Museveni ignored my advice to retire in 2016 - Mbabazi

INDEPENDENT presidential candidate Amama Mbabazi has told the people of Teso sub-region that President Yoweri Museveni turned down his advice to retire in 2016 to enable a transmission of power for the first time since independence.

Traversing for votes in the three districts of Ngora, Kumi and Bukedea on Friday, Mbabazi who stated that he has worked closely with President Museveni for over 40 years explained that he had to end their relationship over refusal to step down as president.

"I told him that you are going to be president for 30 years and you retire. But when he told me that he will not retire and requested me to support his continuity, I said no and here I am," Mbabazi said.

He explained that he is in the race for presidency not for the sake of leadership but he is offering himself to people with aim of causing change.

"I have been in leadership for a long time, I offer my services, knowledge, skills and experience to the people of Uganda for change," Mbabazi stated.

That aside, Mbabazi told the people of Teso that he regrets from supporting the removal of term limits vowing to restore it before completing one hundred days as president if he wins elections in February.

"In the first one hundred days of my presidency we shall restore term limits in the constitution and we will lay everything possible to make sure that in the first five years we bring whatever it takes to be done to prepare the young generation to take over power in Uganda," Mbabazi said amidst cheers for the people who gathered at Kumi boma grounds.

Amama who promised to improve education standard, health and fight poverty in the homes of people requested people of Teso to vote him instead of his former boss.

He said there was no way he could address the pressing challenges such as compensation of people of Teso who lost their cattle during the time of insurgency because he was not the President.

"Who among you has ever heard or even a rumor that Amama Mbabazi has ever been the president of Uganda even for one day?" Mbabazi asked.

He promised the people of Teso better market for their produce saying the farmers have been cheated by middle men.

He said he would find market abroad to buy the produce so that the living conditions of people will improve.