Ugandans mark New Year in style

In Summary

Fresh start. Religious and political leaders appealed to citizens to maintain peace and avoid voter bribery in the election year.

Countrywide. Ugandans yesterday entered the New Year with celebration, worshipping and partying. The celebrations were mostly marked in Kampala where the sky was lit up with fireworks at the clock of midnight, leaving the sky painted in a cocktail of colours. Security personnel kept watch as the revellers partied.

The reality of an election year was spilling with the New Year finding presidential candidates on the vote hunt and religious leaders coining their sermons for a peaceful poll.
Dr Kizza Besigye welcomed the New Year in Masindi District. He attended midnight prayers at All Saints Church in Masindi Town where the clergy prayed for him.

In the morning, he returned for prayers at the same church. Here, the Rev George William Kasangaki, the Bishop of Masindi Kitara Diocese, was booed for attempting to block Dr Besigye from addressing the congregation. The reverend later succumbed to pressure from the congregation.
Earlier in his New Year message, Dr Besigye warned his supporters to brace for intensive intimidation in 2016, which he branded “the year of liberation”.

“I wish to remind you of what challenges lie ahead, and to encourage you to stay on the course. We can expect more intimidation, probably more violence directed at our campaign,” he said and warned the country to beware of “fake defections staged to discourage you” and “more fake polls that predict victory for Mr Museveni.”
President Museveni entered 2016 a busy man, commuting between Christian congregations in Kampala and Wakiso districts in overnight prayers. He crisscrossed from Namboole, Nakivubo stadiums, Kololo Airstrip before retiring to State House Nakasero at dawn.

Independent presidential candidate Amama Mbabazi’s spokesperson Josephine Mayanja-Nkangi refused to reveal where the New Year found him or whether he had a New Year message.
Prof Venansius Baryamureeba celebrated the New Year in Kamwenge District, posting on his Facebook page: “As we wind up the year, the Now Is The Time campaign trail will be in Kamwenge to spread the word of change come 2016…”

Throughout the churches, sermons were not lost to the election season with Church of Uganda Archbishop Stanley Ntagali at St Stephen’s Church Kisugu hitting at politicians who have resorted to witchcraft for votes. Pastor Jackson Senyonga reminded his congregation at Kololo Independence Grounds to work towards a peaceful election.
By Ivan Okuda, Eriasa Mukiibi Serunjogi, Stephen Otage & George Muzoora

editorial@ug.nationmedia.com