Like children fighting for the attention of their father, MPs in Gulu today fell over themselves to try to catch the eye of President Museveni who had gone there to officially open the proceedings.
Many of the MPs figured that this was an opportunity to tell the president their problems even if that had not been part of the official agenda of the day.
It all started when the president asked what “household income” in the various local dialects. One by one and with the president seemingly enjoying it, the MPs went on to pour their sorrows out.
John Amos Okot, the Agago North MP was the first on the mic and reminded the president that the communal kraals that had been constructed to keep cattle from safe the warriors were in a state of disrepair.
When the president told Okot: “I know you very well,” the legislator could hardly contain his smile.
He was like the eager student who had finally caught the eye of the head teacher.
Next was Tom Aza from Moyo West who told the president the tractors that had been given to the district lacked some vital components and therefore could not be used.
Before Aza could catch his breath, the Nabilatuk Woman MP Sylvia Vicky Awas was up. She told the president that the valley dams that had been constructed lacked water and needed to be de-silted.
Museveni, who was standing metres away in a secluded tent, appeared to love the spectacle.
When at some point Speaker Anita Among urged the MPs to allow the president to complete his speech without interruption, Museveni said: “Let them talk.”
In the end, the president’s speech was reminiscent of his previous addresses imploring the MPs to lead the way in fighting poverty in their areas.
