DP raps NRM over election promises
Oct 30, 2008
MEMBERS of the Democratic Party (DP) have listed what they refer to as ‘20 empty pledges’ of the NRM party in its 2006 election manifesto.
By Moses Mulondo
MEMBERS of the Democratic Party (DP) have listed what they refer to as ‘20 empty pledges’ of the NRM party in its 2006 election manifesto.
Addressing journalists in Kampala on Tuesday, DP president John Ssebaana Kizito expressed doubt that the NRM Government would achieve half of what it promised Ugandans in the previous election campaigns.
“The NRM Government is only left with two years to complete its term of office, but we do not see any prospects of it fulfilling 50% of its manifesto pledges.â€
Some of the promises that Ssebaana said were not fulfilled by the NRM include zero tolerance to corruption, prosperity for all Ugandans, improved respect for human rights and freedoms, improved welfare of armed forces by increasing their salaries and building more accommodation houses for them, and ensuring promotion and protection of workers’ rights.
Other unfulfilled promises, he said, were devolution of power to regional governments (federalism), improving health services, expanding and improving university education, providing improved work sites for artisans, enforcing a deliberate afforestation policy and tackling flooding in areas like Bwaise, Kalerwe, Lubigi, Kyambogo and the Industrial Area in Kampala.
Ssebaana urged the public to demand an explanation from the Government about why the pledges were not fulfilled.
“I think it is prudent for Museveni and his Cabinet to resign from their offices because, by failing to fulfill their manifesto promises, the NRM has breached the 2006 election agreement for which it was voted into power,†he said.
But the NRM spokesperson, Mary Karooro Okurut, dismissed allegations by DP that her party had failed to fulfill its pledges.
“Tell those DP politicians that they have eyes but they cannot see, and they have ears but cannot hear. Those who have eyes and see can realise that we are on course. Their assertion is not based on realistic measures,†she said.
MEMBERS of the Democratic Party (DP) have listed what they refer to as ‘20 empty pledges’ of the NRM party in its 2006 election manifesto.
Addressing journalists in Kampala on Tuesday, DP president John Ssebaana Kizito expressed doubt that the NRM Government would achieve half of what it promised Ugandans in the previous election campaigns.
“The NRM Government is only left with two years to complete its term of office, but we do not see any prospects of it fulfilling 50% of its manifesto pledges.â€
Some of the promises that Ssebaana said were not fulfilled by the NRM include zero tolerance to corruption, prosperity for all Ugandans, improved respect for human rights and freedoms, improved welfare of armed forces by increasing their salaries and building more accommodation houses for them, and ensuring promotion and protection of workers’ rights.
Other unfulfilled promises, he said, were devolution of power to regional governments (federalism), improving health services, expanding and improving university education, providing improved work sites for artisans, enforcing a deliberate afforestation policy and tackling flooding in areas like Bwaise, Kalerwe, Lubigi, Kyambogo and the Industrial Area in Kampala.
Ssebaana urged the public to demand an explanation from the Government about why the pledges were not fulfilled.
“I think it is prudent for Museveni and his Cabinet to resign from their offices because, by failing to fulfill their manifesto promises, the NRM has breached the 2006 election agreement for which it was voted into power,†he said.
But the NRM spokesperson, Mary Karooro Okurut, dismissed allegations by DP that her party had failed to fulfill its pledges.
“Tell those DP politicians that they have eyes but they cannot see, and they have ears but cannot hear. Those who have eyes and see can realise that we are on course. Their assertion is not based on realistic measures,†she said.