Bukenya vows to oust Museveni

By Moses Mulondo        

Former Vice President Prof. Gilbert Balibaseka Bukenya has announced that he has started his campaign to become the next President of Uganda in 2016.

Speaking to New Vision in an interview on Monday at his home in Kakiri in Wakiso district, Bukenya said, "I started the campaign last week on Thursday. I have already constituted a strong team of people and we always meet to discuss strategies to use. I have been quietly building up my system."

Bukenya, the Busiro North MP, also told the NRM party leaders to carry out measures that will ensure free and fair Party primaries.

"I want the NRM voters' register to be well prepared in advance and I don't want to see any tendencies of bribing voters with money or any form of intimidation. I don't want last minute preparations. The process should begin now," Bukenya said.

He called up the national Electoral Commission headed by Prof. Badru Kiggundu to start preparations for the 2016 elections early by cleaning the voters' register and updating it.

Asked how he expects to win the contest for NRM presidential flag bearer when he was defeated during election for Party secretary general, Bukenya said, "Everybody knows what happened in Namboole. Do you how much money was distributed in Namboole?"

"Was it a fair election when there was no voters' register? We just kept quiet and accepted the results. It is not advisable to scratch a wound that is healing," he said.

Bukenya said he was ready to take on President Museveni during NRM primaries if he does not retire, arguing that he wants to "end what I see as a monopoly of political leadership."

"In 2005 I was convinced to change the Constitution to lift term limits on the promise that 2006 was President Museveni's last term. Even our campaign slogan was 'Let us give him the last chance', and it has not worked," Bukenya argued.

"For those who underestimate me saying I cannot win the contest, I assure them that only death will stop me from reaching there. As long as am still alive I will contest for presidency in 2016," he said adding that if the NRM primaries are rigged, he will contest as independent presidential candidate.

Bukenya, the author of From Intricate Corridors to power, advised president Museveni to seriously think about his legacy and accept to retire in 2016.

"President Museveni has done very well. He has changed this country and I think it is high time he becomes a Julius Nyerere or Daniel arap Moi. These leaders ruled for so long like him and accepted to hand over power to others. Otherwise his goodies will become bad if he forgets what he said in 1986 that Africa's greatest problem is leaders who overstay in power," Bukenya argued.  

When contacted, NRM spokesperson Mary Karooro Okurut said, "Any party faithful is free to contest to become our flag bearer. However, they must go through the checks and benchmarks laid down in our NRM party constitution. He will have to be subjected himself to an internal vote and if he passes he will be our presidential flag bearer."