COMING SOON - A CALENDAR ON POPE'S VISIT TO UGANDA.

THE COVER IMPRESSION

THE POPE VISIT TO UGANDA

Image 0 - Pope Francis waves upon arrival for his first papal visit to the African Continent as head of the Catholic Church at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport

Image 2 - Crowds along Entebbe Road wave at Pope Francis in the Kia Soul that is using as his means of transportation in Uganda.

Image 3 - Pope Francis met with the Kabaka of Buganda, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II and Nnabagereka Sylvia Nagginda on Saturday at the residence of Kampala Archbishop Dr. Cyprian Lwanga in Lubaga. Pope Francis prayed for the Kabaka and his queen. He also presented to them bibles and rosaries.

Image 4 - People hold Uganda's flag and an image of Pope Francis during the pope's visit to the Munyonyo shrine in Kampala, Uganda Nov. 27.

Image 5 - Pope Francis in a procession with the bishops at Namugongo.  Pope Francis has called on Christians to emulate the work and character of the Uganda martyrs killed between 1885 and 1887.  The pontiff says the honour of the martyrs who were burned live for refusing to forsake their faith, should be enshrined in daily life in the homes, work places and the in the farthest corners of the world.  While celebrating an open-air mass at the Uganda Martyrs catholic shrine in Namugongo today morning, Francis said “the legacy of the martyrs is not only served by occasional remembrance (June 3), or by being enshrined in a museum as a precious jewel.”

Image 6 - Pope Francis waves to crowds at Kololo Airstrip. 

Image 7 - Pope Representative to Uganda, Michael August Blume (L) with Arch Bishop Kizito Lwanga (R) after addressing a media on Pope Francis' visit to Uganda at Catholic Secretariat October 19, 2015

Image 8 - Nakiyanja is a few kilometres away from the Catholic Martyrs Shrine in Namugongo. It is the exact place where most of the martyrs were killed on the orders of Kabaka Mwanga was also visited by the Pope.

Image 10 - Pope Francis leading mass this morning at the Uganda Martyrs Shrine,Namugongo.  Pope Francis in a historical mass he celebrated today at the Uganda Martyrs Shrines in Namugongo  has reminded power-thirsty leaders that world power have not brought lasting joy to anyone. In the same vein, the reigning Pope known for his simplicity which he demonstrated by riding in a simple car, reminded pleasure-thirsty Ugandans how their efforts in acquiring the same will always come to naught.  Instead the Pope preached, it is fidelity to God, honesty and integrity as well as genuine concern for others which bring peace.

Image 11 – At Kololo Pope Francis blessed Winnie Nansumba, 24 who testified to have been born with HIV/AIDS.  Pope Francis has in his message to the young people in Uganda emphasized the importance of prayer in overcoming their life difficulties.  In reference to testimonies presented at the meeting he held with thousands of youths at Kololo Independence grounds, some of whom have miraculously healed from HIV /AIDS, he said; “there’s always an opening of a new future through Jesus. He experienced the most negative things, he was insulted, rejected and murdered but he rose.”  The Pontiff told the thousands of youths who met him with deafening ululations that they should rely on Jesus to transform their burdens into positives, hate to love and war to peace.

Image 12 – Pope at Nalukolongo: Thank you for your warm welcome.  I wanted very much to visit this House of Charity, which Cardinal Nsubuga founded here in Nalukolongo.  This is a place which has always been associated with the Church’s outreach to the poor, the handicapped, the sick.  Here, in early times, slave children were ransomed and women received religious instruction.  I greet the Good Samaritan Sisters who carry on this fine tradition, and I thank them for their years of quiet and joyful service in this apostolate.

Image 13 - Pope Francis kneels in prayer during his visit at the Anglican martyrs' shrine of Namugongo, Kampala, Uganda, Saturday, Nov. 28, 2015.

UGANDA CAN EARN SOME MONEY FROM THE KIA CAR THAT WAS USED BY HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS ON THE JUST CONCLUDED VISIT TO UGANDA.

This car can be positioned somewhere so that people are given a ride in it (but not where the Pope sat.  For each small ride in it, one could pay say shs 10,000 for just a few metres.  

