Kampala — GULU municipality residents on Monday shunned a public rally organised by the Conservative Party (CP) president, John Ken Lukyamuzi and his party officials.

The rally that should have started at 2:00pm, according to programme, delayed until about 5:00pm, due to the poor turn-up.

Pupils from Christ Church Primary School in Gulu and Awere Secondary School, which are located near Kaunda Grounds, were the only ones attracted by the live jazz band.

When Lukyamuzi arrived at the venue on a bodaboda, he found only a handful of people enjoying the band music.

As soon as the generator, which was used by the band ran out of fuel, people began dispersing before Lukyamuzi could address the rally.

Only five Police constables armed with batons were deployed at the venue.

Lukyamuzi said he was traversing the countryside with party officials to mobilise members for the forthcoming party delegates' conference, slated for December 12 in Kampala.

The CP president amused his audience when he knelt down to send his greetings to the paramount chief of Acholi, Rwot David Acana.

Speaking to the small crowd, Lukyamuzi urged the people in Gulu to support CP, adding that it was the only way to get rid of the NRM.

"Why don't you want to support CP?

It is through CP that the peace talks between LRA and the Government started. I pushed for the talks when I was in Parliament," Lukyamuzi told the crowd, adding that they should resist selling their land to investors.

"We would rather be poor but remain commanders in our houses with our land intact," he advised.

Lukyamuzi told the crowd to shun the use of DDT in the fight against malaria, saying the Government should provide enough drugs in hospitals instead.

He accused the Parliament Speaker of collaborating with the President to throw him out of the House.

Lukyamuzi appealed to the Acholi people to support the inter-party cooperation ahead of the 2011 elections.