TDA lacks wisdom - Bukenya

By Charles Etukuri

 

POLICE and the military have heighted former Vice President Gilbert Bukenya’s security, after he announced that he would support President Yoweri Museveni’s bid for presidency in 2016 elections.

 

Bukenya who on Friday declared his support for Museveni has also defended his move saying he wasn’t convinced The Democratic Alliance had solutions to the country’s problems.

 

Armed military officers were deployed to guard Bukenya both at his Kakiri home and also at his home in Entebbe. At Kakiri, 8 armed military officers could be seen manning Bukenya’s home while others were at the gate subjecting all those who entered to a thorough check up. 

 

Several tents had also been set up near the gate to accommodate the security personnel.

 

A security source on Tuesday told New Vision that Bukenya’s security was increased after they received reports that he had become a target following his announcement that he had quit The Democratic Alliance (TDA) coalition.

 

Bukenya announced he would support Museveni because he was so far still the best candidate. He also said he decided to support Museveni because the opposition lacked transparency.

 

A security officer at former VP’s home said they had been assigned to guard him from Friday.

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A security guard stands guard outside Bukenya's house in Kakiri. Photo by Rogers Kibirige

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Kakiri residents line up for food at Prof. Bukenya's home. Photo by Rogers Kibirige

The Head of the VIP Protection Unit Vincent Kassirabo said he was not aware of the increased security deployment at Bukenya’s home but admitted that Police was still guarding him. 

 

“We are guarding him and I cannot tell you how many officers are attached to him because you will compromise my security,” Kassirabo said.

 

However a source told New Vision that they had received a directive to deploy additional military personnel at Bukenya’s home. The source also further said that they would start monitoring Bukenya’s movements and offer protection wherever he went.

 

Bukenya on Tuesday also defended his decision to quit the TDA and support Museveni saying he had the right to support candidate of his choice. 

 

Addressing his supporters at his home in Kakiri Wakiso, Bukenya maintained that he had not joined the National Resistance Movement (NRM) but would support Museveni as a presidential candidate.

 

“I did not take any money like many of my adversaries have said. I left The Democratic Alliance (TDA) because none of the members there was willing to answer my questions. I had gone to TDA to look for wisdom. Unfortunately, I did not find any as most of the members had selfish interests,” he said.

 

Bukenya, under his Pressure for National Unity (PNU), was among the four candidates who were shortlisted to lead the TDA. Others included Norbert Mao (DP), Amama Mbabazi (Go Forward) and Kizza Besigye (Forum for Democratic Change).

 

Bukenya said neither Besigye nor Mbabazi gave him convincing answers on how best they would overcome challenges such as poverty, land wrangles and youth unemployment.

 

Bukenya said that when he failed to get the answers, he became demoralized. He admitted meeting President Museveni but said that because he feared the contents of the discussion would leak, he insisted they meet in a car.

 

“I did not want the media to get wind of the discussions we had,” Bukenya said.

 

Bukenya said that Museveni made promises to him on how he would fight poverty and land issues especially those in Buganda.  Bukenya added that it was only after he was convinced that he expressed his support.