Kibirige Mayanja launches manifesto

BY Richard Mutumba PRESIDENTIAL candidate Muhammad Kibirige Mayanja yesterday launched his campaign manifesto, with a promise to return multiparty democracy and disband the Movement. "Part of the problem in Uganda's governance is the lack of structures that encourage and ensure a free atmosphere for democratic and informed participation in nation building," Kibirige told supporters at the International Conference Centre in Kampala. He said over the past 15 years, there has been a systematic attempt to destroy the roots of political pluralism and cage Ugandans in an amorphous and monolithic organisation called the Movement. "We shall continue to object to this as a violation of the fundamental human right of freedom of association," Kibirige told his supporters. "I am committed to multiparty democracy as a principle and will never deviate from it. My government will therefore amend the Constitution to remove article 269, repeal the Movement Act 1997 and disband the Movement secretariat," he said. He said his 24-page manifesto will also set up a constitutional review commission to address contentious issues such as federalism, land and the cultural institutions. Kibirige said his government will address the problem of too much power at the centre. "We propose to divide Uganda into semi- autonomous federal units of various sizes and degree of autonomy," he added. He said he will directly negotiate with the different rebel groups and integrate them into the UPDF. He also promised to restructure Parliament to ensure effective representation. In addition, he said interest groups will be represented up to 20%. He said these will include the women, youth, the disabled and the major religions in Uganda. On the economy, Kibirige said he would emphasise macro stabilisation, agriculture and rural development, business, industrialisation and employment creation. Ends.