Grace Matsiko
12 February 2007
Kampala — VICE-PRESIDENT Prof. Gilbert Bukenya on Friday dodged his Presidential Guard Brigade (PGB) escorts and drove without security through the thick afternoon city traffic jam.
Prof. Bukenya, who had just presided over the Kyambogo University graduation ceremony, returned to his home in Ntinda, a city suburb, only disappear undetected by the unsuspecting PGB guards.
He went through the side door of his Ntinda home and ordered the unarmed civilian driver of his support car to take him to Kakiri, his Wakiso abode, family sources said.
"The PGB guards saw the vehicle drive out of the compound but did not suspect that he (VP) was in the vehicle until 30 minutes later," one of the relatives told Daily Monitor, on condition of anonymity.
Clad in a dark suit, white shirt and dotted tie, Prof Bukenya sat in the co-driver seat of his luxurious Jeep Cherokee and set off. At Kamwokya, Wandegeya and Nakulabye, the VP encountered a massive traffic jam.
Apart from the traffic, Prof. Bukenya had to put up with nagging hawkers at Wandegeya, who flashed all sorts of merchandise in his face, witnesses said. It turned out that many of the hawkers were totally oblivious of who he was, only assuming he was a wealthy businessman, as his helpless driver implored them to stay away in vain.
Prof. Bukenya then made a stop over at Delta Petrol station at Nakulabye where one of the vehicles chasing after him found him and radioed the larger convoy, which had passed through Bwaise-Nabweru to flank him in Wakiso. Other PGB vehicles were sent towards the town centre and another to Kyambogo to look for him.
The panicky PGB guards came through the opposite side in the direction of Hoima Road and caused commotion at Nakulabye roundabout where they found him. "Stop those cars, stop them," the guard commander, Capt. Napoleon Namanya shouted as he jumped out of the speeding car to block the traffic so as to pluck the VP out of the several vehicles that had sandwiched him in a drama witnessed by this reporter.
After securing Prof Bukenya, Capt. Namanya saluted the VP and then the convoy turned and headed to Kakiri in what seemed like a Hollywood movie scene. Bystanders cheered in amusement. It was not clear whether the VP was playing a prank on his guards or he simply did not want their presence.
When contacted, Capt. Namanya declined to give a comment. "I am not supposed to talk to the media, talk to my Brigade commander (PGB), Lt. Col. Emmanuel Baineomugisha or Public Relations Officer PGB," he added before hanging up. But PGB spokesman, Edison Kwesiga first downplayed the incident before promising to verify the information. "For you to do security work, you don't have to be in uniform...secondly the VP is a man of the people and he may choose to walk on the streets," Lt Kwesiga added.
The VP'S Press secretary Linda Nabusayi said, "At no point does the VP move alone..."
Ms Nabusayi said there must have been at least two unmarked security vehicles following the VP. But a relative of the VP said this is not the first time Prof. Bukenya is eluding his PGB security.
In early November, the relative said, Prof. Bukenya moved out of his Ntinda home and headed to Bugoolobi in a private car but was followed by his security minutes later. In another incident last month, the VP left Ntinda unnoticed and drove himself to Kabira Country Club for a workout in the gym.
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