Politics 16 March 2026 The Observer (Uganda)
Otunnu Explains Hesitation in Surprise Photo with Museveni at Gulu Event
Olara Otunnu, a longtime critic of President Museveni, initially hesitated before posing for an unplanned photo with the president and retired chief justice Owiny-Dollo during celebrations in Gulu. He described the moment as spontaneous, amid applause from locals and discussions on the Rocco Paco community revival initiative. Source: https://observer.ug/news/why-otunnu-resisted-photo-op-with-museveni
Olara Otunnu, former UPC presidential candidate in 2011 and vocal critic of President Yoweri Museveni’s government, briefly resisted a public photo opportunity with the president in Gulu on Saturday.
The encounter happened at Kaunda Parade Grounds during homecoming celebrations for retired chief justice Alfonse Chigamoy Owiny-Dollo. Local leaders persuaded Otunnu to join Museveni and Owiny-Dollo after an initial group photo.
Otunnu later clarified in an interview that the specific trio photo was unarranged and caught him off guard. He noted past handshakes with Museveni at events like the consecration of Bishop Johnson Gakumba and Gulu Archdiocese’s 2011 centenary, as well as UN meetings.
Residents cheered loudly as the two shook hands and spoke publicly, a rare sight given Otunnu’s history of calling for probes into alleged NRA atrocities in Luwero and northern Uganda.
A key highlight was Museveni’s endorsement of the Rocco Paco Initiative, a 2024 program by Owiny-Dollo and Otunnu to rebuild Acholi communities through wealth creation. Museveni praised the alignment with NRM goals and pledged support, remarking that Otunnu was now ‘speaking the same language.’
Otunnu welcomed the backing but emphasized the need for tangible government action. Political analyst Alex Okoya warned against seeing the photo as a sign of Otunnu’s political shift, attributing his pause to personal integrity and Acholi cultural norms.
Source: The Observer (Uganda)