Writes Leo Odera Omolo

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has said opposition parties are too weak to provide effective leadership and ensure prosperity.

Museveni, who was on the last leg of the Lango sub-region campaign trail told his supporters at Awila Primary School, six kilometers from former President Dr. Apollo Milton Obote’s home, that only the NRM could guarantee peace and prosperity.

The President welcomed the late Obote’s cousin, Obadia Akaki, and about 400 other people, including a district councillor, Oola Malakwal, who crossed to the NRM.

Obote’s cousin, Obadia Akaki, chatting with Museveni in Apac on Tuesday. Obadia defected to NRM and started campaigning for Museveni

Akaki hugged Museveni and kept a tight grip for about one minute.

In an earlier interview, Akaki, who was wearing a cap with Museveni’s photo, said he had joined the NRM much earlier, and that Museveni had been giving him assistance.

“Since my brother Obote died, Museveni has been taking care of me,” he said, adding that he supports the NRM because of its good programmes.

Drawing from an analogy of cooking fire stones, Museveni said it is only the NRM which has developed the three stones that can keep the pot in place.

He said the three fire stones are good politics, which does not divide people according to religion, tribe or sex, a developing economy, which had collapsed during Amin’s regime, and the capacity to develop and keep a disciplined army.

“Uganda has had many problems and it is only the NRM that has managed to contain them and keep the country steadily growing,” Museveni told his cheering supporters.

He advised NRM supporters to give a warm welcome to people crossing from the opposition in order to strengthen the party.

Apac district party chairman Ogwang Odyero and NRM parliamentary flag-bearer Jovino Akaki thanked the Government for the programmes it has been extended to the area and promised over whelming support for Museveni in the coming polls.

Flanked by the NRM party vice-chairman in the north, Sam Engola, the President enumerated the achievements of the NRM government, including ending the LRA insurgency.

He also said the Government had been able to disarm the Karimojong cattle rustlers and improve enrolment in primary and secondary schools.

Museveni, who addressed two other rallies at Kwania and Koleenumerated, said his government had also improved health services by building health centers.

He said the approach to Prosperity-for-All under the National Agriculture Advisory Services had been changed because of many complaints over the distribution of the materials.

He said under the new strategy, the smallest unit becomes the village from the previous parish unit.

Museveni explained that everyone above 18 years in a village would be included in a village development cell, which would take decisions on what investment to make and the distribution criteria.

“This is good because when anyone cheats everybody will know who is cheating,” he said.

Ends