Wapa to write 2001 Museveni manifesto

By Alfred Wasike PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has appointed a five-member committee to draw up his February 2001 presidential election campaign manifesto. The last polls were held in 1996. The Minister for the Presidency, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, yesterday said the team is to be led by National Political Commissar James Wapakhabulo, who is also the MP for Mbale municipality. Rugunda said, "It is true the President has appointed the team going to draft his presidential election manifesto. "The other members are Mr. Amanya Mushega (public service minister), Mrs. Betty Akech (the Minister of State for Higher Education), the President's Private Secretary for Political Affairs, Moses Byaruhanga, and a deputy director in the NPC's office, Henry Masiko." When asked, Wapakhabulo said, "Yes, we are going to make the manifesto. Let people wait and see. Our manifesto is going to be a unique one." A sources within the manifesto drafting committee said, "We have already started our work. The manifesto will highlight some of our achievements in education, health and other areas since the last presidential elections in 1996." "For example, the introduction of the Universal Primary Education (UPE) programme as a result of our 1996 manifesto has shot enrolment of children from 2.6 million to 6.8 million. Since UPE started, more than sh100b has been spent on construction of classrooms," the source said. The sources said the number of teachers had risen from 81,564 in 1996 to 117,452 to date. "In 1999/2000, We spent sh43.4b and in 2000/2001 we plan to spend sh50b. Out of 12,531 classrooms constructed, 8,746 have been constructed under direct Government funding while 3,785 have been built using donor support," the sources said. "Since the last elections, the number of universities and tertiary institutions has also risen from only Makerere. Now we have Nkumba University, Uganda Christian University, Busoga University, Namasagali University, Bugema University, Ndejje University, Aga Khan University Campus, Kabale International School of Medicine, Martyrs University Nkozi, Gulu University of Agriculture and Enviromental Science and others", the sources said. Ends