When Museveni’s Spokesperson Was Nabbed ‘Stealing’ Underwears In A City Supermarket
The then Director of Information at the Movement Secretariat, Ofwono Opondo, in April 2005, allegedly tried to steal a pen and underpants from Uchumi Supermarket in Garden City Mall, Kampala.
It is not clear whether the underpants were for males or females.What is clear, however, is that Opondo was fined for allegedly having sticky fingers.
Sources at Uchumi Supermarket said that security personnel at Garden City Mall stopped Opondo in the parking lot after he had walked off with undeclared underwear and a pen.
President Museveni investigates
“President Museveni rang Andrew Mwenda for an explanation WHY the Honorable Ofwono Opondo had stolen underpants and a pen worth Shs 13,000/-.Uchumi had imposed a Shoplifting Penalty of Shs 130,000/-, which Ofwono had promptly paid. He had Shs 150,000/- on him.”
After Mwenda explained to the president, “the President reportedly laughed till he had tears in his eyes saying “klepto-nenkyi?!!!”
Ofwono defends Himself
At the time, Uchumi Supermarket’s country manager, David Njenga defended Opondo against all allegations of shoplifting. Njenga said this while Opondo stood next to him, with calm, and he added that he had received no report of any shoplifting or theft by a government official.
In a letter to The Monitor a day after , Opondo said the paper’s story, “which hit me a little below the belt, was exaggerated and generally tried to scandalise my names before my family, friends, and right thinking people.”
He said he had only forgotten to pay for a Bic pen, but denied that any other items were involved. Opondo added that he neither recorded a statement nor got fined.
But The Monitor saw a copy of the Uchumi statement purportedly signed under the name John Richard Okello, 39.
It read in part: “I got these items in shelf but put the pen in pocket and a loose under pant together with my handkerchief. I am sorry for the mishap.”
Uchumi management was tightlipped on the presence of the intelligence officers at their premises and declined to comment on the shoplifting incidence.
“Shoplifting is part of the supermarket business and as far as we are concerned, this is no special case,” Uchumi country manager David Njenga said.
“Our interest in such a matter is recovery of the goods and payment of the fine which was done, so what is the big deal?”
Sources at the same supermarket said cases of shoplifting are recorded daily.
“Some do it deliberately, but others simply forget to pay and then pay the fine and it ends there,” said an attendant who declined to be named.
He added. “I go by my records. We have not had any reported case against any prominent person. And no one is forcing me to make this statement.”
Before he said again with an of finality, “What I said is final. There is nothing to add.”
Afterwards, Ofwono said he was ready for fingerprint and handwriting tests to prove that he never stole a pen and underwear from Uchumi Supermarket.