Kazibwe's AU bid: 'Job not about our political parties'

Jul 18, 2016

Ugandan politician Winfred Kiiza insists the AU job is "about our country".

Today, African heads of state are due to elect the next chairperson of AU commission.

Last week, Uganda's leading opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) was understood to have okayed spending sh3b to market Dr. Specioza Wandera Kazibwe, fronted by the East African region.

Winfred Kiiza, the Leader of Opposition in Parliament said Kazibwe was being fronted by Uganda and therefore it should facilitate her campaigns.

"As a candidate, Kazibwe has to solicit for votes, just as we also do in our constituencies. And I don't see any contradiction for the country to fund her campaigns," Kiiza had said.

In an interview with Saturday Vision, Kiiza said that other candidates vying for the same job were better facilitated than Kazibwe.

"The candidate for Botswana was provided with two planes, for campaigns. But ours is buying air tickets to go and campaign.

Kazibwe, a former Vice President of Uganda, is competing against Agapito Mba Mokuy, Equatorial Guinea's foreign affairs minister and Dr. Pelomi Venson-Moitoi, the foreign affairs minister for Botswana.

Kiiza's remarks had followed some complaints raised by a section of the opposition elements, who were complaining about spending billions on one individual.

Appearing on a local radio station last week, Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago tasked Government to explain how citizens will benefit when Kazibwe becomes the next AU commission boss.

"The country injected billions in her to go and study her PhD but no tangible results are seen. When Sam Kutesa became UN president, did it change the lives of people of Sembabule district, his constituency?" he asked.

But Kiiza explained that FDC supporting Kazibwe, a member of the NRM party, does not mean the ruling party is performing well.

"I want Ugandans to know that this job is about Uganda, it's not about our political parties. It's above FDC, NRM and Kazibwe as a person, it's about our country.  Even when we are at functions, we sing the national anthem, meaning that we believe in our country first, and then our parties come next," she explained.

Kiiza was also critical of President Yoweri Museveni over not supporting Olara Otunnu, the former UPC leader, when he wanted to contest for the UN secretary generalship job.

"Uganda did not give support to him to raise the flag high. And we were annoyed because Museveni did not support him. I would not want to complain again."

 

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