A traditional dance group in Gulu, Pearl of Africa, headed by Joseph Kony’s uncle, Quinto Kidega has demanded to meet President Museveni over a pledge he made to the group 16 years ago.
The group claims that Museveni made them a pledge to build a three-bedroom house, a heifer cow and five million shillings for each of the 60 members that made the group.
Quinto Kidega, the head of the group and an Uncle to Lords Resistance Army (LRA) leader told Acholi Times that they moved to over 56 districts to campaign for Museveni in 2001.
Acholi Times could not independently verify the claims of the dance group. Gulu Resident District Commissioner Capt. Okot Santos Lapolo said his office does not have any records of pledges made by the president to the group. Lapolo, however, said he is willing to meet the group to listen to them.
One of the group members of Pearl Africa dance group, Deo Opira, said after the campaigns for Museveni in 2001, he came back home and found that his wife had run away with another man.
On returning to Gulu after conversing votes for Museveni, Opira also said some members of the group were killed by the LRA.
“They [LRA] were hunting for us every day. Four members of the group were killed by LRA. Life has not been easy my brother,” Opira.
Kidega, the chairperson of the traditional dance group said the pledges are long overdue and that the president should fulfill them.
Kidega says that since 2001, five of the group members have died with one of them, Okech Opobo killed by the LRA in 2001.
“President Museveni had promised to build for each of us a 3bedroom house, he promised Shs 5m each and a heifer cow for each of us. Now it has been over 16 years and nothing has since been done. We want him to honor his promise,” said Kidega.
In November 2013, the Daily Monitor newspaper, quoting a committee report of parliament said Museveni has made 871 pledges since coming to power in 1987 estimated at Shs 12.9 trillion.
