Museveni Manifesto Out

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni's election manifesto has been released. It can be picked from his campaign offices on Plot 10, Kyadondo Road, from today, Museveni's special assistant for literary affairs, Elizabeth Kanyogonya, told The New Vision yesterday. The 117-page manifesto entitled, "Consolidating The Achievements of The Movement," gives Museveni's profile, highlights the successes of the Movement government since 1986 and suggests a way forward. Museveni said Uganda's economy had more than doubled from US$3.6b in 1986 to over US$6b by last year. Kanyogonya, who edited the manifesto, said Museveni was involved at every stage of its production. She said National Political Commissar James Wapakhabulo was the chairman of the manifesto committee. Kanyogonya, who also edited Museveni's book, Sowing The Mustard Seed, said the manifesto was delayed because they needed time to research and do a good job. Some of Museveni's nomination photographs appear in the document which was printed by a local firm, Graphic Systems. Kanyogonya said 50,000 copies of the manifesto, to be distributed free of charge, had been initially produced. Museveni said soft drinks production rose from 7.8 million litres in 1987 to 80.8m last year and beer from 16.9m to 117.8m. At the same time, sugar production increased from 4,000 tonnes to 126,936 tonnes, industry share of the Gross Domestic Product from 5.4% to 9.4%, investment ratio from 5.6% to 17.6% while household poverty dropped from 56% to 35%. Whereas agriculture was the largest sector at 57.9% in 1996, by last year it accounted for only 42.7% because other sectors had come up, the manifesto says. On health, Museveni said HIV/AIDS prevalence in adults had dropped from 30% in 1986 to 8.3% now and infant mortality from 122 per 1,000 live births to 88 over the same period. He expounded on achievements in education, transport and electricity production. Museveni said he was seeking re-election to continue implementing sound economic policies and raise revenue collection. Museveni said he wanted to consolidate anti-poverty programmes and reduce donor dependence. He said he also wanted to consolidate regional cooperation, among other things. Ends