Museveni warns supporters on violence
Nov 15, 2010
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has warned his supporters against violence during and after the campaign period.
By Milton Olupot and Richard Drasimaku
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has warned his supporters against violence during and after the campaign period.
“Politics is a game of words and not sticks,†Museveni said while launching the NRM women and youth campaign brigades at Nyadri Urban Secondary School in Maracha district on Saturday.
“Do not use violence. Use your tongues. When we call you brigades, it is not about war. Don’t use sticks. I want peaceful campaigns. Don’t attack people,†Museveni told his supporters.
Museveni, flanked by Sam Engola, the NRM northern Uganda vice-chairperson, ministers Fred Omach, Dorothy Hyuha and David Wakikona, had earlier addressed another rally at Koboko Secondary School ground in Koboko district, close to the border with the DR Congo.
Reminding voters of Uganda’s violent history, Museveni urged the people to vote for him and the party flag-bearers, saying it was only the NRM which had the capacity to manage the affairs of Uganda.
“The thugs who used to disturb you from Sudan and Congo are no more,†he said.
“The country is not like karata (playing cards) where anyone can take a gamble on,†Museveni said.
He added that the opposition candidates who are scrambling for presidency lack the ability to steer the country’s development.
Describing them collectively as unserious people, Museveni said: “Dr. Olara Otunnu played games during the 1985 peace talks in Nairobi; Norbert Mao has been begging the LRA leader, Joseph Kony, to end insurgency. Dr. Kizza Besigye once lied that 90% of the army had supported him, but then after two weeks, he was crying that the same army had arrested him.â€
Museveni said it was not accidental that Uganda had had a lot of regime changes, unlike its other neighbours.
“Uganda has had many political problems and confused interests and selfishness, but the NRM is the only party that has managed to provide leadership uninterrupted for 24 years,†he added.
Mainly clad in yellow T-shirts, supporters chanting “no change†and “paka last†jammed the venues, where Museveni called on new members who defected to the NRM, including MP Alex Onzima from Forum for Democratic Change, to cooperate with old supporters whom he said had kept the party safe.
“I would like to urge the old members of NRM in the district of Maracha and the new ones led by Hon. Alex Onzima to work closely together. NRM in Maracha is now very strong. The old ones should appreciate the new ones because they brought strength to the party. The new ones should also appreciate the old ones because they kept the house strong,†Museveni advised the people of Maracha district.
Hajji Badru Wegulo, hajji Nasser Ntege Sebagala and Henry Mayega, who have graced the campaign team for the last two weeks, continued to draw cheers as they were called to the podium.
Wegulo urged Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) supporters to follow him to the NRM.
“As we talk, UPC has no manifesto. There is nothing to offer to Ugandans. We cannot go on discussing national matters as if we are discussing about Manchester United and Arsenal, where after the match, you go and drink beer and eat. Leadership of a country is complex and it is only under President Museveni and the NRM that we can have sustained peace and development,†Wegulo said.
The President said Arua–Koboko-Oraba road and Koboko-Yumbe-Moyo-Adjumani-Atyak road would be tarmacked.
He said the Government would also construct district hospitals in Koboko and Maracha and houses for health workers and teachers.
Museveni promised that the Government would rehabilitate Logira Secondary School, as well as Nyai, Nyangilia, Nyarilo and St. Charles Lwanga secondary schools.
He promised to provide piped water for Ovujo and Okokoro trading centres and construct a fully-equipped district hospital at Nyadri.
Museveni said the Government would provide road equipment to all districts for the maintenance of roads, and that Nyagak Hydro plant would provide cheap electricity to West Nile region once its construction was completed.
In both rallies, the President enumerated the achievements of the NRM Government, citing improved enrollment in both primary and secondary schools, improved healthcare, especially through newly-constructed health centres up to parishes.
He told the supporters that effective next year, the Government would also pay fees for senior five and six students.
Museveni said because of many complaints over the distribution of the National Agricultural Advisory Services materials, the Government had changed the strategy. Under the new strategy, the smallest unit becomes the village. Previously, the smallest unit was the parish.
