What was intended as a strategic response to Calvin Echodu’s massively successful homecoming rally — which attracted more than 30,000 enthusiastic NRM supporters and well-wishers — has instead turned into a fiasco, leaving attendees disappointed, stranded, and angry.
Branded as “Soroti City NRM Day,” the event had promised to be a grand affair. Delegates and supporters, both official and informal, were mobilized from across the region with the expectation of a high-profile lineup. Invitations cited the attendance of Rt. Hon. Speaker Anita Among as chief guest, along with Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, NRM Secretary General Rt. Hon. Richard Todwong, the full Central Executive Committee (CEC), and numerous ministers and MPs.
But the reality was starkly different. None of the top dignitaries appeared. Only one CEC member, Hon. Chris Baryomunsi, showed up, alongside just three ministers — Hon. Hellen Adoa (Fisheries), Hon. Peter Ogwang (Sports), and Hon. Musa Ecweru (Works).
As the crowd waited under the scorching sun, the lack of basic provisions such as food and water ignited public frustration. Attendees began to chant in protest: “We want water! We want food! We are suffering!” The speeches were repeatedly interrupted by the restless crowd. In a desperate attempt to restore order, Hon. Ecweru pledged UGX 2 million to buy water, asking his fellow ministers to do the same.
One delegate lamented the experience:
“We thought we were coming for a national NRM Day celebration, only to find out it was a Mukula event. We arrived at 9 AM, and by 5 PM, we hadn’t received even a bottle of water or a snack. We wanted to leave early, but the driver refused. he hadn’t been paid.”
The chaos didn’t end with the closing speeches. Delegates from Kumi and supporters ferried in from Agwara staged a sit-down protest at Capt. Mike Mukula’s gate, demanding their transport refunds and expressing outrage over what they called mistreatment. By the end of the day, many delegates from Kumi, Agwara, and Serere were still stranded at Soroti Sports Ground, as transporters refused to leave without full payment.
Adding fuel to the fire, insiders revealed that Mukula’s camp is now blaming key organizers Richard Ekotu, Mr. Eumu, and Mr. Bisanga for allegedly misappropriating UGX 100 million that was allocated for food and refreshments. The trio is being accused of sabotaging an event that was supposed to demonstrate Mukula’s political strength in the face of Echodu’s rising popularity.
In sharp contrast to Echodu’s well-organized and widely praised rally, Mukula’s event has become a cautionary tale marked by poor planning, unmet promises, and internal finger-pointing. What was meant to showcase political might has instead exposed cracks within local party structures and damaged the credibility of one of NRM’s most visible figures in the region.
