Presidential Visit

President Museveni and his hat

And you were probably thinking that the U.S. President visited? Well nope it was President Yoweri Museveni the president of Uganda. He came to Masaka today to campaign. I was very aware that today was different because about 8am this morning I heard and saw the presidential helicopter. It is very rare to hear air traffic in Uganda and especially in Masaka. Then about an hour later I saw a military helicopter. Museveni was definitely in town!
I had to go up to Kimanyaa Secondary today for a visit and on my way the police were all over town and then as I walked up the hill to the school I noticed several soldiers in the bush and flanking each side of the road. David had told me that the president was going to be at his school, Masaka Secondary, today for a visit and I speech. Sure enough as I was walking I heard hear a man over the loud speakers. It was the president address the student body of Masaka SS along with some 25 other secondary schools.
Later in the afternoon John Travis and I were in town to run errands and the town was quite a buzz with news of the president being here. As we were walking back to my house crowds were forming on the main road through. As we moved forward the police with sirens blaring came tiring down the street, then a truck with soldiers. Next thing I knew a black, Range Rover with President Museveni sticking out of the sunroof was in front of us. It was surreal because I’ve only seen pictures or news reports with him in them and now he was right in front of us! And me without my camera! Then his SUV stopped, he pulled out a microphone and addressed the hordes of people now standing in front of his vehicle.
Finally the motorcade moved through and the crowds disbursed. Interesting day! I can’t wait to hear what David has to say tonight about his day with the president.