Museveni in Kamwenge

Jan 10, 2006

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has warned Ugandans against engaging in sectarian politics by supporting candidates basing on clans and tribes.

By Henry Mukasa and Allan Turyaguma

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has warned Ugandans against engaging in sectarian politics by supporting candidates basing on clans and tribes.

Addressing a huge rally at Kamwenge Primary School in Kamwenge district yesterday, Museveni, the NRM presidential candidate, said fighting tribalism and sectarianism is key on the Movement government agenda.

“You people of Kamwenge have fed so well under the Movement government that you seem to be forgetting the major principles that have been guiding it. Is it being pro-Movement by supporting a candidate because he is a Mukiga, a Mufumbira or a Munyankole? You must desist from these tribal sentiments.

“By supporting candidates basing on how capable they are but not because of their tribes or clans.

Quoting the bible Museveni said, “They ate, got satisfied and now they have forgotten.” He seemed to refer to the bickering among the Batoro, Banyoro and the Bakiga in Kamwenge.

He said tribal clashes there meant that they had forgotten the pain of the past tribal clashes.

He said the Movement had been an umbrella for Ugandans for the last 20 years and if they did not vote wisely, the umbrella would be torn.

The Movement, he said, was broad-based but some people were unhappy with it and wanted multipartyism.

Museveni again warned that members defeated in the NRM primaries should not contest as independents.

“Those members who have been filtered out in the Movement primaries should not go to contest as independents but I have enough room in the Movement.

“I am with the Kamwenge Woman MP Idah Mehangye who agreed to stay and work with me in the Movement after losing to that young lady (Florence Hashaka),” he said while pointing at her.

“Mehangye came to me fuming and told me that the young lady had connived with some young men and kicked her out. I calmed her down and told her to come and join me and we work together. I am happy she listened,” he said.

He introduced the official NRM candidates as Edward Musingye for LC5 Kamwenge, Frank Tumwebaze for MP Kibale county, Nulu Byamukama for MP Kitagwenda county and Florence Hashaka for Kamwenge Woman MP.

Confusion erupted in Kitagwenda when a green helicopter landed a short distance away from the rally.

The 4:30pm incident excited residents at the rally who rushed to the helicopter thinking the President had arrived, only to hear the national anthem being played at the venue announcing the arrival of the President.

A huge crowd braved the drizzle to welcome the president.
Museveni told the people of Kibale county not to vote for Capt. Charles Byaruhanga who deserted the Movement and joined the FDC.

He said Byaruhanga was sent to Parliament by the Movement people but turned against the wishes of the voters.

“Byaruhanga is undermining the Movement and that is his only work in Parliament. Byaruhanga has a problem of being short-sighted and talking nonsense. He is a liar and we shall defeat him like we promised Amin and Obote a punch and we gave it to them,” he said.

Museveni said if people wanted to benefit from Government, they should elect good leaders who can keep on reminding government about the people’s needs rather than leaders who concentrate on opposing it.

He said the Movement Government brought entandikwa (start-up laons) but it was misused, but promised another system would be devised to advance money to the people on very low interest or no interest at all.

He asked each family to get hybrid animals to increase their household incomes and asked them to vote for all persons standing on the Movement ticket.

Speaking in a mixture of Lunyoro and Lutoro, Museveni rhetorically asked, “Should I decline my seat and go and look after my cattle?”
The supporters replied, “No! Abewo (stay).”

Museveni shouted back: “Then vote for me and all standing on the Movement ticket.”

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