President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has revealed that the
National Resistance Movement (NRM) politics is politics of science but not
guesswork and it aims at solving the problems of Ugandans.
From the beginning we were telling you that we are here
for your good. I'm not here to look for anything because I have got everything
in my home. Even when we were fighting Idi Amin, we were not looking for
anything personal. When Amin took power in 1971, I was working in the
President's Office. I had actually been recruited by somebody from here, Mzee
Abdallah Anyuru. When Amin came, we could have stayed there; opportunistically
working for the new government but we said no we are looking for value not
positions or money. I can get money from my cows, I don't need money from the
government since it's small and cows' money is more,” President Museveni said.
The President made the revelation today while campaigning
for the NRM flag bearer for Oyam North Parliamentary By-election, Samuel Engola
Okello Junior during a rally held at Tegony Primary School in Iceme Town
Council in Oyam North. Samuel Engola Junior is the son of former area Member of
Parliament also former State Minister for Labour, Employment and Industrial
Relations, Col. (Rtd) Charles Engola Okello who was gunned downed by his bodyguard
in May this year at his home In Kyanja, a Kampala suburb.
The President noted that NRM's involvement in leadership
is because of the medicine they have for people's issues.
“When leaders come and say they want to lead, you should
look at them and gauge them because many leaders, once elected, normally find
it easy to talk about “Dongo Lobo” (development). When I come here, I can see
how many elements of “Dongo Lobo” are on the ground. I can see roads, schools
among other infrastructure,” he added.
Addressing a second campaign rally held at Otwal Primary
School in Otwal Sub- County, President Museveni reiterated that the NRM
government has got a package of solutions for Uganda’s problems.
“You should always listen carefully to our message. I
cannot come here and say support NRM or support Engola Junior just because he
should get a position of Member of Parliament. I come here because I'm sure
that the NRM has got a package of solutions for our problems. The NRM is the
only party that can build and sustain peace,” he asserted.
“The late Okello Engola believed in peace that is why he
fought here and you gave him that name “Macodwogo”. He was fighting for peace.
Now if you want peace, the next question should be which leaders can help you
achieve that? Because if you get wrong leaders, you will not get peace and you
hear what is happening in most parts of Africa. Don't think those people are
stupid or, they simply made mistakes for not solving the issue of leadership,”
H.E Museveni added.
The President further explained that after achieving peace
and good leadership, the NRM government decided to focus on development and
engaging their people on how to fight poverty through creation of wealth.
“Many leaders make a mistake by simply working for only
development. When you go to a public meeting, they are talking about the road,
the hospital, schools and so on. That is good but that is not enough,” the
President advised.
“That is why the NRM said development is important but
there are also other things that they must also do. And that is where the issue
of “Lonyo” (wealth) comes in. “Dongo Lobo” is different from “Lonyo” because “Lonyo”
is mine but “Dongo Lobo” is ours. You may have a good road in the area, and you
travel on it but the poverty you left at your home in the morning, welcomes you
in the evening.”
President Museveni also underscored the importance of
Education, saying that this is one of the elements which help to uplift
development and wealth in any society.
“That is why we introduced Education for all- UPE. And we
have been telling you that let the children in the government schools’ study
for free without paying money because that interferes with the children of the
poor, but some people don't listen. They keep on charging school fees, but we
are going to start a new campaign to stop those school fees,” he said.
“Once you have dealt with these ones, then you add health which includes
vaccination where you get rid of so many diseases. I think we are now
vaccinating 13 diseases including the one we introduced some years ago to stop
our granddaughters from getting uterus cancer once they grow. So all young
girls should go and get vaccinated, they will get lifelong immunity against
that cancer. Therefore, you should emphasize prevention rather than waiting to
be sick and then go to the hospital and be treated.”
On the other hand, the President Likened Okello Junior to
the disciples Mathew, Mark, Luke and others who were the followers of Christ,
but when Jesus left, they continued with his works.
“Since Junior was near his father Okello Engola, I think
he might be a disciple of his father,” he asserted.
In his brief remarks, Okello Engola Junior, flanked by his
wife Sharon, pledged to the electorate to continue with what his father was
doing.
He pledged to the people of Oyam North solid
representation in Parliament.
Earlier, the NRM Secretary General Hon. Richard Todwong
informed the President that they have had a peaceful campaign throughout the
campaigning period.
“Your Excellency, when the Electoral Commission declared
this seat vacant, our party Electoral Commission headed by Dr. Tanga Odoi put
out an announcement and in total we got 10 aspirants- people who expressed
interest to contest in Oyam North, but we need to thank them that out of the
10, with consultations and advice, we ended up with one candidate. All these
candidates accepted that we should rally behind Okello,” he said.
Mr. Todwong also disclosed that over 900 people from the
opposition's Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) had crossed to the ruling party
NRM.
“As we were campaigning in Oyam North, our friends from
other political parties especially from the Uganda People’s Congress especially
the leaders decided to join the National Resistance Movement. In total we have
900 converts from the UPC,” he said.
The NRM Director in charge of Mobilization, Hon. Rosemary
Nansubuga Seninde said, “Your Excellency, allow me to thank you for the support
that you have extended. The resources that you have given that have enabled us
to reach where we are. I also thank the Secretary General and my colleagues
from the NRM Secretariat with whom we have worked closely to ensure that we
reach where we are.”
Meanwhile, the people of Oyam North will be going to the
polls this Thursday 6th July 2023 to vote for their next MP following the death
of Col. (Rtd) Charles Engola in May this year.
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