Museveni is still favourite choice

In 15 years the president has pulled our nation from economic backwardness to a competitive nation THERE has been a dispute by the contending Presidential sides over the validity of the Sunday Vision opinion poll published last weekend. In it candidates Yoweri Kaguta Museveni were given 54%, Dr Kiiza Besigye 17%, Nasser Ssebaggala 16%, Aggrey Awori 11%, Kibirige Mayanja, 0.6%, Karuhanga Chapaa 0.4%, Charles Senkubuge 0.3% and Francis Bwengye 0.0%. Besigye and Bwengye have claimed that their strength were understated. Besigye went on radio to insult The New Vision establishment as having been 'bought' and this claim is not new because to him whoever does not support him must have been 'bought'. The amiable and populist Awori has put his popularity country-wide to 75%, in short the un-disputed leader. However, for Yoweri Kaguta Museveni Task Force we agree with the general conclusion in the poll report on our lead and the fact that we shall win the election comfortably on the first round. Independent, and our own research findings indicate that the political landscape in the country has not significantly changed negatively for the Movement and candidate Museveni. Most significantly the massive support for Museveni during nomination, and the paltry performance of high fliers Aggrey Awori is a fair indication of the likely outcome of the polls. So far little no candidate has stated what they intend to do beyond Universal Primary Education (UPE) and provision of health services which are already being implemented by Museveni. The Besigye, Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC) and Democratic Party (DP) alliance involving Nasser Ssebaggala is the hired hammer of our weakened enemies in the old groups. With that alliance, neither Besigye nor his torchbearer and wife Winnie Byanyima Besigye can any longer claim a high moral political ground to fight corruption and fraudsters seeking public office. Awori has fizzled out since failure to produce the details of the alleged UPDF Prisoners of War (POWs), as well as to bring campaign vehicles for his agents, and the helicopter for himself. Besigye is already burnt out without any new ideas to place beyond Museveni's achievements in education, economy, political stability, social harmony in the country side, and security of persons and property. Museveni's comfort zones on Buganda, Busoga, Western, Mbale and Teso have and will vote for him because of the achievement in peace, political stability, and household incomes, and political stability. It is important to remember that the 1996 elections were held when the West Nile region was under insecurity which has since been defeated with the UPDF smashing of the Sudan-backed West Nile Bank Front (WNBF), of Col. Juma Oris at Yei in 1997. The peace dividend in that region is one of Museveni's big achievements. More women, youth and previously marginalised groups continued to make great strides under Museveni's leadership and are unlikely to desert him for either Besigye or Awori. It is under Museveni that women have for the first time been appointed VP, Deputy CJ, Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Head of the Civil Service. Women, especially those from rural areas and single mothers whose children are benefiting from the UPE, have little reason to desert Museveni. Similarly private investors liberated by the liberalisation policy and are keeping their profits are slowly but surely building themselves. This category will vote for continuation of stability. The results of the referendum, performance in the economy both at the micro and macro levels are a boost to Museveni. The Ugandan voters are unlikely to swallow the bait put by Besigye, Cecilia Ogwal, Nasser Ssebaggala and perennial loser Dr Paul Ssemogerere. There is little difference in this alliance than the one between UPC and KY in 1962 and the Paul Kawanga Ssemogerere and the UPC factions in 1996. Although Besigye and his campaign coordinator Louis Otika still claim allegiance to the Movement, the association with known opponents of Museveni makes little difference. The credibility and the results of the Besigye, Ssebaggala and UPC alliance has already manifested itself in the hooligan-style of campaign this camp uses. A member of Museveni's Luwero District task force John Paulo Muzira was killed at Nsooba Trading Centre just a day before the candidate addressed his first campaign rally in Luwero. Furthermore on 10/01/2001 the day Ssebaggala and Ssemogerere formally joined Besigye some gangs pelted vehicles on Kampala streets with stones, sticks and hauled obscene insults. Another group tore and burnt down posters and banners of Museveni in the areas of Bwaise, Mpererwe, and Kasangati the day Besigye held a rally in Kasangati. Ends.