The former Member of Parliament for Omoro County in Omoro District, Simon Toolit Akecha, who died on January 16th, was laid to rest at his ancestral home in Omoro District, Acholi Sub-Region, on Saturday, January 28th.
His funeral attracted a huge representation from the opposition National Unity Platform Party led by Robert Kyagulanyi. The team later delivered endless praise and pledged to deliver support to the deceased’s widow and orphans.
“When Toolit was sick and admitted at St Mary’s hospital Lacor in Gulu for over a week none of his NUP friends or top officials visited him or send him flowers or simple get well soon card. Now after his death, NUP top leadership including Kyagulanyi got more concerned, and took over all funeral arrangements. Was this sudden appearance meant to take advantage of the crowds for its own political millage, selfish gains or genuine?” Joseph Okello, a cousin to the deceased questioned.
Okello claimed that Kyagulanyi and his team had consistently ignored late Toolit while battling for his life, even during the recent by-election in which the deceased ran against the son of the late Speaker of Parliament.
He wondered why Kyagulanyi usually gives little attention to any NUP member from the North compared to the huge attention and support given to NUP supporters in other regions, mainly Buganda.
On Sunday, January 29, 2023, Bobi Wine lost a friend and an old classmate, Asia, who was a tik toker and NUP influencer. Bobi Wine used this chance to go to Kalisizo for burial and went with several NUP leaders, including the leader of the opposition, Mathias Mpuuga. The team also handed a large cash envelope to the late Asia’s family, in contrast to Toolit’s funeral, where they never delivered any financial support.
It should also be recalled that in 2022, Kyagulanyi, while delivering his condolences to the father of the late Speaker, Jacob Oulanyah, delivered a small, malnourished-looking goat that was subsequently rejected by the family. Kyagulanyi was later chased by his goat.
Jonathan Mukasa, a small-business trader in Masaka town, warned Kyagulanyi against the hypocrisy of pretending to mourn with the bereaved families, yet he is only up to taking advantage of their plight to secure political attention at the expense of the deceased, describing it as inhumane, painful, and equally absurd.