GET TO KNOW UGANDA UNDER PRESIDENT MUSEVENI AS HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS VISITS.

Though Uganda is supposed to be the Pearl of Africa, bad politics is responsible for the status quo currently enjoyed. The country that has been independent for 53 years has not witnessed any peaceful change of power! While President Museveni led a 5 year bush war which saw him capture state power in 1986, he has since resorted to political games which have seen him change the Constitution which had clearly stipulated a maximum of two consecutive 5 year terms for a President. Today, we see him contest for President after 30 years in power!

UGANDA’S PROBLEM

Uganda’s problem is the mass poverty, ignorance, high youth population figures with majority unemployed, disease, environmental degradation, the difference between the budget and budget out-turn of about 30%, corruption, the unsustainable debt burden, poor governance record due to the fact that the regime is using all possible strategies to retain power, an unbelievably huge administrative infrastructure and the too much power which the President holds. These are greatly attributed to the bad NRM – O politics.

Uganda’s involvement in the regional conflicts is a very big liability to the country as it is calling for a lot of resources which otherwise would go into development initiatives, and also, a lot of money is needed to counter terrorists targeting the country not forgetting loss of manpower which constantly leads to dependent population needing support. We must remember that this is responsible for the increasing budget on classified expenditure.

The unfair distribution of the national cake with the biggest pie to the NRM – O members, and President Museveni while campaigning for NRM candidates always fronts the delivery of services in favour of constituents that elect NRM – O candidates

One cannot guarantee that potential funders will be able to get the funding to him/her given the road blocks the NRM – O Government has put in place. These are bound to frustrate any potential candidate who eventually may just give up competing in national elections, yet the NRM – O even encroaches on the Consolidated Fund to fund party activities.

Youthful population
The State of Uganda’s Population Report 2012 was released in December 2012, according to the findings; Uganda has the world’s youngest population, with over 78% below 30 years, while more than 52% of Ugandans are below 15 years. Currently, at least 83% of young people have no formal employment, partly due to slow economic growth, the small labour market, high population growth rate, the rigid education system, rural-urban migration and limited access to capital.
67% of Ugandans vulnerable to poverty
About 67% of Ugandans are either poor or highly vulnerable to poverty, the expenditure review for Uganda 2012 by the Directorate of Social Protection in the gender ministry has revealed.
Dr. Fred Matovu, a senior lecturer of economics at Makerere University, who participated in the review, said the study was aimed at establishing the number of Ugandans who require social protection due to their susceptibility to poverty.
Matovu said the 67% represented both Ugandans who spend below the poverty line of $ 1.20 (about sh3,170)per day and those who are below twice the poverty line, $2.40 (about sh6,340) per day.
Going by the United Nation’s Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA), Uganda currently has 34.5 million people, meaning about 23.1 million are prone to poverty, and about 8.4 million of them (about 24.5%) are trapped in absolute poverty.
Source: http://www.newvision.co.ug/…/640813-67-of-ugandans-vulnerab…

Good Governance and Human Rights in Uganda
Uganda as a country has a governance record that is positively affected by the NRM – O wish to be in State House for a very long time. It is already 28 years with one President. It can be a big miracle for such a Government not to violate rights of the people in order to retain office. This is the reason that greatly affects the Good Governance in Uganda.
I. There is need to focus on strengthening democratization, protection of human rights, access to justice, peaceful co-existence and improved accountability in Uganda.
II. Greater support to Justice, Law and Order Sector, that is focusing on promotion of the rule of law. This includes direct support to the Judiciary concentrating on improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the institution.
III. Enhance the quality of service delivery through improved local governance and accountability.

