Reject corrupt leaders - Besigye

By Charles Kakamwa

The Forum for democratic change (FDC) presidential candidate Dr. Kizza Besigye has cautioned the electorate against voting for people with tainted records including those implicated in scandals like corruption.

“As you choose your leaders for the next five years, reject those with bad records; the thieves, corrupt and liars. It is such people with a lot of money in the campaigns,” said Col. Besigye, one of the eight presidential candidates currently canvassing for support across the country.

“Once they come to you, take the money because it is yours but don’t vote them into office,” Besigye warned.

While on the campaign trail in the Eastern Uganda districts of Pallisa and Butaleja on Thursday, Besigye asked residents watch out for people he said had amassed a lot of wealth with which they hope to confuse voters in the ongoing campaigns and elections.

He however encouraged them to accept money and any other freebies that may be donated to them but elect upright leaders with clean records.

Other candidates include the incumbent President Museveni, former premier Amama Mbabazi, veterinarian Dr Abed Bwanika, former Makerere University vice-chancellor Professor Venansius Baryamureeba, educationist Joseph Mabirizi, retired army officer Major General Benon Biraro and Maureen Kyalya Walube, the only female candidate in the race.

Besigye who said institutions like the Inspectorate of Government and the Police that are mandated to fight corruption are not independent, vowed to overhaul them if elected president in the February 2016 polls.

“They serve interests of certain political leaders on whose orders they act. If you criticise such leaders, the IGG will arrest you and when you apologise you are released,” he said.

During a rally at Nabiganda trading centre, Besigye observed that whereas Uganda is endowed with a lot of natural resources, making it one of the richest countries in the world, majority of its people live below the poverty line.

“This is a rich country but with a high level of unemployment, a bad road infrastructure, limited access to clean water and where the number of mothers dying in labour each day has risen from 16 to 19,” he argued.

Besigye observed that all this happens because resources that would have been used are squandered by those in positions of leadership and because grassroots people are powerless.

“You watch as all this happens and you know the people stealing what belongs to you but there is nothing you can do about it since they took away your power. When someone steals your vote, he takes away your voice,” he noted.

He lashed out at President Museveni who he said is fond of boasting about how he has developed roads.  “What Museveni boasts of as good roads are actually death traps. They are narrow and congested, increasing the rate of accidents. The death toll on our roads is more than the death in all wars in Uganda combined,” he said.