to celebrate President Museveni’s victory.
The celebration for Mt Elgon sub-region held in Mbale city came shortly after Electoral Commission announced victory for president Museveni, the party’s flag bearer.
Three days of waiting and hearing claim and counter-claim about the election finally ended on Saturday and, unsurprisingly, jubilation was unleashed amongst President Museveni’s supporters.
President Museveni who chose to adopt “scientific” meetings with only NRM leaders, as opposed to mass rallies in a bid to avoid the spread of Coronavirus scored 5.85 million votes [58.6 percent], while main opposition candidate Mr Bobi Kyagulanyi managed 3.48 million votes (34.8 percent), according to Electoral commission.
Led by Ms Rita Namuwenge, the chairperson Presidential initiative on Job and wealth creation, Emyooga and several party supporters clad in yellow attire with Museveni posters were seen merrymaking throughout Mbale City, which also acts as the capital for Elgon region.
President Museveni’s victory was not a surprise — he won with more than 70 percent of the vote in Mt Elgon sub-region which constitutes the districts of Mbale, Manafwa, Bududa, Namisindwa, Sironko, Bulambuli, Kapchorwa, Kween and Bukwo.
The streets of Mbale were awash with the yellow National Resistance Movement colors on Sunday evening as people from all walks of life celebrated Yoweri Museveni’s victory in the presidential elections.
Neighbours in sub-urbans of Mbale ran out of their homes and gathered for an unplanned street party, whooping, dancing and high-thumbing strangers.
In the villages of Mt Elgon, the NRM supporters gathered on their village paths and roads to dance to the victory songs with local potent gin ‘Malwa’ and local trading centres, the villagers danced, banged cowbells and blew horns.
“We have made it again, it is a sweet victory” is what you would hear.
The NRM supporters first gathered at Nkoma on Mbale-Soroti Road where they chanted through the city center around Clock tower and later moved to Cricket grounds where dancing, chanting NRM songs, singing took place.
As the crowd sang and blew, whistles and Vuvuzelas, one supporter danced to local Kadodi dance with a small charcoal stove tied on his head to the amusement of many people who remained at their shops watching.
“It is sweet victory and we want to promise that we are still here to develop this country and secure your future,” said Ms Namuwenge.
“It’s been a long wait for the last couple of days. But we were determined that we would be patient and wait for the final result, as indeed have now been declared,” Ms Namuwenge added.
“We shall continue with the work that we started to secure he future of Ugandans, we shall take them to the middle Income economy…Ugandans want us to succeed,” said former RDC Mr Henry Nalyanya who also braved the afternoon drizzle to celebrate the victory.
Mr. Museveni, 76, was re-elected with just over 58 percent of the vote in Thursday’s election, easily surpassing the 50 percent threshold needed to avoid a runoff, according to an announcement from EC’s chairman Justice Byabakama.
Ms Namuwenge explained that although the party lost some of the parliamentary seats in Mt Elgon sub-region, statistics indicate that President Museveni won in the region with more than 70 percent of the vote.
“And I went to Bududa, Namisindwa and Mbale districts to ensure that Mzeei wins, I am happy that my efforts have paid off. I am a happy person because the future is now secure for the young generation, I see some water at the end of the pipe,” said Ms Namuwenge in an interview.
Mr Sezi Wambedde [NRM] the Mbale City Northern division MP elect said when jubilant crowds pour on to the streets to celebrate the victory of President Museveni, it is not only to express support for the moderate president-elect but also a sign of the trust they have in president Museveni.
He described his as a rare moment of freedom, during which security forces stayed away and the people expressed their power as enshrined in the constitution ‘Power belongs to he people’ to determined the leader they want.
Aziz Magomu, a 25-year-old university graduate, said at the celebrations that:“Our political demands, like freedom, will be always there, our future is secure. But we urgently need jobs and lower taxation on small businesses.”
Mr Muhamood Masaba, the NRM chairman for Mbale district said “Regardless of what President Museveni can do, it is important that we will not feel ashamed any more man who is a freedom fighter, a man who has fought for Uganda and a man who know how to secure Ugandans,”
He said that with Mr Museveni in the president, Uganda is destined for a bright future.