The Environment situation
1) Many of Uganda's natural ecosystems are undergoing conversion, degradation, and decline in a totally unplanned and uncontrolled manner. Examples include: uncontrolled expansion of agricultural land; erosion of soils and a decline in soil fertility; falling quality and availability of water; unregulated encroachment and degradation of wetlands; encroachment of forest reserves; deforestation and overgrazing of rangelands; and invasion of weed species and bush encroachment. With the country's current population of 22 million set to double by the year 2020, these pressures are bound to be insurmountable without sustainable action at both the national and community levels.
Source: http://fsdinternational.org/country/uganda/envissues

2) Most Ugandans are completely reliant on natural resources to survive. Forests provide fuel-wood and cleared land frees arable soil for agriculture. Uganda loses about 6,000 hectares of forests every 30 days according. If no action is registered by 2050, Uganda’s per capita forest cover will be zero (NEMA, 2009). Already 28 districts have lost their entire forest ecosystem while another 19 districts have forest cover lower than 1%.

As forests give way to agricultural land, the soil is exposed to erosion and loses its fertility. Where cattle are introduced, grazing also affects soil quality, opens the way for invasive species and reduces the diversity of plant species. Other related problems include falling quality and availability of water.
There must be a deliberate effort to see sustainable environment management policies in place through enhancing sustainable conservation and utilization of natural resources and climate change adaptation and mitigation, strengthen the capacities of institutions (Government and Civil Society Organisations) to undertake sustainable environment and natural resources actions aimed at:

Biodiversity Conservation and Restoration of Degraded Ecosystems,
Scaling-up successful SLM models and approaches, (iii) Enhancing Efficient Utilization of Biomass Energy, Renewable Energy Technologies (RET), and reduction in GHG emissions and
Promoting Climate Change Resilient Development.

Uganda's Debt Stock
A report on loans, grants and Guarantees for Financial Year 2012/13 presented to Parliament by the Minister of Finance, Planning & Economic Development dated June 13, 2013, states that as March 31, 2013, the total stock of public debt stood at USD 5.6billion (shs14,576.3 trillion, or 26.7% of GPD) of which external debt was USD 3.5 billion (shs 9,152.8 trillion, or 16.7% of GDP, of GDP) and domestic debt was USD 2.1billion (shs 5,423.5 trillion, or 9.9% of GPD).
It is important to note that Uganda’s debt stock at 26.7% of GDP has reached unsustainable levels. Looking at the Domestic debt, the component which is not bank funded is crippling the business entities in Uganda and some are having their assets being liquidated by the creditors.
There is need to make a review as regards debt in Uganda and sustainability.

A Big administration infrastructure
1. 69 Ministers, 327 Members of Parliament, 278 political appointees who include 80 resident District Commissioners and assistants, 75 presidential advisors and 43 private presidential secretaries and their deputies. This is just a picture of Uganda's over-the-top public administration. Pearl of Africa as commonly known is argued that not only is it a sleeping giant but also an over-governed and unproductive country.
2. It has many administrative units; 45,000 local councils, 5500 parishes, 1026 sub-counties, 151 counties, 18 municipalities and 80 districts. All these structures have executive 10 man executive officials. So, the total number of officials is 10 times the number of every administrative unit. 
3. How does this nation manage its servants? Uganda's expenditure is very enormous and abnormal.
4. A presidential advisor and his deputy earn 908.5 million Ugandan shillings enough to pay 378 primary school teachers a salary of 200,000 Ugandan shillings a month.
5. Private presidential secretary and his assistant earn 7.5 billion shillings enough to; support 2,077 primary schools with 800 pupils each, buy drugs for 890 health centers, construct 935 classrooms or pay 37,500 primary school teachers. Members of Parliament altogether earn 57 billion excluding the allowances, the 69 ministers have all sorts of allowances and only government expenditure on Ministers vehicles fuel, oil and maintenance in 2006/07 was 92 billion Ugandan shillings. 
6. Uganda has over 31 million people. According to the Ministry of Health, there's one doctor to every 300,000 people. Surprisingly, there's one administrative leader to every 6 Ugandans. Uganda has one of the poorest administrative structures in the entire world. The poor administration can and only provides poor services to its citizens. The government at times makes good policies but it's very hard for them to be implemented leading to all these and many other deficiencies.
Source: Major Problems facing Uganda today –
http://www.africaw.com/major-problems-facing-uganda-today
The matter of a huge administrative infrastructure must be addressed in national interest. The NRM - O is using it as a strategy for regime longevity, hence keeps people who should have long retired on pay roll even when they are not productive.

