Presidential campaigns now issue based

Nov 13, 2015

Possibly more than ever before in the political history of Uganda, the presidential contest is increasingly becoming issues based with many candidates making radical pledges

By Moses Mulondo

Possibly more than ever before in the political history of Uganda, the presidential contest is increasingly becoming issues based with many candidates making radical pledges.

 
Going by the observation made by various political analysts that the 2016 presidential race is a three-horse race among Yoweri Museveni, Amama Mbabazi, and Dr. Kizza Besigye, we bring you an overview of some of the specific and easily quantifiable promises the three major contenders have made.

A political campaign is like going to a market where buyers are always inclined to buying from sellers who offer them the best deal.
 
As if the NRM presidential candidate Yoweri Museveni foresaw that 2016 would predominantly be issues based contest, he swiftly launched his manifesto last week during the same week he and other candidates had been duly nominated by the Electoral Commission.
 
But it is the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) flag bearer Dr. Kizza Besigye has taken the lead in making radical pledges which will inevitably compel other candidates to make similar pledges to counter him.
 
After Vision Group media platforms setting the pace in influencing a presidential contest anchored on the wishes of the citizens through the peoples manifesto project, many other media houses have joined the cause of ensuring that presidential candidates suggest solutions to the problems and concerns of the voters.

Perhaps aware that majority of the voters for the forthcoming elections are young people, Dr. Kizza Besigye has pledged to give a free computer to each secondary school student if elected the next President of Uganda.

He said this would cost government $300m (sh1.8trillion) which would be 7.5% of the sh24trillion budget for the current financial year.
  
He has also repeatedly promised that he would immediately increase salaries for teachers, police officers, soldiers, medical workers, and all other public servants so that they can have a decent living.

Besigye, who is contesting for presidency for the fourth time, has also pledged to pay each elderly person an upkeep allowance of sh50, 000 every month.

He has also promised radical measures of reducing the cost of public administration which include reducing the state house budget, reducing presidential advisors and ministers from the current 80 to only 20.

Among other pledges, President Museveni has promised to increase the annual budget allocated to NAADS from the current sh200b to sh1000b.

Considering the sh24trillion budget for the current year, 1000b/sh1trillion is just 4.1% of the total budget, which is still below the 10% to which African governments were committed to in the 2003 Maputo protocol.
 
He has also promised to invest more money in agro processing, increase the microfinance budget to create more credit for small-scale businesses, widen the Youth Livelihood Fund to create 280,000 jobs.
 
The NRM leader has also pledged to improve household incomes so that on average each household earns sh25m annually, compensate the people in the north who lost properties during the war, and set up phosphates and fertilizers processing plants in Tororo.

Other easily quantifiable promises are establishing innovation centers, Soroti University, and setting up business centres in Jinja, Gulu, Mbarara, Kabale, Hoima and Arua.

Probably reluctantly and carefully responding to pressure from Buganda DP leaders who are backing him, Mbabazi has promised to re-open discussions with the Buganda kingdom on the return of their properties and federalism.

In many press conferences and interviews Mbabazi has repeatedly given an ambiguous and non-committal answer on the question of federalism.
 
This is perhaps why the DP Buganda leader Betty Nambooze refused to back him until he has formally and in writing committed himself to Buganda’s interests like federalism.

   
Mbabazi has pledged to distribute free geometry sets to primary pupils, reduce the size of government to reduce the high cost of public administration, create jobs for the youth by introducing a law that compels foreign companies to predominantly employ Uganda nationals, end police brutality within 100 days, and to end the death of 19 women who die every day while giving birth.
   
The Go Forward leader’s other specific promises are abolishing all direct taxes charged on Ugandans, ending corruption, increase the budget for the education and health sectors,  and increasing salaries for all public servants.
   
It should however be noted that unlike Museveni, Mbabazi and Besigye have not yet unveiled their manifestos. Mbabazi is set to launch his manifesto tomorrow (Saturday).
   
In the 2001 presidential race, Ugandans who were tired of the burden of graduated tax jubilated when government abolished it after Dr. Kizza Besigye had pledged to scrap it.
   
Veteran politician Israel Mayengo said, “From what I have observed, the campaign is largely issues based and I am sure at the end of the campaigns, the pledges from all candidates will be uniform and the choice of the best candidate will majorly depend on other factors.”
   
The former Mengo minister advised voters to ask candidates questions, be more critical and careful as they listen to the promises the candidates are making.
   
“For instance, when Mbabazi was in Masaka, he promised to re-open discussions on the return of federalism but some excited people quickly concluded that he had promised Buganda federalism,” he elaborated.
       
Former minister Prof. Edward Kakonge said, “I agree that these campaigns are greatly issues based but unfortunately Museveni is minimally talking about issues of concern to voters and largely focusing on the political past and attacking his competitors. He has promised industries to Luweero, Nakaseke, Nakasongola and the northern region. He has been making the same promise of industrialization for the last 29 years but he has failed in that area.”
   
Security minister and NRM spokesperson Mary Karooro said, “It is true the campaign is issues issued but some of them are making unrealistic promises like when Mbabazi promises to abolish taxes and raise revenue through other means. There is no country in world where citizens are not taxed.”
   
On the criticism that Museveni dwells so much in the past, Karooro said, “Of course the past is very important. NRM has been on a sure path of progress. Our candidate is promising so many new things like hospitals and industries. Those criticizing him have nothing to say.”
 

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