{UAH} “Mao the Acholi Hope that was” Mwaka Lutukumoi, Mao’s mentee speaks out on his return

Mwaka Emmanuel Lutukmoi

"Mao the Acholi Hope that was" Mwaka Lutukumoi, Mao's mentee speaks out on his return

When Acholi were asked to give feedback on Radio Mega talk back the day Hon Norbert Mao declared his stance to rerun for Gulu Municipality, over 99% were in disagreement, only 1% was sympathetic that he needed somewhere to be and earn.

However, these were the same feelings and reactions when he had a fair crowd in Kaunda grounds when he declared he will bring Amama Mbabazi in Kaunda grounds for Acholi to vote as President, he did not get any serious approval not until he said if he comes and answer certain questions well. I was equally approached if I was excited by his turn around.

Following these concern the Northernews WIRE track down his former mentee Mwaka Emmanuel Lutukmoi to find out in insight and these are his thoughts.

My reaction like many Acholi who loved, and adored him was quite mixed. First of all it's not only hard for me to comment on Hon. Norbert Mao but it feels bad manners to do the same given the fact that he is my father in politics, and one whose love will live in the blood and born marrow of me and Acholi. In fact there is no one but Jesus who can beat Norbert Mao in any election in Gulu municipality. He has entered the hearts and minds of everybody.

But why? Your guesture is as good as mine; he was the Hope and only hope and voice of Acholi and those who were bedeviled by the war in Northern Uganda. At one point he said "My voice is the mirror of my conscience Indeed that was. He stood up and spoke up the ills in the war, he never minced words and he made us proud. Many times he was demonized by many as a rebel collaborator, he was pro people. The plight of our people was heard, even in Kampala, if in any factory a Ugandan is abused, they will say " I will report you to Norbert Mao; mere mention of the name Mao will ensure shivers in the spines of the bosses. Mao was like our Nelson Mandela.

Mao was our everything. Many young leaders believed in themselves because of Norbert Mao. He unconsciously groomed many into leadership. His philosophy was never to get rich but serve.

Any statement he made was religiously followed. He has been the key to anything, if he says your land will be grabbed by government or that this government has no interest of developing your land but steal, people believed. If Norbert Mao negotiated with government and demanded for hundred of factories on behalf of Acholi or North, if Mao proposed special grant of scholarship for the war torn North, or reparation all would have been possible. But he spent the energy, the love and connection in the quest for regime change that never was.

Mao built a conscience and repute that he is never corrupt, honest with high moral values, values I inherited as a mentee. I was his legislative assistant in sixth and Part of seventh Parliament; he taught me great virtues and values of leadership. Unconfirmed reports and those that I saw was that he turned down lots of governments offers to take up top most job in this country as PM or Vice President and even money from corrupt people when he chairman 5.

Twice in 10 years and 5 years as chairman 5, and 5 years as National President DP people believed.

As a messenger of Hon A mama Mbabazi, a once Prime Minister who did not even cross Karuma when people needed him more, he who saw Billions of shillings for PRDP money stolen under his nose, money that should have helped nodding disease children nodding to death, a man who bought a vehicle worth 600 million as children die, a man who allegedly denied the North being declared a disaster area the time over 1.8 Million were in camps, 30.000 abducted and thousands dying and being boiled in pots, a man engaged and suspected in many corruption cases, and above all a super Minister said to have been the architect of NRM and government who would decide the fate of the country without consultation. Yes most were allegations, rumors but there is no smoke without fire and rumors are unverified facts.

Does his stand for Parliament excite me? Yes and no, yes, because twice he was the best in Parliament and in a decade we missed that vibrancy. But its nostalgic, even Ronaldhino is missed by Brazil but there are new boys he groomed. He can't get back to the pitch but can continue as a coach.

He can still be relevant but it's interesting that he will contest against children he groomed and seems not to give them way. I started supporting him when I was 14 and many others he will contest with.

Again, Acholi and Uganda loved Hon Norbert Mao as hope for Uganda, and President not more or less. To be a supporter and MP after many people cherished him to move far, is a magic we have got to watch come 2016. I love Mao that is from Lutukmoi.

However, Mao once said " Museveni is a good butcher who gives his meat to lepers to sell" Now supporting Amama would make a contradiction just thinking loud.

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Where there is a will, there is always a way.

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