Amuriat resumes West Nile campaign tour
Nov 23, 2020
"Come May, next year, you will be saluting me as your commander in chief"
Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential flag-bearer Patrick Oboi Amuriat on Monday takes his campaign to Madi Okollo and Zombo districts in s slightly better mood given the recent challenges he's faced.
Unlike what he encountered in Soroti, Kitgum, Gulu, Agago, Moyo, Moyo, and Adjumani, where the Police dispersed his supporters, his time in the West Nile region has been largely uneventful save for a few skirmishes in Adjumani, Moyo, and Obongi districts.
In Yumbe district, Koboko, Maracha, Terego, and Arua City, apart from blocking him from addressing supporters from the central business areas, the Police calmly provided Amuriat with security despite provocation from his supporters.
In his response, Amuriat appealed to security to continue being calm instead of acting in ways that violate human rights.
Since the last incident of Acecele trading centre, where guards provided by the Electoral Commission nearly clashed with Police, Amuriat has traversed West Nile in search of support for his presidential bid without incident.
While addressing the residents of Okotani in Odupi sub-county, in Terego East constituency on Sunday, Amuriat asked his supporters to avoid being intimidated by security.
"I want also to warned security to desist from mistreating me because come May, next year, you will be saluting me as your commander in chief," he said.
In Maracha district, Amuriat attempted to address his supporters from a market which prompted a Police backed by an army contingent to intervene.
On Sunday, before he started his journey to Terego, Amuriat celebrated a mass at Mother Mary Catholic Parish.
Amuriat also noted that West Nile sub-region is currently among the most impoverished areas of the country because many people lost their herds of cattle, during the war times.
He pledged to compensate all the families of the former combatants beginning with the West Nile Bank Front's Ali Bamuze and many others.
Those that decided to work with the government have not done enough to attract development towards the people of West Nile, according to Amuriat.
"I come from Teso, but the problems we face are not different from the problems the people of Lango, Acholi, and West Nile, are facing. We need to fight hard to ensure that we are not reduced to being mere security guards and sugar cane cutters in Lugazi, Kakira, Kinyara, among other sugar plantations, in the country," he said.
He also expressed discontentment over the continued plunder of natural resources like forests and minerals by well-positioned government officials instead of benefiting the ordinary person.
On Tuesday, Amuriat, will end his campaigns in West Nile in Nebbi and Pakwach districts.
After this, he will head to Bunyoro where he is expected to launch his manifesto in Hoima City, on Thursday.