Campaigns a waste of time - Bukenya

By Jeff Andrew Lule

THE NRM flag-bearer in the Busiro North by-election, former Vice-President Prof. Gilbert Bukenya, has said he has no reason to hold public rallies like other candidates. 

Bukenya said campaigns were a waste of people’s time.

“People should concentrate on their activities and wait for the voting day. I do not need to campaign. What for? I am not new to the people. They know the right candidate,” he argued.

Prof. Bukenya was speaking at a birthday party for Margaret Namuyimbo, a midwife at Wakiso Health Centre in Kakiri town.

He said campaigns would distract people’s concentrating from farming and business.

“I have always advocated for household incomes in the area. If I hold campaigns, I will be unfair to my people,” he stressed.

Bukenya noted that his campaigns were concluded in the past months, adding that the people already know his agenda.

“Those who think I am worthy will not vote for me, but those who think I am not will vote for others. It is the vote to decide,” he said.

Bukenya said some candidates were unfairly using his name to get votes.

He called for unity among the people, saying they should not be divided by politics.

Prof. Bukenya urged the people to vote for leaders who can change their lives through service delivery.

Bukenya, who is also the NRM chairman for Buganda region, said many politicians had failed to retain their seats because they do not deliver.

He was optimistic he would win the race.

He also noted that Ugandans need to develop a culture of recognising people who have worked for this country when they are still alive.

“This country should change in the way they do things. We need to recognise our people at all levels when they are still alive, not when they are dead because it adds no value. Why thank a person for his good works when he is already gone?” he asked.

Busiro North seat fell vacant after the High Court nullified the election of Prof. Bukenya on October 6, due to electoral malpractices in the February 2011 elections.

Byelections for the seat will be held on December 1.

Other contestants in the race are Kasta Hussein Bukenya (DP), Teopista Kanzara Baliluno and Henry Kiwuuwa (both independents).

 The DP delegation led by the party’s secretary general, Mathias Nsubuga, also campaigned for their candidate Kasta Bukenya in Masuulita sub-county on Wednesday.

Nsubuga said they want to promote agriculture and create market for the produce to fight unemployment.

He said the area needed a change in leadership, because Prof. Bukenya had failed to improve the area despite his  former position as Vice-President.

But a section of the gathering booed Nsubuga, saying they were contented with Prof. Bukenya.

Nsubuga was accompanied by MPs Joseph Sewungu (Kalungu East), and Mohammad Kawuma (Entebbe Municipality).

On Wednesday, Kanzara joined her campaign team in Kakiri town after being discharged from hospital where she had been admitted for the last five days. 

Kanzara promised to unite the people of Busiro who, she said had been divided by Prof. Bukenya.

Kiwuuwa conducted door-to-door campaigns in Namayumba sub-county and promised improved education and health services to the people in the area.