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has warned his supporters against violence during and after the campaign period.
“Politics is a game of words and not sticks,†Museveni said while launching the NRM women and youth campaign brigades at Nyadri Urban Secondary School in Maracha district on Saturday.
“Do not use violence. Use your tongues. When we call you brigades, it is not about war. Don’t use sticks. I want peaceful campaigns. Don’t attack people,†Museveni told his supporters.
Museveni, flanked by Sam Engola, the NRM northern Uganda vice-chairperson, ministers Fred Omach, Dorothy Hyuha and David Wakikona, had earlier addressed another rally at Koboko Secondary School ground in Koboko district, close to the border with the DR Congo.
Reminding voters of Uganda’s violent history, Museveni urged the people to vote for him and the party flag-bearers, saying it was only the NRM which had the capacity to manage the affairs of Uganda.
“The thugs who used to disturb you from Sudan and Congo are no more,†he said.
“The country is not like karata (playing cards) where anyone can take a gamble on,†Museveni said.
He added that the opposition candidates who are scrambling for presidency lack the ability to steer the country’s development.
Describing them collectively as unserious people, Museveni said: “Dr. Olara Otunnu played games during the 1985 peace talks in Nairobi; Norbert Mao has been begging the LRA leader, Joseph Kony, to end insurgency. Dr. Kizza Besigye once lied that 90% of the army had supported him, but then after two weeks, he was crying that the same army had arrested him.â€
Museveni said it was not accidental that Uganda had had a lot of regime changes, unlike its other neighbours.
“Uganda has had many political problems and confused interests and selfishness, but the NRM is the only party that has managed to provide leadership uninterrupted for 24 years,†he added.
Mainly clad in yellow T-shirts, supporters chanting “no change†and “paka last†jammed the venues, where Museveni called on new members who defected to the NRM, including MP Alex Onzima from Forum for Democratic Change, to cooperate with old supporters whom he said had kept the party safe.
“I would like to urge the old members of NRM in the district of Maracha and the new ones led by Hon. Alex Onzima to work closely together. NRM in Maracha is now very strong. The old ones should appreciate the new ones because they brought strength to the party. The new ones should also appreciate the old ones because they kept the house strong,†Museveni advised the people of Maracha district.
Hajji Badru Wegulo, hajji Nasser Ntege Sebagala and Henry Mayega, who have graced the campaign team for the last two weeks, continued to draw cheers as they were called to the podium.
Wegulo urged Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) supporters to follow him to the NRM.
“As we talk, UPC has no manifesto. There is nothing to offer to Ugandans. We cannot go on discussing national matters as if we are discussing about Manchester United and Arsenal, where after the match, you go and drink beer and eat. Leadership of a country is complex and it is only under President Museveni and the NRM that we can have sustained peace and development,†Wegulo said.
The President said Arua–Koboko-Oraba road and Koboko-Yumbe-Moyo-Adjumani-Atyak road would be tarmacked.
He said the Government would also construct district hospitals in Koboko and Maracha and houses for health workers and teachers.
Museveni promised that the Government would rehabilitate Logira Secondary School, as well as Nyai, Nyangilia, Nyarilo and St. Charles Lwanga secondary schools.
He promised to provide piped water for Ovujo and Okokoro trading centres and construct a fully-equipped district hospital at Nyadri.
Museveni said the Government would provide road equipment to all districts for the maintenance of roads, and that Nyagak Hydro plant would provide cheap electricity to West Nile region once its construction was completed.
In both rallies, the President enumerated the achievements of the NRM Government, citing improved enrollment in both primary and secondary schools, improved healthcare, especially through newly-constructed health centres up to parishes.
He told the supporters that effective next year, the Government would also pay fees for senior five and six students.
Museveni said because of many complaints over the distribution of the National Agricultural Advisory Services materials, the Government had changed the strategy. Under the new strategy, the smallest unit becomes the village. Previously, the smallest unit was the parish.