Museveni Campaigns In Lira Municipality

By Ali Mao and Martin Ekanya PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has advised Lira residents to vote for Sam Engola because Cecilia Ogwal had been blocking the Langi from embracing the Movement governance. He said for the last 15 years, Ogwal has been discouraging the people of Lango from supporting the National Resistance Movement (NRM). Museveni was on Saturday addressing a rally at Coronation Park in Lira Municipality. He was in the north to drum up support for the Movement candidates. "You should remember that 15 years is a long time in one's life. Even if the people of Lango do not support the NRM government it will not stop NRM from being in government because the Constitution has spelt it out clearly," Museveni said. He said in the 1996 elections, Ogwal told the Langi not to vote for him but he won with 75% countrywide. The President urged people to ignore Ogwal and vote for Engola, whom he said would deliver the cake to the grassroots. "I am advising you to drop Ogwal. She is prospering in the Movement because of you people and again she tells you not to vote for a Movement candidate," he said. Museveni came a day after former presidential candidate, Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye and former Kampala Mayor Nasser Sebaggala were in the district to campaign for multiparty candidates. Museveni addressed a mammoth crowd at about 5:30pm on his way from Pader district, where he campaigned for state minister for Education and Sport, Alfred Omwony Ogaba and the incumbent member of Parliament for Agago county, Owiny Dollo. The President charged amidst ululation from the crowd that Ogwal was a liar and a selfish woman, who cannot deliver and unite the people of Lango. He said Ogwal and others caused confusion in the Movement. Museveni, said Engola could work well with the Government to bring development in Lira Municipality. He likened Engola to a hallow ajono straw that could drink beer from agwata (calabash) without any problem. "You have nice beer but the straw is blocked, why don't you get a hallow straw so that you drink well for these five years?" he asked. Museveni floated Movement candidates to be voted to Parliament including Angelo Okello for Moroto, Rev. Ongora Atwai for Kole and Felix Okot Ogong for Dokolo counties. Ends