Zainabo came in Monday morning taking about town... “Ehhh! Towne, it is busy! Everyone is wearing yellow.” All of Nyahuka was in a bustle as they prepared for the visitation of the current president of Uganda, Museveni, on his campaign trail. Museveni came and spoke in Bundibugyo town in the spring, but today he was coming to the little trading post of Nyahuka. He has never reached this far! I could already hear motorcyclists going up and down the road. Honking more than usual. Susanna came in all excited. Zainabo translating for me that Susanna had never actually seen the president. The word on the street was that he was coming at 2:00; or was it mid day? Then when a motorcade drove past and a bunch of black SUVs at 9:30 the news was that it would be at 10:00! Susanna and a few others had run out to the road, then back a few minutes later, thrilled that they had seen the president... or at least his black car. Travis has been asked to go, and not wanting to miss the event Chrissy, Pat, Bethany, our friend Amina, Capu, Joas, and Joyce... and maybe someone I am forgetting all piled into the Johnson’s car and headed past town to a local elementary school that would be hosting this even. People with signs, sandwich boards, cardboard hats and flags continued to pour on to the road forming a parade. Trucks creating big clouds of dust were packed with way too many people. We were passing one and I swear the back tires were off the road and it looked like it was going to tip. We arrived at Bundikakemba primary school and drove a bit past to park in someone’s yard. We were not allowed to bring cameras in so Bethany snapped one last picture of a group practicing a tradition dance all decked out in feathers with tin can noise makers strapped to their ankles.
We got in the women’s line (substantially shorter than the men’s) and awaited our turn to get the full security pat down. Once in, Travis was escorted to special seating under the tent, but we were not so fortunate. There was an unfinished school building up on the hill that Pat had her eye on. We headed that way then settled ourselves in the windows. We were pretty far from all the action, but had a great view of all the festivities... and a breeze. Venders had tarps spread out selling political paraphernalia for the NRM where anyone who forgot to sport their yellow t-shirt with a large picture of Museveni on the front could purchase one. I prefer to stay out of politics here. But I have to admit I bought a visor with Uganda’s colors that said NRM with 2 thumbs up. (It was pretty sunny after all). We watched as the field became a sea of yellow and black. Two dance circles emerged, one for women and one for men, the drumming mirroring the excitement of the crowd.
After a while the security guards came off of their tank like, very intimidating vehicle and told us that we could not sit so high up. Despite our pleading we had to go down, but he did tell us that we could go and sit under the tent! (with the important people like the king of Congo who popped over for the event) Holding hands we squeezed through the crowd to the tent. We had to split up but all found a seat. I felt a little out of place with all the cheering and chants for everyone supporting the NRM and the bashing of the other parties. Isaiah, a local business man and board member from Christ’s School was particularly colorful with his yellow, red, and black track suit with NRM painted on the front and a yellow ball cap.
It was now after 1:00 and Museveni still had not shown up. We were to learn that he was not in the Mercedes truck/ movie star trailer. He was not even in the district yet and was scheduled to fly in on the mission airstrip. By about 2:30 he finally showed up to the general pleasure of everyone. I could not understand too much of his speach but, Isaiah frequently turned around to give me little tidbits. His speech was kind of like an interrogation of local officials and how they had been using money. But he did manage to address many issues and people love him here because we have received electricity and started the paved road construction from Fort Portal in this term of his presidency. At this point even if I could understand what was being said it is questionable that I would actually have absorbed it, as aIl I could think about was how incredibly hungry I was, wishing that some local chapatti maker would have had the foresight to see what a financial opporturnity setting up a stand would have been. Anyway! When Museveni finished we all pushed through the crowds to get back to the car. There was a river of people to traverse and this process took a while. Those walking (or footing as they say) made it back before we did. We passed Isaiah walking. He called to me, “Anna, you are seeing history. The first jam in Bundibugyo! Seriously, have you ever seen this?!” What a day!
