Opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) head of Mobilization, Fred Nyanzi Ssentamu, has instructed his son to either resign his position as Makerere University Guild President, or apologize to NUP supporters for taking photographs with President Yoweri Museveni who he calls a dictator.
This comes after Nyanzi’s son, James Churchill, appeared in a group photograph sitting next to President Yoweri Museveni during an event at Makerere University on Tuesday where the president was invited to be the Chief Guest. The photograph has since gone viral as opposition NUP diehards now question Nyanzi’s loyalty to NUP, judging from his son’s behavior. The “NUP foot soldiers” are wondering how NUP president -Robert Kyagulanyi’s nephew could appear closer to the man his party is fighting to oust from power.
In a video clip released today, Nyanzi said he is saddened by his son’s behavior and apologized to NUP supporters for the incident which he claims is regrettable.
He starts the recording with a claim that he was away from home when all this happened -perhaps to say he couldn’t have allowed it to happen.
“My son Churchill, the man you are sitting next to is a dictator. His hands are bloodstained. You know that a few months ago, he tried to kill me; he attempted to kill your uncle Kyagulanyi and he has locked up your sisters…” Nyanzi says in a video clip.
Nyanzi claims the photo of his son with Museveni is part of a pre-meditated plan by state agents, just for propaganda value.
“For that reason, I want you to come out and apologize to Ugandans, to me your father and the National Unity Platform. You are our son in whom we have huge expectations so please do the right thing!” Nyanzi stated.
Despite hailing from an opposition background, Churchill contested as an independent candidate and won the hotly-contested guild presidency last week with a total of 3,459 votes. His nearest competitor, John Bosco Rukundo from the National Resistance Movement (NRM), received 3,267 votes, while Ismaili Basalirwa, from NUP, came in third with 3,126 votes.
It should be remembered that before this election, Ssentamu had lost the NUP nomination to Basalirwa. However, he decided to run as an independent candidate, a choice that was met with mixed reactions, particularly from some factions within NUP.
While addressing the press after his victory, Churchill narrated how he was let down by NUP leaders including his father, even when he showed interest in running on the NUP card. He said, he was isolated by NUP and was left to rely on the support of his mother and friends for finances. His campaign budget was also drastically affected since he expected financial support from the party.
