Teso elders disagree on Mukula

One group wants to demonstrate against his sentence but another reportedly wants to apologise for the ex-minister’s actions.

A section of opinion leaders in Teso have criticised a group planning to meet President Museveni over the jailing of former junior health minister Mike Mukula.

Addressing the media in Soroti yesterday, the group, under the Etem Iteso Itei association, said the organisers of the Saturday meeting are State House agents, who have been tasked to silence the aggrieved natives over the ‘selective prosecution’ done on the son of the soil.

Mr Peter Lochom, the association chairman and also an NRM supporter, alleged that a State House official convinced the group to apologise on behalf of Mr Mukula for his actions.

“Under which terms are they meeting [President] Museveni and for what reason?” he asked, adding that their protests will start today.
Mr Julius Ocen, a UPC supporter, said they support the fight against corruption, but added the case against the Soroti Municipality MP was a case of selective justice.

“We are not about to let our own rot in prison over falsified justice, this issue will re-awaken land matters, compensation, Arrow Boys which Mukula stood for,” he said.

In another press briefing by G10 NRM led by Kapelebyong MP Peter Eriaku, the group condemned Mukula’s sentence, saying as NRM MPs in Teso, they are behind Mukula and are trying to ensure that he is free.

Mukula was sentenced to four years in jail for embezzling Shs210m meant for immunisation campaigns under the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (Gavi).

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