We Shall Rule On, Says Kigongo

Hajji Moses Kigongo, the Movement vice-chairman, has said leaders of the Movement, including himself and Yoweri Museveni, the chairman, would remain Movement leaders even if another candidate wins the presidential elections, reports Kezio Musoke. Speaking in Luganda at a rally at Owino Market in Kampala yesterday, Kigongo illustrated his point with a proverb that a leader of a clan always stays the leader. He said when a clan leader competes with his son and his son wins the race, the former remains the clan leader. "You people should know that even if Besigye wins, the president will remain the leader of the Movement and I will also remain the vice-chairman of the Movement," Kigongo said. He said those in other Movement camps bidding for the presidency of Uganda were like sons of President Museveni, whose victory would not change the Movement leadership. Kigongo criticised Ken Lukyamuzi, the Rubaga South MP, saying it was through the Movement leadership that he was able to wed. He said he was disappointed with some Mengo ministers campaigning for presidential candidate Col. Kizza Besigye. "I am disappointed with these ministers of Buganda who claim the President gave them nothing," he said. "I am ashamed because I am a Muganda and they use Buganda for their politicking, but I am sure they will come back to the Movement. We in the Movement welcome any one who goes astray," he said. Kigongo condemned the election violence and asked Museveni's supporters to keep calm. He criticised Besigye for ordering his supporters to boycott some newspapers. "President Museveni has been abused, drawn in cartoons and even on FM radio stations. There is a lot of ill- talk about him, how many times has he condemned these radios?" Kigongo asked. Are we the ones who make these opinion polls in the papers which rate that our candidate is winning, why is Besigye so angry with us?" he asked. Ends