Museveni and Ofwono Opondo

In yesterday's article, the connection between Fox Odoi and Museveni, we left FRONASA rebel leader Museveni, his colleague, Odoi Chwale and three others at the home of one Pius Okoth Magara, in Okwira village, West Budama, in Tororo district. The year was 1976.

Attending to them were two two sisters; Maria, who is the mother of Labour Director, Claudius Olweny, and Mary owor, the current RDC for Kaberamaido.

Museveni was understandably nervous throughout the night, despite assurances from Odoi Chwale and Mary owor that the family was safe and highly respected. Mary Owor told him that it was common for the family to accommodate strangers, because her eldest brother, Catholic Priest, Fr. Adolf Owora, was known to bring home destitute children from Teso and Karamoja regions where he was based.

Mary further told the rebels that there was a young man from a nearby homestead, Stephen Oloka Omeja, who was home from his studies at the University of Dar es Salaam. Oloka Omeja was brought in around 8AM, and that seemed to ease the rebels' anxiety. Museveni asked Oloka Omeja to help arrange for transportation to the border, some nine miles to the east.

Omeja had known Odoi Chwale while in Dar es Salaam, but neither knew nor believed Museveni when he professed his admiration and loyalty to exiled President Milton Obote, who was also based in Dar es Salaam. Odoi Chwale pleaded with Oloka Omeja to "just help us cross back to Kenya."

After consulting with his family, Oloka Omeja took Museveni, Odoi Chwale and one other rebel to the West Budama county headqaurters in Kisoko, about four miles away. Oloka Omeja's father had preceeded them to make arrangements with his friend, the Saaza Chief, Mzee Opondo, the father of the current NRM spokesman, Ofwono Opondo.

The other two rebels were left behind and the Magara family finally took them to a Munyankole farm boy who was working for then Permanent Secretary, Othieno Adioma, in Nagongera.

Mzee Opondo was a strong UPC leader and personal friend of Milton Obote. He had played a major role in persuading then DP MP for Bukedi, James Ochola (RIP), to cross over to UPC in 1969 which culminated in Ochola's being appointed Local Government minister.

Though Saaza Chief Opondo was open to helping the young rebels, there was a hitch: following the railway line sabotage of the previous day, soldiers were all over West Budama, conducting impromptu road blocks and checking IDs. To make matters worse, the Eastern Provincial governor, was expected at the Saaza headquarters the following day to address a public rally aimed at allaying public fears that rebels were operating in the area.

With Museveni, Odoi Chwale and Oloka Omeja still in his office, Mzee Opondo received word from his secretary that two senior Uganda Army officers from Rubongi Air and Seaborne battalion, wanted to see him immediately.

As the soldiers were ushered in, Mzee Opondo begun "sentencing" Museveni and company. "You will slash the whole compound from corner to corner. And I'll inspect your work me myself..now, go wait outside, let me finsh with these officers." It was the best acting role of his career that might simply have saved the FRONASA boys.

After getting rid of the soldiers, Saaza Chief Opondo summoned his "prisoners" back to the office and offered them accomodation as he planned how best to transport them to the border.

It's that gesture by Mzee Opondo that Museveni is paying back by keeping his son, Ofwono whose character and conduct, would make the Mzee turn in his grave with shame.