Mukula hails Museveni as dependable leader

By Alfred Wandera

Soroti Municipality MP Mike Mukula has hailed President Yoweri Museveni as a strong leader whose relevance in Uganda’s politics still counts and cannot be swept away by any political tide.

Mukula was addressing the youth of NRM National Ideology Club at City Royal Hotel in Bugolobi, Nakawa Division in Kampala, as the chief guest.

“Uganda has gone through turbulent times right from colonial times, characterized by sectarian politics based on religion, military coups, human rights abuse and mismanagement of the economy. President Museveni has restored peace and stability in all parts of the country and put the economy on the right path,” said Mukula.

Mukula, who was at one time touted as a possible challenger of President Museveni’s State House bid, in February 2014, during NRM caucus retreat at the National Leadership Institute in Kyakwanzi, disassociated himself from the talk that he wanted to contest for the country’s top office.

In the run upto to Kenya’s general elections in 2013, Mukula was linked to Kenya’s doyen of opposition politics, Raila Odinga and his Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party for mentoring and financial support for his presidential bid.
The workshop was held under the theme “NRM Revolution: The past, the present and the future.” 

Asked about the differences between president Museveni and former Prime Minister and NRM secretary general, John Patrick Amama Mbabazi, Mukula reasoned that the differences between the chairman and the secretary general of the party are not new in politics.

“The differences have existed between Oscar Kambona and Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, Simon Kapwepwe and Keneth Kaunda of Zambia, Tom Mboya and Jomo Kenyatta of Kenya and in all these cases, the secretary generals have always lost. Amama Mbabazi will go and Museveni will remain strong,” said Mukula.

Mukula appealed to the youth to be cautious about HIV/ AIDS, since its prevalence has increased especially in universities, where prevalence rate is as high as 20%.

He said university halls of residence and hostels have highest cases of HIV/AIDS infection with final year students being the most affected.

The NRM National Ideology Club chairman, James Katongana, said the party ideology existed before the formation of the club but many party members don’t understand it.

“Since security is in place, roads built, electricity is running, business is booming, education and health are improved, it’s time to open the page and turn our guns to ideological revolution,” said Katongana.

The Club is the ruling party’s think tank for mobilizing the youth in its ranks. President Museveni appointed Col. Fred Mwesigye the club’s patron last December during NRM delegates’ conference.

Since its first conference in January, several senior UPDF officers have been invited to address the youth.

They include UPDF chief political commissar, Col. Felix Kulayigye, Maj. Gen. Peacos Kutesa, UPDF director of doctrine, Brig. Phinehas Katirima, UPDF’s chief of education, culture and sports and Gen. Elly Tumwine, a bush war historical remembered for ushering in the bush struggle by firing the first bullet when then Museveni’s NRA rebels attacked Kabamba Barracks.