Museveni rallies Madi leaders to preach wealth creation

Nov 17, 2020

Since the start of the presidential campaigns, Museveni has maintained a campaign approach of holding meetings with select NRM leaders and mass media briefings.

President Yoweri Museveni, also the National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential flag-bearer, had one message for leaders of Madi sub-region: preach what the party has done so far.

On his third day of scientific campaigns in the West Nile region on Saturday, November 14, Museveni met NRM delegates from Adjumani, Moyo and Obongi district, which make up the Madi sub-region.

The delegates who convened at Celecelea Stadium in Moyo district, included NRM district chairpersons, party flagbearers, incumbents, women and youth leaders from the region.

Museveni told the leaders to ‘preach' the message of the NRM's strategy to the voters, highlighting its ideology built around addressing the needs of the people.

"We are here to again speak to you as priests of NRM. There is a deference between a priest and a follower. Christians are followers, even if they don't understand the message deeply. A priest understands the Bible. As priests, when you go out to explain to the followers, you have all the background. We should not emphasise tribe, religion, etc," he said.

"You, the NRM flag-bearers, should swear to the people that you will serve them before anything else. "The money is there because of our correct policies, but what is remaining is serving our people with dedication. I want this spirit of service to be maintained," he said.

Amidst the downpour, which the President braved, he advised the leaders to sensitise the people on the benefits of shifting from subsistence to commercial agriculture.

He said while the government cannot fully cater to all their needs, it is committed to supporting their participation in modernised agriculture to earn money and cater for their daily needs.

Since the start of the presidential campaigns on November 9, Museveni has maintained a campaign approach of holding meetings with select NRM leaders and mass media briefings.

The district NRM leaders are expected to hold door-to-door campaigns, traversing parishes and villages to interact with voters.

Museveni, who was received in Moyo district with folk dance and music, said the NRM had addressed the political contradictions that once held back Uganda and Africa.

"NRM has been able to cause unity among Ugandans. That unity has brought stability in politics, which has helped us to create a strong army," he explained.

The stability and strong army have ensured peace, which has allowed Uganda to attract private investors, who in turn have helped to address the shortage of essential commodities, Museveni said.

With a bigger tax base, the government is now capable of budgeting for roads, electricity and other drivers of economic growth that benefit all Ugandans.

He, however, insisted that while the NRM government has addressed the broader strategic issues that have created stability, individuals and households have a role to play.

"There are things the government cannot do for you, even if it had all the money. That is why it is important that all families work for the stomach, but also for the pocket," he stated.

The deputy speaker and NRM vice-chairperson for northern Uganda, Jacob Oulanyah, who has been on the trail with Museveni, appealed to young people in the region to back Museveni.

"I can never forget a picture in the New Vision in 2016 when you stood with the son of Idi Amin and campaigned for him," Oulanyah stated, describing Museveni as a selfless leader.

The first deputy Prime Minister, Gen. Moses Ali, also head of the NRM presidential campaign taskforce in West Nile, said all NRM party groups in the region will canvass votes for Museveni.

The state minister for primary health care, Joyce Moriku Kaducu, warned delegates about the threat of COVID-19 and appealed to them to refrain from activities that could expose supporters to infection.

The congregation held a moment of silence in memory of Kamuli Woman MP Rehema Watongola, who passed on following complications resulting from COVID-19.

Madi sub-region demands

The leaders from the three districts tabled a list of demands to the party leader, including that the procurement process for construction of the Laropi bridge is expedited. Others include funding for major roads, including LaropiMoyo road, addressing power shortages in Obongi and elevation of Obongi Health Centre IV to regional referral hospital.

The leaders also want the government to compensate victims of the 2014 attacks on several villages by armed South Sudanese militiamen that led to the loss of 676 head of cattle.

Presenting the petition on behalf of the leaders, William Anyama, the district chairperson for Moyo, requested the President to intervene in the case of Dr Charles Lagu, the interdicted executive director of the National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Data Bank. Lagu, who was interdicted on May 6, this year over alleged corruption and abuse of office, insists he is being witch-hunted.

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