Kyagulanyi criticises govt over bad Moyo roads

At 9:00am, the National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate, Robert Kyagulanyi, got out of Hotel Premier in Yumbe, where he spent the night and embarked on his campaign journey to Obongi, Moyo and Adjumani.

At 11:20am, Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, reached AringaJobi playground in Obongi district, where he found a jubilant crowd waiting for him.

The NUP leader, a first term parliamentarian vying to unseat President Yoweri Museveni, told them he had received reports that many had been intimidated not to attend his rally.

"I have been told those who wear red are arrested and oppressed. For those people intimidating you, just write their names down because I am the next president of Uganda," he said.

He expressed concern that refugees in the area are taken care of well more than the Ugandans.

"Everywhere I passed, I saw poverty. Imagine these young people to be in poverty in the 21st century. You have poor health facilities. I bring to you a message of freedom from poverty, backwardness, and bad health facilities," he said.

Kyagulanyi told the Obongi people to realise that through their votes, they can change their lives and the lives of other Ugandans.

"You are very powerful. The Constitution says all power belongs to the people. You are more powerful than guns and bullets. Even if so many have been intimidated not to come here, they will be alone on the ballot paper to make their choice. The power is in your hands to change our country. The power is in your vote," he said.

Kyagulanyi said when he becomes president, he will be a servant leader that respects the rights of Uganda and leads them according to their interests and aspirations.

"In the new Uganda, everyone will be free to disagree with leaders. Police will be respected by citizens. It will no longer be used to oppress Ugandans.

No politician will have to live in fear for their lives because of disagreeing with the government," he pledged.

For more than one hour, Kyagulanyi's convoy was stranded at Foligo in Obongi, where the bridge was washed away by the flooding tributaries of River Nile.

The bridge is supposed to connect Obongi to Moyo. Area residents are currently using boats to cross. Kyagulanyi promised that as soon as he becomes president he will work on the bridge.

"The very bad state of this road implies that Museveni's government is disconnected from the ordinary people who need to be helped. You do not need a lot of money to work on this road from the billions being stolen by those in government.bImagine a pregnant woman having to use this road!" he said.

Kyagulanyi promised to work with area leaders such as the Obongi County MP Kaps Fangaroo, who is an FDC member, to develop the area.

The Police tried to block Kyagulanyi from entering Moyo town and later fired teargas in an attempt to disperse the crowd following him.

He promised Moyo and the rest of West Nile better roads, good hospitals and schools as well as projects for improving the economic welfare of area residents.

"Instead of buying drugs in hospitals, the Government is buying teargas to oppress Ugandans. Instead of buying ambulances, the Museveni government is buying Police patrol cars. That tells you that Museveni is scared of the people of Uganda," he said.

Kyagulanyi told the people to reject the propaganda that Museveni cannot be removed from power.