Disease
Over 11 million Ugandans are suffering from Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and if not treated some may lead to death.
This was revealed by the national coordinator of NTDs, Dr. Edridah Tukahebwa during the launch of the country’s master plan for elimination of NTDs by 2020. Tukahebwa, who is also the assistant commissioner health services (vector control) in the ministry of health, disclosed that 2m Ugandans are infected with Bilharzia in 63 districts out of 112 in the country. She said 4.8m are suffering from Elephantiasis in 54 districts while 4m are infected with River blindness in 37 districts and 1m are suffering from Trachoma in 36 districts.
Source: http://www.newvision.co.ug/…/648057-11m-ugandans-infected-w…

Corruption:
The World Bank says that corruption costs Uganda over Shs 900 billion per annum, equivalent to the annual budgets of the government’s biggest departments.

Regionally, Uganda is the third most corrupt country in the East African region after Burundi and Kenya according to the Corruption Perception Index 2011 released by Transparency International in December 2011. Rwanda and Tanzania are “cleaner” than Uganda.
See more at: http://www.independent.co.ug/…/new…/5079-corruption-in-2012…

This money can easily be saved if there is the political will as those who play a big role in the theft are those politically connected. You can ask yourself where the NRM – O gets all the money they pour into the polls. They are a beneficiary of the corruption machinery, hence, in the circumstances; it is a joke to imagine that they can seriously hunt the animal that feeds them.

THERE IS NEED FOR A BETTER UGANDA AGENDA
Visionary leadership in Uganda should be able to present a Coordinated Programme of Economic & Social Development Policies, in other words, the Uganda Shared Growth and Development Agenda (USGDA). This should form the basis for preparation of development plans and annual budgets at the sector and district levels throughout the country given the prevailing situation.

The Better Uganda Agenda should encompass the following social and economic goals:
Putting food on people’s tables;
Providing citizens with secure and sustainable jobs;
Rehabilitating and expanding infrastructural facilities;
Ensuring gender equity in access to productive resources such as land, labour, technology, capital/finance and information;
Expanding access to potable water and sanitation, health, housing and education;
Ensuring the safety of life and property;
Embarking on an affirmative action to rectify errors of the past, particularly as they relate to discrimination against women;
Reducing gender and geographical disparities in the distribution of national resources;
Ensuring environmental sustainability in the use of natural resources through Science, technology and innovation;
Pursuing an employment – led economic growth strategy that will appropriately link agriculture to industry, particularly manufacturing;
Creating a new order of social justice and equity, premised on the inclusion of all hitherto excluded and marginalized people, particularly the poor, the underprivileged and persons with disabilities;
Ensuring that the benefits of economic growth are fairly shared among the various segments of society;
Improving transparency and accountability in the use of public funds and other national resources;
Accelerating economic growth rate to at least 8% per annum;
Boosting tourism and the marketing of the country;
Paving way for Federal as a mode of local governance to ensure equity in resource allocation and balanced growth countrywide.

PARENTS WHO LEAVE CARS TO CHILDREN SHOULD BE MORE CAREFUL

PARENTS WHO LEAVE CHILDREN TO DO WHAT THEY WANT OUGHT TO BE CAREFUL. IN HOLIDAY TIME AS WE ARE IN NOW, IT IS COMMON TO FIND CHILDREN LEFT TO DRIVE HOME CARS, AND ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN. BELOW IS NAMBI WHO WAS KNOCKED BY SUCH A CHILD. SHORTLY AFTER, DOCTORS AT MULAGO DECIDED TO AMPUTATE NAMBI'S LEG, AND TO-DATE, THERE IS NO COMPENSATION TO NAMBI!

HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS MUST HAVE NOTED A LOT OF CONTRADICTIONS BETWEEN UGANDA AND KENYA AS HE TRAVELED FROM ENTEBBE TO KAMPALA.

PRESIDENT MUSEVENI WILL BE OUT OF ORDER TO TELL HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS ABOUT WHAT HE CALLS POLITICAL MARTYRS.

