Museveni rallies Kalangala voters to support NRM candidate
"We have been providing services to the people of Kalangala as government, but we did not have an MP who we were working with to ensure efficient service delivery. I didn't even know who the MP was," Museveni said.
President Yoweri Museveni arrives at Kibanga Playground in Kalangala Town Council to campaign for Idah Nabayiga, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party's flag bearer in the Kalangala District Woman MP by-election. (PPU photos)
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President Yoweri Museveni has today (June 22) joined the National Resistance Movement (NRM) team that has pitched camp in Kalangala district to canvass votes for Idah Nabayiga, the party candidate in the forthcoming Kalangala District Woman Member of Parliament by-election.
Museveni said once residents vote for an NRM candidate, service delivery will improve, adding that he did not know the Kalangala woman MP. Helen Nakimuli, a National Unity Platform (NUP) member, was the Kalangala woman MP. Nakimuli died in April this year during an unsuccessful surgical operation at Alexandria Medical Centre in Kampala.
"We have been providing services to the people of Kalangala as government, but we did not have an MP who we were working with to ensure efficient service delivery. I didn't even know who the MP was," Museveni said before asking the residents to vote for Nabayiga for effective and efficient service delivery.
The President's remarks come at a time when the NRM leadership is targeting to secure more than 70 percent of the vote in the forthcoming Kalangala District Woman Member of Parliament by-election as party leaders intensify grassroots mobilisation across the island district.
Speaking after meeting women leaders in Mugoye sub-county on Saturday, NRM Director for Mobilisation Rosemary Sseninde expressed confidence that the ruling party's candidate, Nabayiga, will emerge victorious, citing strong support from voters and sustained mobilisation efforts by party structures.
"We are targeting not less than 70 percent," Sseninde said.
Sseninde said the party's confidence is based on the work already done by mobilisation teams that have been traversing communities across Kalangala ahead of the by-election.
"We have mobilised the people and I want to thank my colleagues, who have been on the ground," she said, adding that; "We have worked with the leaders and I want to thank the people of Kalangala for the cooperation and coordination that has enabled us to have the hope that we are going to win this election."
She added that NRM leaders are optimistic that the party will register a decisive victory and strengthen its political dominance in the district.
She urged voters to support leaders, who can work closely with the Government to advance development programmes instead of electing representatives, who would oppose government initiatives.
Sseninde also used the meeting to encourage women leaders to educate communities about government wealth-creation programmes, particularly the Parish Development Model, saying many eligible beneficiaries miss out on support because they lack information.
"It is important for us to keep enlightening them and guiding them on how they can be able to access this support," she said.
Faridah Kibowa, the Chairperson of the National Women's Council, who also attended the meeting, said women in Kalangala need a leader who will work closely with the various government departments and bring the share of the national cake home.
She said the women had previously not been sensitised well and had now agreed to rally behind Nabayiga.