Besigye is killing Uganda's opposition institution - Nasasira

ICT Minister Eng.John Nasasira has blasted Uganda's main opposition leader Dr.Kizza Besigye for diverting from the democratic and constitutional path and advised him to find a way of amending the constitution if he is not happy with it.

Nasasira said Besigye has killed theopposition by not accepting facts and is not helping it (opposition) to strengthen and grow because he has concentrated on claims that he won and refused to recognize those who defeated him.

His message to Besigye is that being in opposition doesn't mean they are not part of government.

"Besigye is killing the building of the institution of opposition in Uganda and opposition doesn't mean FDC or what. Even a party in power can lose an election and be the opposition," said Nasasira.

He made the comments at a ceremony he organized to bid farewell to his constituency.

At the event, he handed over instruments of power to his successor Goron Bafaki in front of scores of leaders who turned up from the different sub-counties of Kazo to witness the unique function.

"I can't see why he [Besigye] thinks he should have won the presidential elections when his party could only front 34 members of parliament out of 418. How?" wondered Nasasira.

"NRM won about 84 LC5 chairpersons. If you go to LC3s it is the same, so how do you think people will vote for you [Besigye] when it comes to the presidency and you win?"

The minister said that all opinion polls ahead of the February 18 presidential polls gave NRM flagbearer President Yoweri Museveni victory.

"If you continue singing ‘we want demonstration' then you are causing unnecessary commotion in the country which is not called for, and that's being irresponsible as a leader."

On the same day, Nasasira also unveiled his new plan of tranforming Kazo by introducing the Kazo and Nasasira Foundation (KAN Foundation) in recognition of his bonding with the people of Kazo over the last 27 years.

The foundation, he said, will help to improve household incomes, address water challenges and improve e-learning.

To start off the foundation, Nasasira committed one third of his pension - equivalent to sh100million - as the seed fund. He hopes "the seed will grow into a big tree that will produce thousands of fruits".

Nasasira also awarded certificates to leaders and the people of Kazo who supported him during his time in charge. Several gifts including cows were given to him in recognition of his contribution towards the development of the area.

The people of Kazo first elected Nasasira to represent them in Parliament in 1989. They elected him in the parliamentary elections that followed in 1996, 2001, 2006 and 2011 with landslide victories.

In July 2015, Nasasira informed his voters that he was not offering himself for re-election, saying he would retire as their MP when his term of office ends in May this year.

"I am eternally gratefully to the people of Kazo for their love and support during this period. I am honored as a member of parliament and a minister in government to have made my humble contribution to this development, especiaally in Kazo County which will soon become a district," said Nasasira.

Meanwhile, Charles Gumisiriza, the LCI chairman of Byeshembe cell, thanked Nasasira for creating unity among the people of Kazo.

Formerly, the area was characterised by disunity based on petty non-idelogical lines of ethnicity, religion, economic status as well as past political affiliations.

Nasasira's successor, Gordon Bafaki, thanked him for developing and improving the health sector in the district and pledged to sustain all his achievements.

Shillah Mwine, the district woman MP elect and former district education officer (DEO), said they would keep remembering Nasasira for his time dedicated to develop the standard of education in Kazo and Kiruhura district.

Other speakers praised Nasasiraa for improving roads and bridges in the district most especially tarmacking the Nyakahita-Kazo-Ibanda road. They also commended him for supporting development of religious institutions and raising people's incomes.