Museveni should be East African President, says Kenya's Kalonzo Musyoka

Kalonzo Musyoka (centre) at UTAMU's graduation ceremony in Kampala

MUSEVENI|EAC

Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, the Wiper Party leader and National Super Alliance (NASA) presidential running-mate in Kenya, is rooting for President Yoweri Museveni to be named East Africa's first President.

"I have always thought that Ugandans should not start torturing Mzee (President Yoweri Museveni). He should be the first President of East Africa," he said. 

Kalonzo who is the chancellor of Uganda Technology and Management University (UTAMU) added that, "He (Museveni) has passion and a strong spirit for the East Africa region."

Kalonzo, who was in the country on Friday, officiating at the graduation in Kampala asked Ugandans to treat President Museveni well since he deserves to head the region. 

The university extended Kalonzo's chancellorship for another four years. He has been the university's chancellor since 2013. 

A total of 250 students graduated on Friday, at this university, with bachelor's, masters and post-graduate degrees. This was its third graduation. It has been in operation for the last five years.

With East African countries on course of full integration under the political integration, it is  planned that there will be one President for the region. 

The East African Community (EAC) is the regional intergovernmental organisation of the republics of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan, Burundi and Rwanda; with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.

Kalonzo, in his message to the graduands said, "If you want to change the world; somebody sent me the following clip; ¬----begin by making up your bed, because you must by now have realised that little things matter and if you cannot fix the little things, then, you will find it almost impossible to change the bigger things".

Kalonzo added that, "As you delve deep into the world, you will find that there are sharks in the world, if a shark circles your position, stand your ground, if you want to change the world, do not back away from the sharks. Punch them in the snout and they will turn and swim away."

He added that in life, you will come face to face with all sorts of people, black, yellow, white, tall, short. "Pease remember as you deal with them that appearances can be misleading. If you want to change the world, measure each person by the size of their heart and not the colour of their skin, sex or race."

Meanwhile, the vice-chancellor, Prof. Benon Basheka, during the graduation said the students who were being released into the job sector had been nurtured into scientists, technologists and innovators to transform and create new knowledge in the industry.

"It is also clear from the number of graduands today and areas of specialisation that in just a period of five years, UTAMU has moved from its infancy and has reached its maturity level. It is moving steadily in the right direction," Prof. Basheka noted.