In line with the mission for which His Holiness Pope Francis is coming to Uganda.  I think a martyr may best be defined as: 

1. One who chooses to suffer death rather than renounce religious principles.

2. One who makes great sacrifices or suffers much in order to further a belief, cause, or principle.

For President Museveni to talk about Political Martyrs, he will sort of be diversionary.  That is not called for.  

If Uganda looks at benefiting from martyrs, it is the religious martyrs that we as a country are focusing on.  After all, much as some people sacrificed for political reasons, those in power today have simply exploited the sweat of those people.  

I pray that Museveni does not turn the Pope's visit into a joking matter. 

THE PEOPLE OF UGANDA WELCOME HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS TO THE LAND OF THE MARTYRS.

WHAT MISSION IS MUSEVENI PROUD OF FOR UGANDA?

President Museveni alleges that his competitors Dr. Besigye and Hon. Mbabazi have no mission for Uganda.  Museveni is the type who decides to nurture the army (UPDF) a dependent institution at the expense of viable development pillars, and what do we see? An army of unemployed youth who graduate yearly but have nothing to do as resources are wasted into consumption more so among other things institutionalized corruption, the huge Parliament, the ever increasing number of districts just to satisfy his ego to remain in power at the expense of viable development initiatives!

Having presided over the forces that were greatly responsible for instability and insecurity since 1972, Museveni has managed to ensure security for a bigger part of Uganda for as long as he has stayed in power (30 years), though in the northern part of the country, insecurity has been ‘enjoyed’ for 2 decades.  It is unfortunate that his unwillingness to leave power when he is seen as a tired man given the challenges of the day is fertile ground for throwing the country to chaos and instability.

Museveni indeed had a mission as he is convinced; however, there are too many negatives to his mission or ‘is it the one man vision’ which in the final analysis qualify him to be a tired, exhausted man whose increased input into the management of the country will simply lead to more diminishing returns given Uganda’s circumstances.  His mission involving UPDF operations out of Uganda boundaries into DRC calls for a payment of US$10bn an astronomical sum of money, which keeps increasing due to interest, and there is least effort seen in form of positive negotiations to see the matter settled without Uganda having to foot the bill. If majority of Ugandans were literate enough, they would qualify him into not getting any audience for his rallies given this blunder.

His mission which gives priority to recruitment into the UPDF whenever there is opportunity is no asset to the country where majority of the people are employed in agriculture with no technical people that can help their initiatives, instead, the people just gamble.  The other time he was defending his UPDF distributing seeds and other planting materials; the question is: Do these people have the ability to advise the farmers on innovations in agriculture, etc?  He now talks about putting shs 1trillion into NAADS if he is elected President in 2016, however, he forgets that NAADS is just a component in the Plan for Modernization of Agriculture (PMA), in which case, the wise thing to do is to put such money into the planning hands of the Ministry of Agriculture so that they see strategies that can boost the agricultural sector given its sorry state today where technical manpower in the field is lacking, the marketing infrastructure, post harvesting just to mention a few.

Go to our Social sector.  It is pathetic.  In a number of schools, cheating to pass national examinations has been the norm.  When Fagil Mandy wanted to address the problem as chairman of UNEB, the wise thing to do was to show him the exit.  The plight of the teachers is at its lowest.  Many in the health sector are having it rough to serve, and it is no accident that the low morale of the practitioners in the health Sub – sector is leading to loss of lives that would otherwise have been saved.  When complaints are made as regards low pay to workers in the social sector, Museveni tells the people that his priority is infrastructure development, and mind you, in the infrastructure, procurement there is associated with scandals that would be list expected of the country at Uganda’s level of development.  

Museveni’s governance is happy with the Auditor General’s Office that keeps on reporting about the loss of substantial funds, but has no ability to redesign the role of the office so that it can intervene before the funds are lost, instead the story goes on and on as people steal the money, build everywhere to show that the country is having substantial development.

In his campaigns now, he is giving hope to the NRM cadres who failed in the party primaries that they should sit back and wait for employment prospects in which case, they should not stand as independents.  This patronage where quality manpower is compromised can surely not be part of a worthy mission given Uganda’s state as compared to its potential.

I can go on and on without seeing the mission that is worth the challenges President Museveni has put Uganda into.  

