Museveni takes aim at NRM secretariat

President Yoweri Museveni on Tuesday canvassed support for the NRM flag bearer, James Kidega, for the slot of Member of Parliament for Aruu North Constituency in the upcoming by-elections slated for Thursday.

The by-election is a result of the seat falling vacant following the nullification of the election of Lucy Aciro who was accused of election malpractices.

The President was addressing a rally held at Pajule Primary School grounds in Aruu North Constituency, Pader district, where he criticized the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party secretariat for not doing enough to sensitize people on government projects that are being implemented.

Museveni said the secretariat should go to the people in the villages and explain to them what government is doing so that they understand.

He said this has created a gap where the opposition parties have capitalized to mislead people that government is not doing enough.

The President noted that NRM implements projects according to the drawn plan where each project is implemented one at a time, which the opposition does not want.

He encouraged the constituents of the area to vote for NRM because it has brought peace in the region by fighting Kony and for fighting against cattle rustling which had been a big problem since the time of colonialism.

Museveni added that it was only the NRM government that has been able to remove over 40,000 guns from the cattle rustlers.

"When we spend money on the Army, it is not that we are wasting money," he said.

He reminded the people that of Aruu North Constituency that it is a known fact that it is the NRM government that brought electricity from Lira to Kitgum on to Pader districts, adding that it is this electricity that has attracted investors to the region which has led to the establishment of factories.

Museveni went ahead to inform the people that it is his government that fought against nodding disease.

"Others were telling you lies that the disease was got from the camp food that you ate...we have treated the infection and we are still spraying the black flies," remarked the President.

He told the people of the area that 80% of the diseases could be prevented if the parents take their children for immunization and practice good hygiene.

On the issue of education, the Museveni expressed happiness to note that all parishes in Pader district have government primary schools and that as far as the NRM plan was concerned, the target had been achieved.

He also reiterated that the district has 19 government secondary schools.

Turning to the issue of development, the President informed wananchi of the big projects of road construction that the government has already done without any external borrowing.

He said government had constructed the Oluyo-Goma-Atanga-Kitgum road up to South Sudan and gave assurances that government is going to tarmac the Rwenkunyu-Masindi Port-Apac-Lira-Pajule-Acholi-Bur road.

"It is these good roads that have helped in the easier movement of products and services," he said.

Museveni called on the people to vote for James Kidega and always prioritize in their day-to-day activities like the NRM does.