We agreed on Mengo issues - Museveni

By Henry Mukasa and Alfred Wasike
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has said Mengo’s demands were solved during talks with the Government and through the Constitutional Amendment Bill that established a regional tier.
Museveni described as “lies” talk by Mengo officials and loyalists that Buganda got a raw deal from the talks.
He also attacked DP presidential candidate, John Ssebaana, as trying “to reap where he didn’t sow.”
“We fought the killers and gave back power to the people. That’s why Ssebaana is going to Gulu where he has not been before to look for votes. Who gave him that liberty? The Movement,” Museveni said.
Museveni, the NRM presidential candidate, cited Mengo demands as one of the three key issues the opposition is using to de-campaign his party.
The others, he said, were the arrest of FDC leader Col. Kizza Besigye and Uganda’s invasion of DR Congo to rout rebels.
“The opposition is riding on Mengo issues. Those issues were resolved. We shall go on radio and explain them. They are detailed. It’s not propaganda,” Museveni said.
Museveni was yesterday addressing a rally at Mengo Senior School football pitch in Lubaga Division.
On his way to the venue, Museveni stopped over at Nakulabye trading centre and promised to resolve the poor status of the market.
As he talked, someone shouted, “We want our Katikkiro.” Museveni replied, “The Katikkiro issue is a long story. I will talk about it later.”
The Katikkiro, Joseph Ssemwogerere, together with his cabinet resigned on Christmas eve. Sources said they were forced to resign over the controversial agreement reached with the Government on establishing a regional government headed by a directly-elected Katikkiro.
Museveni said he would explain what transpired during the talks and the provisions of the 1900 and 1955 agreements. He said the Movement dethroned killers and returned power to the people and that’s why Buganda repossessed what dictators had usurped from it.
“Mengo is going to get back power that had been grabbed by Obote. But there are certain things I hear them say. They are lying,” Museveni said.
“Mengo would not have been restored if the Movement didn’t shed blood and sweat to liberate the country from killers. The Kabaka was crowned because of our blood and sweat of the Movement. They are making accusations but we shall hit back soon,” he added.
In the afternoon, Museveni addressed a rally at Kitebi Primary School. On his way, he garnered a massive welcome. Cheering fans, enthusiastic bodaboda motorcyclists and honking drivers leading the way slowed down his convoy to snail speed. He spent two hours from Mengo to Kitebi.
His wife Janet, atop a military jeep and standing next to her husband, said, “Vote for my husband because he is the best and committed to building our nation.” Quoting the Bible, Janet said of the opposition, “They have been weighed and found wanting.”
Museveni said he had directed the Prime Minister, Prof. Apolo Nsibambi, to have the law urban authorities use to levy unscrupulous taxes amended within two weeks. He laughed off calls by the opposition that “Museveni agenda (is leaving power).” “Going where?” he asked. “I will go at the right time.” He said he wasn’t looking for a job because, “I am rich.”
“You want the person who chased away killers to go? You want revolutionaries to go and the cowards to stay. You want the valuable visionary to go and the useless to take over?”
Ends