Kyagulanyi promises to focus on security, welfare

2021 POLLS|KYAGULANYI |MANIFESTO 

MBARARA - Robert Kyagulanyi, the National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate, successfully launched his manifesto in Mbarara on Saturday (November 7, 2020).

He hinged his manifesto on people-centered governance, equal access to quality education and health services, inclusive economic development, environmental protection, and national security, and international relations.

The function was held at Kakyeka Stadium in Mbarara amidst tight security that saw Police and army using teargas to disperse crowds that kept advancing to the venue.

As a way of adhering to the Ministry of Health COVID-19 prevention guidelines, security had allowed only 70 guests but, later, added them, 16 ushers, and support staff.

After the arrival of Kyagulanyi, supporters overpowered Police and forced themselves into the venue.

They cheered and chanted their slogans. Police later called for more enforcement and dispersed those that had sat in the pavilion, with teargas.

Kyagulanyi thanked the people of Mbarara and Ankole for the much love and support exhibited.

He said the greatness of any nation does not lie in having a beautiful manifesto, not even in having many well-written policy documents but, rather, on the commitment of leaders who say what they mean and mean what they say.

Teachers' welfare 

He promised, if elected, to improve the welfare of teachers by increasing their salaries to a reasonable figure where "a teacher is not going to wait for three months to be paid money which is not even enough to pay school fees for children".

"Our government will ensure that teachers earn a decent salary, that they live in decent accommodation and have access to meaningful benefits when they retire," he said.

Health workers 

He promised that his government will ensure that health workers are respected and rewarded and work in better hospitals with enough drugs to ensure better health care in the country.

He said they will ensure there is a maternal health facility at every sub-county in Uganda so that mothers do not have to move miles to access delivery services.

Security 

Kyagulanyi said there is no reason why soldiers, Police, and prison officers should sleep in dilapidated houses.

"We understand that some of our pledges will take some time to be implemented, but our promise to pay a minimum of sh1m to the soldiers and police officers will take immediate effect," he said.

He explained that this money will be got from cutting the classified expenditure. "Even when they are sent to beat us, many of them do not like beating us.

Therefore, we must commit to improving their welfare and, in turn, demand they respect the rights and dignity of the citizens," he said.

Employment 

He promised to treat local investors the same way foreign ones are treated with tax waivers and energy subsidies, to provide a good working environment to foster economic transformation.

"We shall focus on skilling programmes for young people, and deliberately finding opportunities for them to practice their skills. To increase access to capital, NUP shall begin the process of facilitating the setting up of trust funds.

Beneficiaries of this will be secondary school students and early school leavers. Investment trust funds can be banked and invested domestically. In this way, we shall promote a savings culture and p r o m o t e entrepreneurship."

Agriculture 

Kyagulanyi said emphasis will be put on sourcing the right farming inputs and reviving cooperative unions for farmers. 

He said they will source for regional and global markets for Uganda's agricultural products, and they shall strive to make the produces competitive on the world market.