How football got Museveni in trouble with a millet farmer
"Running at full speed, I tried to save whatever was remaining of the millet. It was, however, too late. I had committed the offence of okwonesa. From a layman's understanding, it means one’s livestock eating the crop of another citizen," he adds.
Football is a universal sport, one that is the joy of not only the players but also the fans. Almost all boys, and lately girls, have played it at some point in life.
Football is the delight of childhood. The fun that comes with football has however got many into trouble, including President Yoweri Museveni.
The good story teller he is, Museveni has today narrated how he, for tbe first time, and only time, appeared before court as a result of engaging in football.
“The only time, I entered a Court of Law, was in 1956, when, being attracted by a game of football, I joined the other boys to enjoy the sport (because I was a good footballer), only to discover that the cattle I was herding had descended on a Mwananchi’s luscious millet garden,” the president revealed.
“Running at full speed, I tried to save whatever was remaining of the millet. It was, however, too late. I had committed the offence of okwonesa. From a layman’s understanding, it means one’s livestock eating the crop of another citizen,” he adds.
“This temporary attraction to village football qualified me to appear before the Parish Court at Kikoni, under a mutooma tree – omutuba – ficus nantelensis – in Mzee Katojo’s rutookye (banana plantation),” he further tells.
“I was, then, coached, I do not remember by who, to say: “omushaango ningwikyiriiza” – I plead guilty to the charge – and that by so doing, it will be better for everybody. I think Mzee Kaguta had to pay the millet owner some enkaitsi (compensation),” he narrates further.
“Hence, Bazukulu: there is time for everything”, a time to work and a time to play. This year, let us put in equal effort in the work at hand before expecting an equal reward,” he concluded, and wished Ugandans a Happy New Year with a Bible quote of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.
