Northern Uganda should not worry
May 11, 2006
THE storm caused by the recent elections is over. But I was disturbed by comments on some FM radios that northern Uganda will have to suffer for the next five years because they did not vote for NRM. Such assertions are not scientific and developmental.
Simon Ejua
THE storm caused by the recent elections is over. But I was disturbed by comments on some FM radios that northern Uganda will have to suffer for the next five years because they did not vote for NRM. Such assertions are not scientific and developmental.
The newspapers have also joined in by speculating the Cabinet lineup for the next government and in the process the North is portrayed as an area that will be left out, whereas not.
The results in northern Uganda clearly showed that the elections were free and fair. One would claim that Kizza Besigye rigged elections in northern Uganda where as not. In the same way, President Museveni did not have to rig to win in other regions. There were many reasons why northern Uganda voted the way they did. For example, most NRM incumbents had little time to campaigns as they were too busy on government work, parliamentary duties, studies and other assignments. Secondly people were not sensitised about what government had done through programmes such as PMA, NAADS and NUSAF.
There was also political disunity among NRM leaders, probably because of the individual merit hangover. The issue of promoting the youth was ignored. This is why FDC, which lacked flag bearers, easily wooed disgruntled youth and saw them win. These include Akbar Godi (25 year-old student) for Arua Municipality and Hassan Fungaroo for Obongi County. But this is not a sustainable project for FDC. The future will prove me right as NRM has solutions.
Peddling lies against NRM candidates, especially President Museveni, by the opposition also cost us many votes. It is not true that people in the north still yearn for the days of Amin, Obote and Tito Okello and want their family members or close associates to rule them. If that was the case then Okello Oryem would not have failed, Taban Amin would not have been assaulted in Arua during the campaigns and Miria Obote would have beaten Kizza Besigye in the north. Things are different.
I was elected on NRM ticket. Was this not in northern Uganda? Northern Uganda voters contributed to the final NRM victory and the election of President Yoweri Museveni. We love NRM and President Museveni and he too loves us. NRM will develop the whole country, including the north.
The writer is the new
MP for Vura County
THE storm caused by the recent elections is over. But I was disturbed by comments on some FM radios that northern Uganda will have to suffer for the next five years because they did not vote for NRM. Such assertions are not scientific and developmental.
The newspapers have also joined in by speculating the Cabinet lineup for the next government and in the process the North is portrayed as an area that will be left out, whereas not.
The results in northern Uganda clearly showed that the elections were free and fair. One would claim that Kizza Besigye rigged elections in northern Uganda where as not. In the same way, President Museveni did not have to rig to win in other regions. There were many reasons why northern Uganda voted the way they did. For example, most NRM incumbents had little time to campaigns as they were too busy on government work, parliamentary duties, studies and other assignments. Secondly people were not sensitised about what government had done through programmes such as PMA, NAADS and NUSAF.
There was also political disunity among NRM leaders, probably because of the individual merit hangover. The issue of promoting the youth was ignored. This is why FDC, which lacked flag bearers, easily wooed disgruntled youth and saw them win. These include Akbar Godi (25 year-old student) for Arua Municipality and Hassan Fungaroo for Obongi County. But this is not a sustainable project for FDC. The future will prove me right as NRM has solutions.
Peddling lies against NRM candidates, especially President Museveni, by the opposition also cost us many votes. It is not true that people in the north still yearn for the days of Amin, Obote and Tito Okello and want their family members or close associates to rule them. If that was the case then Okello Oryem would not have failed, Taban Amin would not have been assaulted in Arua during the campaigns and Miria Obote would have beaten Kizza Besigye in the north. Things are different.
I was elected on NRM ticket. Was this not in northern Uganda? Northern Uganda voters contributed to the final NRM victory and the election of President Yoweri Museveni. We love NRM and President Museveni and he too loves us. NRM will develop the whole country, including the north.
The writer is the new
MP for Vura County