By Jako Waluluka
The most recent public appearances, most especially the bash to celebrate his 65th birthday, by the lethally private, introverted and media-shy General Caleb Akandwanaho aka Salim Saleh, have exposed his humane, homily, generous and sternly tough being.
The ‘ surprise ‘ bash which kicked off as early as 10 am, almost hit a snag, with the General nearly preferring, to stay indoors on the same day. Calls that alerted him to a live streaming of the event on NBS Television reluctantly swayed him to attention.
He surely could not escape showing up at the party, organized by some of his core family-knit circle, close friends and yes opportunists.
With the ‘ guilty’ commander of the fete being Justice minister and Democratic party president Hon.Norbert Mao under the auspices of his glitz and glamour polished wife Beatrice, little detail was left without execution.
The deputy commander of the fete William Byaruhanga, made the final move, by engaging the General, that the bash was all about giving back to the Little Immaculate Sisters of Gulu nuns, whom he had a while back promised to support.
The guest list was rich with splendour and power as one would envisage. From the former Vice president, Edward Ssekandi, his longtime friend, to ministers like Gen. Jim Muhwezi, whose birthday message to the Gen. explored his resolve for always being by his side at times of trouble.
For, the police chief Abbas Kagaba, CID guru Tom Magambo and prisons boss Dr Johnson Byabashaija, Gen. David Muhoozi, it was simply paying allegiance to a senior and gallant son of Uganda.
Gen. Tumukunde, too would not miss the party, for the General, has been there during those hard times and been a soft landing architect. His son is also married into the same family.
Enter the family, his brother Nzeire, this time round wouldn’t dare miss. The allegedly land and minerals stories being told about him must have forced him to seek an audience with his elder brother for backup and yes advice.
Uganda Investment Authority boss Robert Mukiza, couldn’t be missed by the camera, thanks to his commanding height and build coupled with his allegiance to his ‘father-in-law’.
The party venue was set up in the dead of the night after Ragga Dee, arrived with the Photogenix tent crew and was cleared, thanks to Afande Nkojo.
However, Ragga Dee, Sylvia Owori and other top vicinity ‘residents’ were a no-show. For most guests, the waiting was taking forever under the scorching Gulu sun until the general finally showed up as it was clocking to 4 pm. He sluggishly smiled as he noticed some familiar faces including his few children.
Gen.Saleh, let the formalities take prominence. A speech under three minutes by the ‘birthday boy ‘ all about the 1bn contributions to the realization of the sisters’ accommodation needs. The cake-cutting photographs with the General swarmed mostly by the ‘relatives’ and not his children or grandchildren told another story.
What was once a private family gathering that brought together all his children and their to bond with their Jajja, from Garuga to Namunkekera, had been hijacked in Gulu, by opportunists and wheeler-dealers – to gain access to and also sell associations for businessmen, investors and politicians for favours, bailouts and power.
That’s why it has been hijacked by politics and the resurrection of the Salim Saleh Foundation whose last activity was in 1999.
