SEMBABULE .
Residents of Sembabule and guests were Sunday treated to free drama when former Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Kutesa and maverick Lwemiyaga County legislator Theodore Ssekikubo nearly engaged in fist fight.
Trouble started when Ssekikubo –a long time political adversary of Kutesa sensed that he was about to miss an opportunity to speak at a rally of President Museveni at Sembabule playground
This came after other legislators from Sembabule and other neighbouring districts were introduced to the President and many got a chance to speak on the microphone.
Ssekikubo ,who is not new to controversy emerged from the VIP tent just behind where Kutesa was seated and confronted him ,grabbing a microphone from him to speak to the gathering.
A dejected Kutesa looked on helplessly ,but the person in charge of the public address system call him DJ did him a favour and switched off the microphone ,leaving Ssekikubo “speaking to himself”.
Fearing of what could follow , plainclothes soldiers attached to the Special Forces Command-an elite army unit guarding the President swiftly intervened and grabbed Ssekikubo ,nearly shoving him off the ground and took him away .
By the time all this drama was unfolding ,Mr Museveni had briefly left his seat in his bullet-proof marquee to his self-contained presidential van to replenish .Even when he returned to his marquee some drama was still ongoing , but just looked on ,saying nothing .
In trying to defend what had happened Shartas Musherure Kutesa , a daughter to Kutesa and Mawogola North legislator –the area where the rally was held , said it wasn’t possible for every politician to speak since the President had other engagements to attend to in Kampala .
At the same rally ,Mr Museveni avoided speaking about the dirty local politics and instead emphasized the need for irrigation, pasture planting, and modern farming practices to boost agricultural productivity and stabilize markets.
He advised farmers with small land holdings to adopt the Four-Acre Model, encouraging them to plant coffee on one acre, fruits on the second acre, pasture for animals on the third acre, and food crops for family consumption on the fourth acre.
He said that with proper land utilization, even smallholders could achieve significant wealth, while those with larger farms could engage in extensive agriculture.
Earlier in the day , Museveni had commissioned a Shs3billion All Saints Church at Sembabule Archdeaconry which was constructed by Kutesa with financial assistance from Tororo Cement Factory .
Immediately after Museveni’s address ,Ssekikubo went to the podium and made praises to him ,flashing the NRM thumbs-up sign ,saying Museveni oyee ,Museveni oyee . A few moments later ,Ssekikubo’s ecstatic supporters held him shoulder high ,singing praise songs and staged a procession in Sembabule Town momentarily blocking the presidential convoy which was snaking out the township .
During a press conference Ssekikubo addressed that evening ,said it was a premeditated move to deny him a chance to speak before the President .
“Kutesa and family should know that Sembabule doesn’t belong to them ,It is for people who vote us into office . Lwemiyaga also has its own issues and they could have allowed me to air out those issues before the President ,” he said
Kutesa –Ssekikubo rivalry dates back to over two decades, but it had it has failed to go away despite several efforts by President Museveni to resolve the matter .
In all the past elections Kutesa has been supporting Ssekikubo’s opponents and it is the same the latter has been doing to local politicians allied to the former .
To this date , none of two politicians can explain what led to their unending political animosity . In next year’s general elections , Ssekikubo will face off with retired soldier Brig .
Emmanuel Rwashande ,former Works and Transport Minister Joy Kabatsi, lawyer Geoffrey Tumusiime Ndengana , John Patrick Kateeba ,a certified financial analyst , Edmond Bwire Nuwagaba, the chief executive director N+B Global Logistics , Migadde Juugu Amooti and Kato Jacob Mwesigye- all ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) -leaning aspirants .There is also Dr Asaph Tumwebaze will stand as independent