James Magode Ikuya, the state minister for East African Affairs’ appointment was one of the surprises.
His appointment came at a time when he was ill. He had a labored gait as he walked to parliament for approval.
A bullish Magode Ikuya, 75, scoffed at suggestions that he was too old and frail to handle the docket.
A close friend to President Museveni from the 60’s, he revealed that his appointment was an indication that that the voice of the people who had been involved in the liberation struggle has finally been heard by the government.
Magode hails from Magodes Town Council in Tororo North County, Tororo district, but has lived his entire adult life among the Bagusi community in Mbale.
Two of his wives hail from Sironko- Bududa and Budadili.
Ikuya’s appointment drew excitement both in Tororo and Mbale, with both districts celebrating. However, Ikuya’s statement after the appointment has caused bad blood.
“The appointment is an opportunity to have our voices at the Centre of power since we have all along been absent in government. Many of our colleagues such as Rait Omongin, Joseph Othieno, among many across the country have died without being heard off and yet they contributed a lot to this liberation of this country,” he said.
Ikuya’s statement where he swears his allegiance to Tororo rubbed his ‘hosts’ and in-laws in Bugisu, they have vowed to circumcise him at 75 if it is what it takes to claim him as one of their own. This wasn’t helped by the fact that President Museveni in a recent address ‘donated’ Ikuya to Mbale.
“I hear Bagisu grumbling but I gave you enough leaders, including Magode Ikuya,” Museveni recently said in an address at Kololo, explaining how he was with Magode Ikuya in Malukhu in 1963.
The angry Gishu elders now want to mete their anger on Magode Ikuya who they want to undergo their circumcision ritual.
“We want to know if he is circumcised. If so, who are in his intake? Every man must have his intake (cohort) with whom they got circumcised. We are determined to zip down his pants because he belongs to us,” they vowed.
Magode couldn’t be reached for comment on the latest developments.
