What candidates are promising voters

2021 ELECTIONS |

The last scientific nomination of eight presidential candidates in the forthcoming elections is now in the books and, as expected, provided a bevy of moments.

From Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine of National Unity Platform (NUP), who chanted party slogans and songs, to an independent Joseph Kabuleta from the world of evangelism, all candidates, except Patrick Amuriat of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), arrived at Kyambogo University Cricket Grounds with great pomp with their nine people that accompanied them.

"You could tell it was a corporate kind of event — they were very elegant and everything went according to plan," Crispin Kaheru, an electoral analyst, who was at the nomination venue, told New Vision.

"The Electoral Commission (EC) has exhibited a high level of organisation, and understanding, where candidates with problems were given opportunities to rectify them and come back for nomination. The EC also provided the necessary information for candidates to be able to get ready for the campaigns," he said.

Kaheru, who also attended the first day of the nomination exercise, noted that the nomination was conducted in a professional manner.

Those nominated on the second day also included Norbert Mao of the Democratic Party (DP) and independents Pastor Fred Mwesigye, Nancy Linda Kalembe, John Katumba and Willy Mayambala. Kalembe is the only female candidate.

Since they are running as independents, they were asked to select their campaign symbols. Mwesigye chose a radio, Kalembe a ball, Mayambala a pot, Katumba a table, and Kabuleta a chair.

They joined the incumbent, President Yoweri Museveni of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), Maj. Gen. (rtd) Mugisha Muntu of the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) and former security minister Lt Gen. (rtd) Henry Tumukunde, an independent, who were nominated on Monday.

Like these three, the EC handed each of the eight duly nominated candidates a new pickup car to be used by the Police officers deployed to guard them.

They were also given an opportunity to speak to the media at the nomination venue. They expressed their optimism in achieving victory in the 2021 elections.

"This is a battle between the past and the future. It is a battle between the old and the new. It is a battle between slavery and freedom," Kyagulanyi, who boasts about a large youth following, said.

Key promises 

Kyagulanyi said his desire to be president is informed by the need to develop the country, which he claims to be moving in a backward direction.

He promised to fix the economy and improve social services, such as health and education, among others. He was, however, grabbed by security officers minutes after addressing the media and driven to his home in Magere, Wakiso district, amid tight                                                                security. 

Mayambala promised to turn Uganda into a global food basket, while Mao, who was the last to return nomination papers and supporter forms to EC, vowed to recover all privatised and stolen national assets, as well as unite what he called a polarised country.

Kalembe argued that she is the embodiment of the change that Uganda needs and that she stands for change that touches all aspects of life.

Mwesigye said the theme of his government will be Love based on the fear of God.

Kabuleta, on the other hand, promised "financial liberation for all" once elected.

"I am here to give a message that the resources and wealth of this country do not belong to one family and their hangers-on, but to all Ugandans," he charged.

However, the candidate who drew a lot of attention was Amuriat, who alighted from the Police van without shoes and his well-pressed jacket falling over his shoulders. Prior to the nominations, he had vowed to defy the EC nomination guidelines.

"Today, I come here as a prisoner, but it is a warning that we are all prisoners that have to struggle to free ourselves," he told journalists.

Thursday meeting

While addressing the nation after the nominations, EC  chairperson Justice Byabakama invited all the candidates to attend a meeting at the EC headquarters on Thursday, to harmonise their campaign programmes. He said they will this week announce the campaign period and polling date.

Manifestos

Yoweri Kaguta Museveni

In his manifesto crafted under the theme Securing Your Future, Museveni pledges, if reelected, to focus on creation of wealth and jobs, delivery of education and health, ensuring justice and equity, protecting life and property.

John Katumba

"I have a dream of making Uganda the workshop of the whole world so that young people like me can have jobs."

Mugisha Muntu Gregg

In his A Change You Can Trust, Muntu articulates that his is "a cause to transform this country. Qualitative change! A cause where all Ugandans are equal before the law and have equal opportunities. A cause for justice! A change beyond infrastructure development.

Mayambala Willy

"Agriculture is this country's economic backbone, therefore we must maximise profits from the industry. I will have big incentives for the farmers, such as easing access to cheap credit through grants from the government."

Nancy Kalembe Linda 

Under her Mission 56 movement "we can unite the original 56 tribes that came together at independence to make Uganda to ensure that they all rally the young people for change, integrity, transparency, continuance and prosperity."

Kabuleta Kiiza Joseph

"Financial liberation is my platform because every citizen has been financially squeezed due to bad leadership. It is possible for everyone to see a change

in their lifestyle, spending habits and an easier life."

Amuriat Oboi Patrick

Explaining his theme, Building a New Uganda, Amuriat said: "My candidature represents the 90% of Ugandans that suffer under the weight of being marginalised on the basis of ethnicity, the young people that have no opportunity to access jobs, mothers that die while giving birth, children that have been offered half-baked education under the guise of universal education, the high cost of living and insurmountable levels of corruption."

Norbert Mao 

Running under the theme "Reclaiming  Our Future" Mao said: "Campaigns should be about the character of candidates and the values they uphold with any defaulting  politician judged as an individual, but not based on ethnicity.

Kyagulanyi Robert Sentamu

Promising a new Uganda delivered by a people-centred Government, Kyagulanyi said: "Our historical undertaking, bestowed upon us is to give Ugandans their first peaceful change of leadership. The current office occupiers have it upon themselves to join us in that endeavour or they can continue haphazardly resisting an inevitability whose time has come."

Henry Tumukunde

"We shall tackle government spending. Apart from overspending, we also have too many leakages, which we must take care of.  I intend to bring an end to the story of the hoe. I believe, like Malaysia hanged the hoe in 1972, we should be able to do the same as quickly as we can."