Muntu tells NRM to get new leader

Mar 14, 2005

The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) head of mobilisation, Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Mugisha Muntu, has advised the NRM to seek another candidate for the forthcoming presidential elections.

By Raymond Baguma
and Caleb Bahikaho

The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) head of mobilisation, Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Mugisha Muntu, has advised the NRM to seek another candidate for the forthcoming presidential elections.

President Yoweri Museveni is the interim chairman of the NRM organisation.
“If NRM party fields a different candidate and not Museveni in 2006, the elections will be free and fair. But if Museveni decides to stand, we shall go to the mosques and churches to pray to God for our country,” he said.

Muntu, who was addressing FDC supporters at the opening of the party offices in Rukungiri district on Saturday, asked Museveni to respect his 2001 presidential campaign manifesto and step down if he loves his country.

“Museveni wrote it four times in his 2001 election manifesto that this was his last term of presidency. He was not under duress or put at gunpoint when he wrote it. What wrong did we do when we told him to get a successor? We fought alongside him and we did not deny him,” Muntu said.

He added, “People are saying ‘let us give Museveni a third term.’ But we have asked him, ‘What do you want for yourself?’ Those wearing essanja are putting Museveni to shame. The late Tanzanian president, Julius Nyerere, ruled for 27 years but when he was requested to extend his presidential term by five years, he refused saying what he had not done in 27 years, he could not accomplish in five years.”

Muntu said there would be no political upheavals in post-2006 Uganda, if Museveni left power with ‘a good heart’.

Muntu said several people including himself had been branded failures by the President because they did not steal public funds. He said the Government was arresting FDC supporters to create fear among them.

“When we speak the truth, they say we have abused them. Power has gotten into their heads and they have forgotten what they went through during the NRA armed struggle.
“They should look into the issues we are talking about and see if we are telling lies. We do not want to use the gun because wars are not a tea party,” he said.

Muntu, who is also a member of the EAC parliament, said the third term issue had created political uncertainty in the country and discouraged investors and compounded the problem of unemployment.

“Investors think of security and are running to Tanzania because security does not lie in one person, but in the nation.

Another promoter Augustine Ruzindana said FDC was formed because the Movement leadership could no longer be advised.

“As FDC, we are a national party and draw our members from all regions of the country. Ugandans want change and we want to show them that it is we who can bring the change,” Ruzindana said.
Ends

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