FDC's Birigwa wants dialogue with museveni

ELECTION WATCH | FDC 

The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party has kicked off joint campaigns for those contesting for its flag in next year's presidential elections, with Ambassador Wasswa Birigwa rallying for dialogue with the Government for a peaceful transition.

In his maiden campaign message to the delegates from Kampala and Wakiso at the party headquarters in Najjanankumbi, a Kampala suburb, on Wednesday (September 16, 2020), Birigwa stressed the need to continuously engage President Yoweri Museveni in a discourse on the future of the country.

"We need a negotiated settlement with the Government, without fighting," he said.

Birigwa asked the delegates to entrust him with the party flag to serve Ugandans.

"I will be working for and serving Ugandans. I will be working to lift the hope of the youth. I am sorry to the youth on behalf of my generation, because if we were not selfish, they would not be suffering," he added.

He added that the old generation should have prepared the youth better.

"They are the most suffering group in the country, which puts the country at risk. If 75% of the population is the youth below 30 years, it means we are seated on a time bomb, if nothing is done. I want to ensure that we give them the required education and skills," he added.

He also promised to introduce village mobile health systems, which can easily take services closer to the people.

"This will reduce congestion in hospitals since people with minor illnesses can be treated within their villages," he added.

Birigwa said he also intends to relocate most of the administrative offices from Kampala, to reduce congestion in the city.

His opponent, Patrick Amuriat, noted that the biggest part of the country's budget is spent on wasteful expenditures, like travels for government officials and conferences, among others.

"I plan to reduce these unnecessary wasteful expenditures to be used for more productive things, which can benefit all Ugandans," he said.

He promised to reduce the number of MPs from over 400 to 280 and ministers to 32, to reduce expenditure. The 11th Parliament is likely to have over 500 members.

He also promised to ensure all Ugandans access quality and free services.

The party's acting president, Joyce Ssebugwawo, said the party decided to hold joint campaigns to promote unity.

The party chief electoral commissioner, Boniface Toterebuka Bamwenda, said the meetings will continue to the other 20 sub-regions countrywide.

In all the previous presidential elections, FDC fi elded Col. Kizza Besigye as its flag-bearer. However, this time, Besigye declined to stand.