Writes Leo Odera Omolo
JABERI Bidandi Ssali yesterday kick-started his campaign with drama after a prostitute confronted him in Mpigi district, demanding to know how he planned to economically empower marginalised people like her.
Wearing blue jean trousers and a red blouse, Irene Kamaama told Bidandi: “I am a prostitute and I charge sh3,000 for each man I sleep with, but I don’t have clients. I have reduced the charges, still I do not get customers. What are you going to do for us?”
Kamaama
The 30-year-old woman, wearing a colourful wig, appealed to Bidandi for financial assistance. The rally, which took place at Ggolo landing site in Nkozi sub-county, Mpigi district, erupted into laughter as she spoke.
The mother of three said she lost her husband to AIDS in 2004 and was unable to care for the children.
In response, Bidandi said: “This is why we want new leadership. We want a new foundation whereby people are not tempted to get involved in such behaviour (prostitution).” But he declined to offer the woman money.
Kamaama said she resorted to prostitution out of desperation.
Bidandi arrived at Nkozi at 11:00am. However, because his car’s roof would not open, he switched to the official vehicle, an open-roof white Pajero.
Criss-crossing the villages, he waved to people as music blared from a truck. His son, Moses Ssali a.k.a. Bebe Cool, sung, urging voters to choose his dad.
Bidandi’s team distributed posters to the residents, who said they would listen to all candidates before choosing who to vote for.
Bidandi criticised NRM leaders, saying they were not groomed for leadership but got power by force of arms. “They were not mentored like us. Some have never been school class monitors,” he argued.
Bidandi also said President Museveni’s priorities were misplaced. “If you told the President that there is $1m in the treasury and you gave him several options, among them purchasing guns, he would choose guns,” he said.
Bidandi called for change from “rulers to leaders”.
He said he did not have personal quarrels with Museveni, but accused him of abandoning the principles of the NRM. Bidandi was once a minister, but fell out with Museveni after Parliament changed the Constitution to remove the presidential term limits in 2005.
At 73, Bidandi said he would serve for only one term and retire like South Africa’s Nelson Mandela did. He promised a federal system of governance.
He also attacked the Inter-Party Coalition, saying it was similar to the 1962 alliance that ended in bloodshed.
Bidandi also addressed rallies at Lwebikoma, Nkozi and Mawokota villages in Mpigi
Ends