NUP members say Acholi are stupid, says MP Akol

“They say Acholi are stupid, that I support Museveni… Acholi has suffered during his regime with issues like poverty. It is wrong to bring tribal sentiments into this,” Akol said.

He denied that he is an apologist for President Museveni, adding that he can’t be in light of how the Acholi have suffered under the president’s stewardship.

Mr. Akol said that the Acholi sub-region is still something of a powder keg, with residents embroiled in running battles over land, especially with the presence of Balaalo pastoralists.

Pastoralists originating from western Uganda (where President Museveni is from) and Rwanda are referred to as Balaalo (herdsmen).

Mr. Akol called for an end to ethnic chauvinism and clarified that his actions were not choreographed by any party allegiance or any other untoward bias, adding that he holds no resentment toward the Baganda people or any other group.

Akol, however, is not done with MP Francis Zaake; he accused his fellow legislator of provoking him and thus earning his comeuppance in the shape of his fists, which rained on Hon. Zaake like hailstones.

“Zaake is much younger than me – he’s of an age with my children,” says Mr. Akol.

“In our African culture, respect is essential, especially in how we conduct ourselves in public. It was inappropriate for him to lift his leg toward another man in that way. Such conduct is disrespectful.”

Mr. Akol’s statement is sure to further stoke the smoldering resentment towards him, allegedly orchestrated by NUP.