By Timothy Nsubuga

21^st Jan 2013:

Convicted of Embezzlement: Hon Mike Mukula (in suit and tie) heading to prison

A cross section of leaders, as well as ordinary people from the Teso sub-region in eastern Uganda, have reacted angrily to the conviction and four year jail sentence handed down by the Anti-Corruption Court to the flamboyant former Junior Health Minister and current Soroti Municipality MP Hon Mike Mukula, calling it political persecution.

Mukula, a prominent Itesot and ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party Chairman for eastern region, was convicted last week, Friday 18, for embezzling 210million shillings from the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI).

He had been charged alongside former Health Minister Jim Muhwezi, Junior Health Minister Dr Alex Kamugisha, and State House employee Ms Alice Kaboyo.  However, Muhwezi, Kamugisha, and Kaboyo – all from President Museveni’s home region of Western Uganda, were later cleared of any wrong doing, leaving Mukula to face the music alone.

The majority of Teso leaders from Bukedea, Soroti, Ngora, Kasilo, and Katakwi that Uganda Correspondent spoke to over the weekend, however, believe that there was a mixture of political and tribal foul play in Mukula’s conviction.

“…We know that these so-called “NRM historicals” from Museveni’s area operate like mafias.  Why is it that of all the hundreds of corrupt NRM people, it’s only our son Mukula who has been jailed.” said Simon Peter Okodel, an LC official from Bukedea.

Anthony Omoding, a retired civil servant who now runs a small grocery shop in Soroti town attributed Mukula’s conviction to his open presidential ambitions.  “…Mukula made a big mistake.  You cannot be in Museveni’s government and say openly that you want to take his job.  You will be asking for trouble.  Besigye tried.  He was locked up many times and he is still paying the price today.” Omoding said with certainty.

On the social media sites like twitter that are frequented by the younger generation, the sentiments were almost identical.  When news of Mukula’s conviction broke, debate raged on @Omuteso’s twitter page.  “…The accused were many.  The only difference is one of them came from the wrong lineage.” said one commentator.

Another weighed in with a loaded piece of advice laced with political satire: “…Never gate-crash a party and go to the high table.  You will remain unwelcome.” said the tweep.

A third tweep said: “…Colour yellow only favours historicals.  Don’t steal if you are not down with the clique.” The inherent suggestion there lends itself to many interpretations – one of which being that by joining the NRM party leadership, Mukula had gate-crashed into an NRM historicals thieving party, and he has never been fully welcomed on board.

With a clear insinuation that someone “from above” may have leaned on the presiding Judge to convict Mukula, one tweep simply asked: “…What persuaded the Judge that he (Mukula) was guilty and yet his co-accused were let off?” But it has not been all pro-Mukula sympathies.

Others thought Mukula deserved what he got, because the GAVI funds he stole may have caused the death of hundreds of children who died because they were not immunised against preventable diseases.  END: Login to www.ugandacorrespondent.com every Monday to read our top stories mid-week for our updates

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