Support PWDs, elderly to vote, Museveni says

2021 ELECTIONS |

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) party chairperson, President Yoweri Museveni, has ordered his regional presidential campaign co-ordinators to ensure they transport the elderly and People living with Disabilities to polling stations in the forthcoming general election.

Museveni said these categories of people should not be denied the chance to vote for the leaders of their choice just because they cannot get to the polling stations.

This directive was in Museveni's speech, which was read by the senior presidential advisor on political affairs, Mary Babirye Babalanda, who was launching the NRM presidential mobilisers' committees under the Office of the National Chairman (ONC) for the greater Mukono region.

The launch, which gathered mobilisers from the districts of Mukono, Buikwe, Kayunga and Buvuma was held at Mukono Boarding Primary School in Mukono Municipality on Thursday.

Babalanda started with the official opening of the ONC office for the greater Mukono co-ordinator, Patrick Mubiru Wacity, located in Mukono town along Kampala-Jinja highway.

To adapt to ‘scientific' campaigning because of the COVID-19 pandemic threat, which affected the usual mass rallies, the President said  NRM was going to select five mobilisers, who would be in charge of looking for votes from each village.

Babalanda, however, said Wakiso and Kampala districts will have 20 mobilisers for each village.

Museveni said the procedure of selecting the mobilisers would be communicated later through the ONC co-ordinators.

"We have, however, got ten information that some of our mobilisers are acting as mobilisers for more than one person, which is not allowed.

Mobilisers for the national chairman should not conduct business for other people," Babalanda said.

She instructed the regional co-ordinators to substitute the mobilisers at lower levels who will fail to abide by the set regulations.

Babalanda said for the past general election, President Museveni, did not do well in the districts of Kampala, Wakiso and Mukono, saying this time they want to have this trend overturned.

Museveni said this time round, the votes are going to canvassed village-to-village and door-todoor, with the help of the local leaders.

"This will help us to reach genuine voters. Our five village mobilisers are advised to divide the villages into cells depending on their sizes in order to ease work," he said.

The President asked the mobilisers to ensure that the number of voters who turn up on the voting date increases compared to the previous general elections.

"A good turnout will boost our winning percentages," he said. Museveni also called on the co-ordinators in the informal sector, including the bodaboda riders and market vendors to also select 50 mobilisers, who will be directed on their roles in soliciting for votes.

The function was also attended by the State Minister for Water, Ronald Kibuule, who doubles as the MP for Mukono North Constituency.

Other guests included the Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) for Mukono, Buikwe, Kayunga and Buvuma, Mukono district chairperson Andrew Ssenyonga, and Mukono NRM vice-chairperson, Haruna Ssemakula.

Kibuule said different politicians are overrating the National Union Platform president, Robert Kayagulanyi Ssentamu alias Bobi Wine to the extent of making him believe that he can unseat President Museveni, which is impossible.

"Political and presidential campaigns are far different

from a music concert, which my brother Bobi Wine used to stage and pool mammoth supporters. But the game is on now, President Museveni is going to beat him hands down," he said.

Mukono RDC Fred Bamwine and Jane Frances Kagayi of Buikwe warned party mobilisers and supporters against violence. Bamwine said some candidates pose as untouchable political giants, whose camps can do anything, including committing crimes against fellow supporters.

"Anyone who causes chaos will be prosecuted," he warned.