By David Serumaga
For close to a month, opposition politicians and a few media houses have been criticizing General Salim Saleh for making Gulu a home for top government officials, cultural leaders and influential citizens.
The opposition claims that Gen. Saleh has turned Gulu into the Mecca of government activities where the most important decisions are made. These allegations are made in bad faith to try and portray Gen. Saleh as the central commander of Government programs and activities.
We very well know that Gen. Saleh in his capacity as a Special Presidential Advisor, Coordinator of Operation Wealth Creation and Parish Development Model combined with his experience in social economic transformation has attracted majority of productive leaders that would wish to get his knowledge on how they can empower and transform Ugandans.
Those who claim that he carried his office to Gulu should know that Gen. Saleh has trained a strong management team at OWC offices who can do the job very well under his supervision.
In the simple terms, he can be referred to as a “field officer’’ who does not spend all his time in office but prefers doing the monitoring of implemented projects and programs.
Gen. Saleh as an entrepreneur, camps in an area not for political reasons as opposition spinners think but for developmental reasons.
We saw this when he spent time in Kapeeka-Nakaseke where his presence attracted a number of investors; currently, Kapeeka has an industrial park.
He has empowered a lot of farmers in Kapeeka and being based in Gulu, more industries and investments should be underway.
From a biblical perspective, visitors come with blessings; it is the reason as to why Gen. Saleh will not close his doors in Gulu to any visitor of substance. Like Romans 12:13 says “…contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality…’’.
This verse also allows those who have something to share and show hospitality to others. It is from this angle that Gen. Saleh is ever available to share his knowledge with others and warmly welcome those who visit him.
I pity opposition leaders like Dr. Kizza Besigye who are insinuating misleading news stories about top govt officials who continuously visit Gen. Saleh.
I would wish to ask them if there is any case Gen. Sale has committed in showing hospitality to his visitors. When Dr. Besigye set an office on Katonga road, we saw him hold press conferences there yet FDC had an active office in Najjanankumbi. He also hosted several FDC members in Katonga than Najjanankumbi.
When Gen. Saleh was in Kapeeka, no one criticised him yet majority of government officials, religious and cultural leaders, investors always visited him.
The difference between Kapeeka and Gulu is the name and distance but the man who gives leadership and management ideas hasn't changed.
Since there is no offence Gen. Saleh has committed, opposition politicians are also free to go to Gulu and acquire the general's knowledge on social economic transformation and perhaps to help them with ideas on how to form a strong Sacco that can see them get some Emyooga support from Uganda Microfinance Support Centre.
The author is a social and political critic.
