I can handle army - Bidandi

By Chris Kiwawulo and Andrew Ssenyonga

JABERI Bidandi Ssali is confident he can harmoniously work with the army once he is elected president next year.

“When I meet the army generals, including President (Yoweri) Museveni, we talk freely as friends. They refer to me as Mzee Bidandi, which means they respect me and I do the same. I do not have a problem with Museveni, only that he went for the third term, which I did not agree with,” Bidandi explained.

The 1995 Uganda Constitution originally provided for a maximum of two five-year terms but was ammended in 2005 hence giving Museveni who had governed for two terms the right to run for office again.

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) boss was responding to queries from supporters at Maddu town in Gomba district who asked him whether he has what it takes to be commander-in-chief of the armed forces yet he is not a soldier like the incumbent, Museveni.

Bidandi said: “The army is now professionalised and I believe they can handle change, especially when a person like me is elected. You should also know that the army belongs to the country and not individuals.”

Besides Maddu town, Bidandi addressed rallies in Bulwadda, Kabulasoke and Kifampa villages all in Gomba. But unlike the tour to Mpigi, Mukono, Kayunga and Butambala, Bidandi spent a greater part of the day in Gomba without his official vehicle and body guards.

One of his aides said the body guards had gone with the team which took the vehicles for servicing. The vehicles were returned at around 3:00pm.

While at Bulwadda, a resident, identified as John Mukiibi, asked him how PPP will canvass for votes in Gomba yet the party does not have leadership structures there.

In response, Bidandi said his party was still young and was only building its grassroots structures.

At Kabulasoke, residents braved the afternoon downpour to listen to Bidandi. He said: “We need a person who is trustworthy, accountable and rich at heart and that is me. Have you ever heard that I stole anything? Trust me, together we shall deliver.”

Clad in a multi-coloured Kitenge shirt, brown pair of trousers and black shoes, Bidandi likened Museveni’s leadership to milk that has gone bad, adding that Museveni was good in the first days of his leadership but went off track.