APPRECIATING DR. GEORGE KKOLOKOLO

IT IS TRUE, SOME NON - UGANDANS HAVE BEEN ISSUED WITH NATIONAL IDs

SUDANESE FROM IRMA SECONDARY SCHOOL WERE REGISTERED FOR NATIONAL IDENTITY CARDS AT BWEYA CENTRAL ZONE ACCORDING TO INFORMATION FROM A FORMER STUDENT AT THE SCHOOL!

1st TERM 2016 HAS BEEN FIXED ON WRONG PREMISE.

If both Hon. Amama and Dr. Besigye remain on the ballot paper for the Presidential election 2016, then the chance to have a candidate with over 50% of the vote will be less than 0.5 in case we   get a free and fair election.

Therefore, 22nd February 2016 as beginning of the School Term is against the premise that there will be no re-run in the Presidential elections.

In the circumstances therefore, the School term should begin shortly after 26th January 2016.  Children who have to vote should instead get a school break to enable them go to vote and come back, and then go back to vote for the re-run as anticipated given the competition by the leading candidates.

PRESIDENT MUSEVENI GOVERNMENT FAILURE TO PAY LAND COMPENSATION TO BUGANDA LAND BOARD IS UNFORTUNATE.

I don’t know whether President Museveni was in the know that his Government is not fair to Buganda Government.  While billions have accumulated over years in unpaid rent to Buganda Government, the revelation by Kiwalabye of Buganda Land Board that UNRA has shs 10bn in unpaid bills accumulated after Government took over land owned by Buganda Land Board for road construction but has since not paid!  It is not easy to defend this state of affairs yet President tries to show the public how he enjoys good relations with Buganda Kingdom.  This looks deliberate, and it is not clear whether it is because of this that the people from Pan Clays at Kajjjansi have not been paid and the construction is stuck at that point.    

ROTARY CLUB KASANGATI IN A DRIVE TO MAKE SHARED BLESSINGS SCHOOL DREAM COME TRUE

Sunday, 22^nd November 2015 was a big day at Shared Blessings Junior School following the success of the partnership between the school at Kasangati Rotary Club which saw a number of high profile figures in Rotary attend, with the Guest of honour in the name of Rotarian Stephen Mwanje.   

Mwanje who comes from Mukono district was impressed on seeing the development of the school more so with the push of Rotary Club of Kasangati.  The three classroom block is at the stage of roofing.

The school is under Children Safe Uganda an NGO.  It was encouraging to see the level to which children in a school that was started in 2013 are at.  The function also had the graduation ceremony of Children who are leaving the Nursery school section to Primary one.

To listen to the children on stage, one could easily see that the children had gained from the school development.  A part from compositions that had good message to the parents, children were involved in reading news, debating and drama, all of which were reflective of how development can enhance the welfare within a community.  

I cannot underscore the role of Herbert Kiwalabye in the community development initiative in the area on behalf of Children Safe Uganda. 

THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLOIT AS HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS VISITS UGANDA .

This week, His Holiness Pope Francis will visit Uganda.  The question: What do you have to show for the Pope's visit?   I think a souvenir is worth.  I you have such, why don't you contact the Chancellor of Kampala Archdiocese, Fr Dr Joseph Mary Ssebunnya and see whether it will be accepted.  Think about it.

DECEPTIVE CROWDS AND MUSEVENI VICTORY

There has always been talk of NRM ferrying supporters to Museveni rallies.  Refer to Wednesday, November 18, Talk-show: ‘Kiriza oba gana’ programme 7.00 – 9.00pm on CBS 89.2 M by Meddie Nsereko.

The deceptive crowds may help to back up any possible manipulation of the victory where chances are that the technology anticipated to eliminate multiple voting may have a hidden agenda where it could be possible to cheat and hence boost chances of the Museveni ‘win’. 

Otherwise, the climate is for change countrywide which should see Museveni as history if cheating is not given chance.

THE UNFORTUNATE THING FOR UGANDA IS THAT IN ALL THE IMAGES BELOW, THERE IS A COMPONENT OF TAX PAYER MONIES.

