The President of National Unity Platform (NUP) Mr. Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine was over the weekend left humiliated at the home of Nathan Okori in Lalogi, Omoro District after the family turned down his goat gift as commiseration for the late Speaker Jacob Oulanyah’s demise.
Following his dramatic return to the country from Geneva last week, Bobi Wine and his entourage consisting of mainly bloggers and video journalists paid a courtesy visit to Omoro with former UPC president Olara Otunnu mediating between them and the home of Mr. Okori for the commiseration.
Bobi, who was also accompanied by Makindye East MP Hon. Derrick Nyeko and Kilak South Member of Parliament Gilbert Olanya arrived at Okori’s home on Sunday morning, and were welcomed by Omoro RDC Mr. Onyuk Andrew who then ordered them to park 200meters away from the main house.
His media personnel (mostly vloggers) were also ordered to ensure their gadgets were switched off and not in use for their whole stay at the premises. According to the RDC, this was also a request from Okori who insisted he did not want any glamour of cameras and live videos.
Humiliation Starts
OKori who looked unhappier from the time he saw the entourage arrive started questioning Otunnu (their mediator) about their visit, and after satisfactory explanation, the group then went on and about culture and norms.
More trouble arose for Bobi Wine when his entourage presented a “tiny” goat to Mr. Okori as a gift and condolence for the loss of his son (Jacob Oulanyah), which he (Okori) rejected it outrightly saying he his not a witchdoctor to accept goat gifts for the death of his son.
“I am not a witch doctor, why would you bring me a goat? Take it where it belongs,” Okori said in the local dialect.
According to the Acholi culture, it is said that goats or any form of animals are not acceptable as condolences, and can only be given as a contribution to help in feeding mourners.
Disorganization mounts
Following Okori’s rejection of the goat gift, Kyagulanyi, and his entourage then started collecting condolences amongst themselves, another move that irked the elder, a source in the Sunday meeting at Omoro exclusively revealed. “They started collecting the money while in his presence, one pulls out an shs5000 note and hands over, another an Shs10,000 and this was getting to the old man.”
Moments later, Mr. Okori then demanded that Bobi Wine and the team should raise at least shs2m condolence since he is the President of the party, but the NUP leader answered by saying “I am poor president,” handing over a folded envelope with only Shs200,000.
The team was then allowed to place a wreath on Oulanyah’s grave and strictly asked not to take any pictures of videos. “No cameras” Okori ordered.
Speaking out after the event, Bobi Wine confirmed that he personally delivered condolences to Okori.
“This morning I met Mzee Nathan Okori in Omoro and personally delivered my condolences over the death of his son the late Rt. Honourable Jacob Oulanyah. Thanks to the RDC Onyuk Andrew for the unusual hospitality.”
RDC Onyuk Speaks out
The RDC Onyuk who was part of the meeting later took a swipe at Bobi Wine.
“The confrontational mentality was surely outwitted by our transformational maturity and seniority. Wisdom! But it was very embarrassing when your team started collecting money in front of our Mzee. That’s why he rejected both the 200K & the tiny goat!”
Onyuk also expressed his disappointment with Bobi Wine’s team saying that they had deliberately planned to force him into a confrontation but they found him alert.
He said that the group had come with so many bloggers and video journalists with the aim of filming everything in their favour but found him ready and he put them in their place.
He also added that he was disappointed with the disorganisation they exhibited, collecting money in front of Oulanyah’s father and having no idea prior of the cultural norms for such an event.
“We were humiliated, after they said they had condolences, they started collecting it right there, this form of disorganisation was not only disappointing but embarrassing, to say the least,” Onyuk said.
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