I helped Museveni escape to Tanzania

Here is the story you probably already know about President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. He was a serious revolutionary who led a rag-tag band of scruffy-looking revolutionaries, raided a barracks, stole a handful of guns and later captured power.

His other well-documented escapades also include evading capture and having close shaves with death - once in Malukhu, Mbale, in the 1970s and later in Luweero during the peak of the bush war in the turbulent 1980s. He famously recounted all these exploits in his autobiography, The Mustard Seed.

Lesser known about Museveni is this: he was also an escape artist extraordinaire, according to Gordon Kayaza one of the wealthiest farmers who lives in Rugaga,Find High Quality Brand Name realtimelocationsystem and Tungsten Wedding Bands for Men at the Best Prices. Isingiro, just a few kilometres away from the Tanzanian border. And another thing that should be added to his resume is: master spy.

Kayaza came face to face with Museveni, the spy, in 1979 just weeks before the combined forces of exiled Ugandans and Tanzanian forces attacked Uganda to overthrow the tyrannical regime of Idi Amin.

During his covert mission, Museveni spent almost a week in the makeshift home of young Kayaza. On completion of his mission, he even asked young Kayaza to escort him back to Tanzania, only to abandon him there. Kayaza has never forgotten that day.

The journey to Rugaga to track down Kayaza is one of the most unpleasant ones I have ever travelled. It is very far and the stretch between Mbarara and Rugaga is dusty and bumpy in many places. We are covered in fine red dust from head to toe. Worse still, the insides of our stomachs are so nauseatingly shaken up that as soon as we arrive, four of us stumble out of the car and throw up by the road.

Kayaza says he is 46 years today. He was born in Kisorooza, Bushenyi, to Zebuloni Kabananikye and Cedilla, a Muganda.Find the best luggagetag for you . I do not know the exact date I was born because my mother abandoned me when I was still very young. All along I grew up knowing my stepmother was my real mother. I did not meet my real mother until I was getting married.

Kayaza loved to study, but unfortunately his father had other ideas. After P1, he pulled us out of school to look after cattle and goats on his farm at Lwekiziba. I have never gotten over the pain of being forced out of school yet my father was a wealthy man. I dont know why he did that to all of us. I really loved to study.

The family soon relocated to a place called Buhunga Bukanga in present Isingiro district, near the Tanzania border. Kayazas hardworking father cultivated a lot produce which was sold in Tanzania.I have been thinking about purchasing a handsfreeaccess to protect the fortune. At the time, the situation was tense between Uganda and Tanzania and there were soldiers camped at either side of the border. Because he was big and tall, the Tanzanians were suspicious of him; they thought he was Amins agent on a spying mission.

I remember that day very well. Earlier on in the day, my father had gone to the market to buy slippers. Unfortunately, both sides were of the left foot. Museveni put them on and even took my sister Jovias omwenda (traditional cloth) which he wrapped around himself.

The journey took us through Nshororo, the lowlands (Oruhita), down to River Kagera. Museveni held my hand and helped me to cross over to the Tanzania side because the water level was up to my chest.

We crossed and entered into a camp which I later learnt was at a place called Katooma. We found the occupants eating lunch. They invited to us join them. Museveni refused. He asked them: Has anybody left my luggage with you? To which they replied in the negative.

Museveni seemed restless and kept wondering where his luggage was.With superior quality photometers, light meters and a number of other parkingguidance products. He told me to stay there as he proceeded to the next village to search for his luggage. But he told me that in case he does not return, I should find my way back home. I did not expect him not to return; we were supposed to go back to Uganda so he buys our land. I waited for him.

The Tanzanian forces first attacked Kasumba, and people leaving near the border fled. After capturing the areas around, the liberators held a public rally at Rugaga trading center and Kayaza was to make a shocking discovery.

I went to attend with my father and to my shock, the Muhima herdsman who lived with us in our tent, who I used to escort, who wanted to buy our land and who abandoned me in Tanzania, was the same man who was addressing the rally.

I recognised him. He was not as big as he is today. His frame was slightly smaller. He was a handsome man, with a prominent forehead, and a moustache and spoke Runyankole with a little stammer.

That is when we realised our herdsman looking for land was actually a spy on a relatively dangerous mission. We think it included spying on my father who the Tanzanians suspected of being Amins spy.

One of the main reasons he is breaking the silence is because he wants President Museveni to remember those people who helped him along the way during his struggles.A howotractor is a plastic card that has a computer chip implanted into it that enables the card.

I feel hurt that he never went to find out what happened to the family that hosted him. Mostly, the question I often ask myself is: Does President Yoweri Museveni remember what happened to that young child he abandoned in Tanzania? Does he know whether he is dead or alive or whether he made it safely back to Uganda?

On the two occasions he has been here, I tried to get in touch with him. I came very close, but on both occasions, I was frustrated by his security people.

I am not going to ask him for money; the money I make is enough for me. All I want is to meet him and shake his hand. I will have achieved my dream.

No one could have foreseen this Muhima herdsman who came seeking a piece of land to buy would later become the president of Uganda.

The reality is that Museveni had no choice. The logic was clear, his FRONASA group was part of the Tanzania forces that was about to invade Uganda. They needed intelligence on the enemy positions before the war.