Reports Leo Odera Omolo

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni yesterday launched his re-election bid with a huge rally during which he outlined his achievements and said there was still work for him and the NRM to do for the country.

President Museveni, the NRM party flag-bearer, addressing a crowd at Kololo airstrip yesterday

He said the country under his leadership is on the road to economic transformation.

Museveni was addressing jubilant supporters at Kololo Airstrip hours after being duly nominated as NRM’s presidential candidate in next year’s general elections.

He cited peace, security, economic recovery, disciplined army, free education for all, and democratisation as some of his key achievements.

Museveni said NRM’s achievements are not only recognised in Uganda, but across the world.

“NRM has liberated Uganda from dictators and has brought peace to the country. Our economy is self-reliant as we can work on development programmes without depending on foreign loans and grants.

“It is us who have liberated Uganda from those problems, who deserve to be entrusted with the leadership of the country,” he said amidst ululations from supporters.

Museveni dismissed his competitors in the 2011 presidential race asking him to relinquish power, saying they are underachievers with nothing to offer.

Referring to his achievements, stability and a robust economy with enough revenue to finance government programmes, Museveni wondered why his opponents were demanding that he relinquishes power.

“They say Museveni agende (should go). Why should he go and you remain? What have you achieved to qualify to replace him? Uganda had problems of murderers and dictators, why didn’t you solve them? The Museveni you tell to go led those who liberated Uganda from those problems,” he elaborated.

Museveni equated himself to an old broom, which knows all the corners and to a fighter, who has surmounted all the country’s problems.

The NRM leader assured the citizens that there is enough revenue to run government programmes. He cited the Kampala-Masaka road, Matugga-Ssemuto-Kapeeka road, and Busega-Mityana road, which are being constructed on internally generated funds.

Referring to the 1962 UPC alliance with Kabaka Yekka that resulted into the bloody 1966 crisis, Museveni cautioned voters against making wrong choices while voting.

“The Baganda say ensi egula mirambo (a nation is liberated through bloodshed). If that is the case, why do you gamble with politics? You elect Ken Lukyamuzi who talks about conserving butterflies. If he likes them so much, why doesn’t he rear them?” he wondered.

Museveni promised to construct free public toilets in all the divisions of Kampala as part of his new programmes in the next term if re-elected.

He said he would, in the next financial year, ensure 100 free public toilets are built in Kawempe division and 50 in each of the other Kampala divisions.

“It is unfortunate that the poor cannot access toilets because of charges ranging from sh200 to sh700. I want to stop this exploitation of the poor and introduce free toilets,” Museveni said.

He arrived at the rally at 2:30pm in his car which moved through the ululating crowds. Accompanied by his wife Janet, he waved at the supporters before taking his seat in the tent.

The rally was attended by a mass of supporters donned in yellow t-shirts, with Museveni’s portrait and inscriptions declaring their loyalty to NRM.

The airstrip was pasted with banners praising Museveni. Various drama groups and brass-bands moved around chanting NRM’s slogan of ‘no change’ and tajja’genda (he will not go).

Several supporters travelled from various parts of the country to attend the rally.

Among the guests was former FDC vice-chairman for the northern region Alex Onzima, who crossed to the NRM and former DP stalwart and Kampala mayor Nasser Sebaggala.

Onzima seconded Museveni’s nomination after NRM national vice-chairman Alhaji Moses Kigongo proposed Museveni’s name to the Electoral Commission at Namboole Stadium.

Several artistes, including veteran Kadongo Kamu singer Dan Mugula and local musician Eddie Kenzo of the stamina hit, entertained the crowd. Museveni joined them on the stage and belted his new rap song, “give you some rap?” which sent the fans into laughter.

Addressing the underprivileged, Museveni said he would ensure that he deals with the problem of high market dues so that vendors can remain with enough income to solve their problems.

He cited a levy of sh500 imposed on each bunch of matooke, which he said constitutes overcharging the ordinary vendors.

He said since Kampala mayor Nasser Sebaggala had joined him, the problems of Kampala would be solved with the help of the Kampala City Council.

The NRM secretary general, Amama Mbabazi, and his deputy, Dorothy Hyuha, were the MCs. Mbabazi thanked the supporters for turning up in big numbers.

Ends