Rukungiri Killing Saddens Museveni

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has expressed sadness at the death of a man in the violence that engulfed Rukungiri town on Saturday. Alfred Wasike reports that Museveni also announced that tarmacking of the Ntungamo-Rukungiri-Ishasha road was to start soon. He said the Government had released sh10b for the job. Addressing campaign rallies in the newly-created district of Kanungu and in Rukungiri district on Sunday, Museveni blamed the violence on "the uncivilised activities of Dr Kizza Besigye's supporters." Museveni was speaking at the opening of Nyakagyeme Health Centre and was accompanied by his wife Janet. "I thank the people of Rukungiri for completely shunning the anti-development behaviour of candidate Kizza Besigye and his backer Sebaggala. "The people of Rukungiri and those of eastern Uganda have resisted attempts by candidates Besigye and Aggrey Awori to divide the Movement," he told the rallies. He hailed Kanungu, Rukungiri and Kigezi for supporting the "continuation of peace, stability and development and advised them to reject presidential candidates who are bent on weakening the Movement, causing hatred and divisions among the people." He said the Ntungamo-Rukungiri-Ishasha road would be tarmacked "very soon" since the contract for the job had been signed. The audiences chanted, "No change," Museveni's press secretary Hope Kivengere said in a statement yesterday. He congratulated the people of Kanungu on achieving district status. The elections will be held on March 12. A total of six candidates are competing. Ends