WHAT THEN WILL HAPPEN IN THE EVENT THAT AMAMA WINS THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN 2016?

Museveni: I can go, but I won’t hand over to Amama

Written by Edris Kiggundu

 Last Updated: 20 November 2015

 

NRM supporters get creative with their pots

President Museveni yesterday said he will hand over power if defeated in the general elections next February, but not to people who do not have a mission or targets such as FDC presidential flag bearer Kizza Besigye.

Addressing journalists at Arua state lodge, the incumbent said he will not lack what to do if he is not president.

“I have got my job. I am a cattle keeper,” said the NRM presidential candidate, who is seeking a fifth elective term in office to take his total tenure as president to 35 years.

Museveni has previously said that he will not hand over power to anyone who has no vision of where the country should go. Yesterday, he dwelt on the same topic, saying he would not abandon Uganda to people without a mission.

“If these fellows like Besigye, if I was sure that they would have those targets, maybe I would say OK, let them continue. But they don’t have those targets. Even when I am in charge, you find them doing their own different things. So, how can I abandon Uganda to people who have no mission?” he asked.

Addressing a public rally in Kabale in January this year, Museveni described the opposition as “emishega” (wolves) whom he could not entrust with power.

But in Arua yesterday, the incumbent disputed the view that he is power hungry despite 30 years of power under his belt. Instead, he said that he is “mission hungry.”

“I am not looking for a job in politics. I am not looking for money. I am alright,” he said.

Museveni said he is working for the socio-economic transformation of Uganda, noting also that one of the missions he is yet to accomplish is the political federation of East Africa.

He said he could not abandon this unless the people say “we do not need your mission.”

Museveni further said he could not be intimidated by people who have no mission such as Dr Kizza Besigye, the FDC flag bearer and former prime minister, Amama Mbabazi, who is contesting as an independent candidate.

“In 2001 Besigye was saying Museveni agende when we had all these problems of Kony, [and] cattle rustling in Karamoja,” Museveni said.

The president also poured scorn on talk that he cannot win an election unless he rigs it. He said the fact that he has been losing in some sub-regions before such as Acholi and West Nile is evidence that elections are free and fair.

AGE LIMIT

On whether he will retire in 2021 after hitting the constitutional age limit of 75 years, assuming he wins next year, Museveni was not emphatic. The president has previously rubbished talk that he might champion the amendment of the constitution to remove age-limits. Yesterday, he said he will follow what the Constitution stipulates, which essentially leaves a window wide open for such an amendment.

President Museveni addressing the media in Arua

Reacting to Mbabazi’s demand that the report into the death of Brig Noble Mayombo be made public, Museveni said there was nothing to hide about the death of the former permanent secretary in the ministry of defence.

“The report is there and I have talked with the family about it. Mayombo died of natural causes…I don’t know if the family wants the report to be made public,” Museveni said.

Mbabazi, while campaigning in Fort Portal on November 17, absolved himself of any role in the death of Mayombo, who hailed from the area. Mbabazi told the people to put pressure on government to make the cause of Mayombo’s death public.

‘BESIGYE IRRESPONSIBLE’

Museveni described Besigye’s promise of paying primary school teachers Shs 650,000 and secondary teachers Shs 1 million as “irresponsible.”

Besigye has made increasing salaries of teachers a central theme of his campaign. The president said if Besigye were to implement such a promise, it would push up the public wage bill and expose his talk of reducing public expenditure as hollow.

Museveni also said that it would mean that Besigye’s government would not undertake big infrastructure projects such as roads and power dams which benefit more people.

The press briefing came at the tail end of his tour of West Nile, where he has been since November 14. He generally received a warm reception from a sub-region, which has previously displayed significant opposition support.

But in parts of Yumbe town on November 18, there were signs that former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi has been doing some ground work. Mbabazi’s posters are pasted next to those of Museveni while on some occasions, the president’s entourage encountered boda boda cyclists clad in T-shirts with the rival candidate’s photograph.

The president is today expected to start his tour of Acholi sub-region with rallies in Amuru and Nwoya districts before heading to Gulu tomorrow.

ekiggundu@observer.ug