The surprise that surprised me | Ingrid Turinawe
We set off from Kampala to a mobilisation program. We were a team of People’s Government leaders, MPs, and FDC leaders.
We were to spend a week in the feild, visiting several districts in Ankole and Kigezi.
For three days in Ankole Region, Chairman Katembeya was our host: we stayed at his place.
The day we returned from Isingiro District, I learnt the next day was Lord Mayor’s birthday.
I tipped a few members, including our host.
So, we planned to surprise him during our breakfast.
We made a budget of everything we needed, mobilised resources and also ordered for a beautiful green cake.
Early morning, everything was set.
We had mobilised and invited a few Mbarara leaders and activists to join in as we celebrate with our Muloodi.
After every one had arrived and sat for breakfast, the Lord Mayor was not coming.
I made a call to inform him how he was getting late for breakfast; everyone was waiting for him downstairs to start breakfast.
Lord Mayor told me he was not going to have breakfast with us, so we should proceed.
At first I thought he was only late and I hoped to make him hurry as members were excited only waiting for him to arrive so we sing for him as we reveal the cake and he cuts it.
I told him how it was ok for him to come over even if he did not want to take breakfast.
I argued It was important and urgent that he comes downstairs but the feedback was negative.
I called Hon. Munyagwa who was also late.
Munyagwa gave me the same answer. Like Omuloodi, he was not coming for breakfast.
All other leaders were already taking their breakfast including KB [Dr Kizza Besigye]. Only Munyagwa and Omuloodi were missing.
Getting desperate Now, I whispered on phone to Hon. Munyagwa how there was a birthday surprise for Lord Mayor but requested him not to tell him about the surprise.
I wanted him to understand the gist of it, just convince or trick him to come.
We really wanted it to be a surprise.
At this time, Hon. Munyagwa told me, “Ingrid, let me tell you the truth, Lord Mayor is not available. We are not available. We have left Mbarara, we are on way to Kampala.”
Oh my God!
I pleaded with Hon. Munyagwa to convince Lord Mayor to turn back, be around briefly but instead, he handed over the phone to him.
Now I had to plead, I could not hold a secret or a surprise any more.
I told Omuloodi the whole truth and how people were gathered waiting to celebrate with him.
Lord Mayor told me he got an urgent call which needed him to travel back to kampala. In fact he was approaching Masaka.
He told me how he had only informed the People’s President about the abrupt departure.
Apparently, we had not involved KB in the birthday arrangements. So, he was also supposed to be surprised while he took breakfast.
If we had informed him, may be he would have stopped us.
We were to be in the field for four more days, the birthday Boy was in Kampala, the cake couldn’t be kept.
So, we added every thing on the breakfast table, and served the guests who did not see the mugole.
Lord Mayor continued his journey to Kampala and we continued the journey to Kisoro, Kabale, Rubanda, Kanungu, etc.
That’s how the planned surprise to the Lord Mayor ended up surprising me and all its planners. Hmmmm. It ended in tears.
Lord Mayor did not get the details of how the planned surprise hurt us, he will only read it here.
Since then, I decided, I will never plan any surprise again. Not to any one. No!
As narrated by Ingrid Turinawe on the day Erias Lukwago celebrated his 51st birthday.
