President Yoweri Museveni at Malukhu,Mbale,Uganda ….Photo/IP
By IP Reporter
MBALE, Uganda
What was meant to be a triumphant close to President Yoweri Museveni’s five-day NRM campaign in the Bugisu region turned into an unexpected lesson in communication and humility.
This happened when the president paused mid-speech at Malukhu Grounds in Mbale City after the crowd grumbled about a poor translation.
Engineer Godfrey Welikhe, who had been translating the president’s remarks into Lumasaaba, appeared to lose the rhythm of the message, prompting murmurs from the audience.
Without missing a beat, Museveni chuckled, pointed toward the crowd and called out, “Mulongo, come and interpret for your people!”
Ambassador Simon Mulongo — a seasoned linguist, veteran NRM figure and former MP for Bubulo East — rose from the audience to thunderous applause.
Taking the microphone, he rendered the president’s words in smooth Lumasaaba, earning cheers as the message finally hit home.
Museveni, visibly pleased, used the moment to reinforce his pledges to Bugisu: the tarmacking of the Nalugugu–Budadiri road, Kufu-Magale-Bumbo-Bukokho-Lwakhakha road,expanded water access, industrial growth, and continued investment in education and youth employment.
The impromptu intervention from Mulongo — a former African Union diplomat — not only salvaged the moment but also reminded the audience of his longstanding role in shaping public discourse in the region.
Eastern Eye political analyst Joseph Mauso described the moment as a “wake-up call for Bugisu’s voters” as the country heads into another election season.
“As we go for elections, we should vote for the right choices in Bugisu — not people out to enrich themselves,” Mauso said. “We need leaders who can translate government policy into real understanding for the common people, and Mulongo clearly showed that gift on the Malukhu stage.”
Mauso further urged that Mulongo be included among the region’s strategic thinkers.
“Mulongo should be part of the elite team from Masaba land to form a think tank around President Museveni,” he added. “We need intellectuals who can bridge the gap between State House and the grassroots.”
As Museveni concluded his Bugisu tour and prepared to head to Bukwo to launch his campaign in the Sebei region, the takeaway from Malukhu lingered in the air — that in politics, as in life, it’s not always what you say that matters most, but who helps you say it right.
