Museveni Withholds His Vote

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni yesterday visited his village polling station at Nshwerenkye in Nyabushozi, Mbarara district but did not vote, writes Felix Osike. A statement from Museveni's press secretary, Hope Kivengere, said Museveni thanked the voters for exercising their right to select candidates of their choice. The four candidates for the Nyabushozi seat are Mary Mugyenyi, Dr. David Kamukama, Lt. Col. Fred Mwesigye and David Musiime. Museveni told voters that he did not take sides because all the Nyabushozi candidates were Movement supporters. "He pointed out to the voters whom he found at Kaaro Secondary School where voting was taking place that as chairman of the National Resistance Movement, it was not in order for him to take sides in the political struggle between the four parliamentary candidates for Nyabushozi constituency," the statement said. Museveni's daughter Patience Kokundeka, cast her vote at the same polling centre. Another daughter present at the polling station, Diana Kyaremeera, did not vote because she did not register. Kivengere told The New Vision that Museveni's presence at the polling centre was to reinforce the importance of the elections. "If he didn't go people would speculate that he doesn't care about the whole process," she said. Ends