Gen. Saleh tells Otema: Quit politics, Join OWC

Gen Caleb Akandwanaho, aka Salim Saleh has advised UPDF’s commander of the Reserve Force, Lt Gen Charles Otema Awany to leave politics and join his wealth creation struggle.
According to Gen Saleh, it is high time Gen Otema left politics and instead concentrated on creating opportunities that can improve and transform the lives of the people around him and the entire country.

“Gen Otema, let’s leave politics and we go for cows and cassava because all that politics is composed of, are lies. Focus on how you can create wealth for yourselves and the people in this region in an industrial way using your capability,” Gen Saleh, also the National Coordinator Operation Wealth Creation, said on Tuesday at Tangi village in Purongo Sub County in Nwoya district during the burial ceremony of Savio Ojok Awany, Gen Otema’s father.
“You want to attribute yourself to the middle class who have completely detached themselves from our system and have messed up my operations at OWC?” Gen Saleh asked without providing details on the alleged mess at OWC.

Gen Otema has been influential in the politics of Acholi region for over a decade and has been accused of financing several NRM candidates for electoral positions.
“You want to be in politics but you don’t understand how it is running, not even what the middle class is thinking about us the NRM, you don’t know. I need you in production than being in politics,” he added.
According to Gen Saleh, politicking by active officers has attracted negative criticism by the population against government efforts and developments.

“Like in OWC now, you give someone a cow, they abuse it because they took it to be NRM cow. Even when you give them a tractor, they will disown it saying it is NRM’s. This is a big blow to us now,” he stated.
However, in his response, Gen Otema said his participation in politics has been very instrumental in shaping development.
“I can only denounce politics when NRM’s opponents like Nobert Mao stop attacking me and sabotaging our efforts,” he told Gen Saleh.
Gen Otema who has held myriad command and staff positions including the current reserve commander slot, has been a commercial farmer since 2012 with a farm in Tango village, Purongo Sub County, Nwoya District.

CREDIT: Daily Monitor