The helicopter
A wave of excitement swept through Wakiso District Headquarters as the sound of a helicopter circling overhead drew the attention of residents and district staff.
News quickly spread that the aircraft had come to deliver a parliamentary candidate.
For several minutes, the helicopter hovered above, its presence dominating the skies. District employees abandoned their offices to watch, while residents nearby congregated at the district headquarters, craning their necks for a glimpse. of the unexpected arrival.
“It must be looking for a place to land and that has to be a candidate arriving; he must be loaded,” remarked a civil servant in Block B, as others gathered in the parking yard, sharing the thrill of the unexpected spectacle.
As civil servants gathered in the parking yard and others peered through office windows, residents quickly spotted that the helicopter was heading for the Wakiso Mumyuka Sub-County playground. Many ran toward the site, eager to be near when it landed. These included supporters whose candidates were already inside the nomination center.
At the playground, police and army officers appeared prepared for the landing.
The site had been clearly marked with white demarcations markers, and officers guided arriving residents to maintain a safe distance.
When the helicopter touched down, Phillip Mundulu, the NRM flag bearer for Makindye Ssabagabo, stepped out with a few of his aides.
Speaking to our reporter, Munduni said he did not intend to cause a spectacle but he was rather running late from Makindye Ssabagabo and saw air transport as the fastest way to save time.
As journalists focused on Mundulu, the helicopter turned into a magnet for Wakiso residents eager to capture the moment. Many jostled for selfies, while some tried to touch the aircraft despite police attempts to hold them back. The pilot watched the scene unfold, smiling at the commotion.
The spectacle continued when Khalid Ssimbwa, freshly nominated for the Kyadondo East seat, arrived amid pomp and was ushered into the same helicopter.
Unlike other candidates who preferred road convoys to their constituencies after nominations, Ssimbwa said he was hurrying to meet supporters in Kyadondo East.
The Electoral Commission had limited his entourage to two vehicles, so his supporters could not accompany him.
After takeoff, the excitement lingered on the ground. Several people rushed to collect soil and grass from the landing site, with some describing it as medicinal.
-URN
