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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jul/12/ugandan-president-stops-traffic-for-phone-call-twitter-explodes
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| Ugandan president stops to make roadside phone call. Twitter explodes | Ugandan president stops to make roadside phone call. Twitter explodes |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Ugandan president has become a meme sensation after being photographed making an important phone call while sitting on a portable chair at the side of the road. | |
| Yoweri Museveni was on his way to a public engagement in the south west district of Isingiro when his motorcade ground to a halt, a padded foldout seat appeared and he relaxed into a 30 minute chat. | Yoweri Museveni was on his way to a public engagement in the south west district of Isingiro when his motorcade ground to a halt, a padded foldout seat appeared and he relaxed into a 30 minute chat. |
| Or at least that’s what the photo posted on Facebook by his press secretary appeared to suggest. | Or at least that’s what the photo posted on Facebook by his press secretary appeared to suggest. |
| It did not take long to reach the consciousness of Ugandans on Twitter (#UOT), who spent the next few hours frantically speculating about who could be on the receiving end of such an important call. | It did not take long to reach the consciousness of Ugandans on Twitter (#UOT), who spent the next few hours frantically speculating about who could be on the receiving end of such an important call. |
| Who was he talking to? | Who was he talking to? |
| Could it be that he was trying to stop opposition leader Kizza Besigye being released on bail? | Could it be that he was trying to stop opposition leader Kizza Besigye being released on bail? |
| The politician, who is Museveni’s most formidable opponent, had been imprisoned for two months on treason charges after he denounced February’s elections as a sham and declared that he was in fact the winner. | The politician, who is Museveni’s most formidable opponent, had been imprisoned for two months on treason charges after he denounced February’s elections as a sham and declared that he was in fact the winner. |
| Museveni: Wait, #Besigyexit? How? pic.twitter.com/rL2jfn2dqX | Museveni: Wait, #Besigyexit? How? pic.twitter.com/rL2jfn2dqX |
| Or maybe the photo was a carefully choreographed PR stunt to distract attention from anything Besigye had to say? | Or maybe the photo was a carefully choreographed PR stunt to distract attention from anything Besigye had to say? |
| The #M7Challenge has completely overshadowed Besigye's release. Coincidence or choreographed? | The #M7Challenge has completely overshadowed Besigye's release. Coincidence or choreographed? |
| Maybe it wasn’t politics but Museveni had experienced one to many connection dropouts and decided that there was no time like the present to fix Uganda’s mobile signal? | Maybe it wasn’t politics but Museveni had experienced one to many connection dropouts and decided that there was no time like the present to fix Uganda’s mobile signal? |
| @BBCAfrica @KagutaMuseveni CASSAVA REPUBLIC pic.twitter.com/Blr4RP5cK1 | @BBCAfrica @KagutaMuseveni CASSAVA REPUBLIC pic.twitter.com/Blr4RP5cK1 |
| @BBCAfrica @digitaldjeli @echwalu @GoslinoJ @ssojo81 @Natabaalo @droid254 pic.twitter.com/DnyWS6CkIn | @BBCAfrica @digitaldjeli @echwalu @GoslinoJ @ssojo81 @Natabaalo @droid254 pic.twitter.com/DnyWS6CkIn |
| Or maybe he’d just got round to downloading Drake’s latest album? | Or maybe he’d just got round to downloading Drake’s latest album? |
| Baby o Pullover pic.twitter.com/yxQJnW7BNw | Baby o Pullover pic.twitter.com/yxQJnW7BNw |
| #M7challenge | #M7challenge |
| As the meme multiplied some Ugandans questioned whether they should be following presidential protocol by finding a outside spot to sit and chat, challenging others to do the same using a hashtag inspired by Museveni’s nickname M7. | As the meme multiplied some Ugandans questioned whether they should be following presidential protocol by finding a outside spot to sit and chat, challenging others to do the same using a hashtag inspired by Museveni’s nickname M7. |
| #M7Challenge ...Accepted! *Photo Credits* Maimuna pic.twitter.com/D3hy1b4i5p | #M7Challenge ...Accepted! *Photo Credits* Maimuna pic.twitter.com/D3hy1b4i5p |
| #M7Challenge accepted. I nominate @GoonerKaranja @gichewkey @Swamkidd @Muthoga_Jay pic.twitter.com/GtEzXgJBIq | #M7Challenge accepted. I nominate @GoonerKaranja @gichewkey @Swamkidd @Muthoga_Jay pic.twitter.com/GtEzXgJBIq |
| But Jennifer ur behind...ehh..ehh...oops "roads" are impressive..... #M7Challenge pic.twitter.com/TYhoooFwcO | But Jennifer ur behind...ehh..ehh...oops "roads" are impressive..... #M7Challenge pic.twitter.com/TYhoooFwcO |
| Although some attempts seemed more opportunist than others. | Although some attempts seemed more opportunist than others. |
| Before the drink is served at my local #M7Challenge pic.twitter.com/DGssiNryC6 | Before the drink is served at my local #M7Challenge pic.twitter.com/DGssiNryC6 |
| Others didn’t seem to care too much about who was on the other end of the call but clearly enjoyed imagining the 71-year-old president, who has been in office since 1986, in alternative surroundings. | Others didn’t seem to care too much about who was on the other end of the call but clearly enjoyed imagining the 71-year-old president, who has been in office since 1986, in alternative surroundings. |
| @BBCAfrica @radiokimilili @KagutaMuseveni it's gone to another level. LOL pic.twitter.com/pJCMI7BscM | @BBCAfrica @radiokimilili @KagutaMuseveni it's gone to another level. LOL pic.twitter.com/pJCMI7BscM |
| #Museveni #Trolled For Making A call On The Roadside https://t.co/wKdOOZyO5u pic.twitter.com/sGOP1q1tcT | #Museveni #Trolled For Making A call On The Roadside https://t.co/wKdOOZyO5u pic.twitter.com/sGOP1q1tcT |
| "Haters are going to say it's photoshop"📷 @mwanjalouis #M7Challenge pic.twitter.com/m1CPiPJF6u | "Haters are going to say it's photoshop"📷 @mwanjalouis #M7Challenge pic.twitter.com/m1CPiPJF6u |
| But who brought the chair? | But who brought the chair? |
| And as the meme merry-go-round continues, it remains unclear who provided the chair. | And as the meme merry-go-round continues, it remains unclear who provided the chair. |