ARUA — Buoyed by the huge crowds that turned up for his rallies in the West Nile region, FDC President, Col. Kizza Besigye, said Ugandans had finally understood why he is opposed to the NRM administration.
Besigye began his tour of the region on March 2, with a three-hour long public rally at Pakwach. This was followed by rallies at Panyango, Wadlai, Kuchwiny in Jonam County; Paidha, Jangokoro, Warr, Zombo and Alangi, near the Uganda-DR Congo border.
On March 4, thousands of FDC supporters poured onto Arua streets to welcome the retired Colonel on the third leg of his tour of the region.
The crowd stopped Besigye’s convoy near the Islamic University in Uganda, Arua campus, and accompanied him to Arua Hill Boma Ground where a rally was held from 4:40pm. to 7p.m. Besigye had earlier addressed rallies at Kamkam trading centre on the banks of River Nile, Ayavu trading centre, and at Ajia Sub-county headquarters.
Besigye is in the region seeking re-endorsement by FDC delegates as the opposition party’s presidential candidate in next year’s election.
At all the rallies, Besigye said that he is certain of victory because Ugandans now understand why he is opposed to the current regime. He cited corruption, poverty and poor social services such as lack of medicine in hospitals.
“When I am in West Nile, I sleep soundly because I know I am among my friends,” Besigye said during the rally in Arua.
However, while on his way to Ajia Sub-county headquarters, Besigye was heckled by a small group of women dressed in yellow (NRM’s colour), who shouted “no change” and flashed the NRM’s thumbs up symbol.
He later told his supporters that by chanting “no change,” the women meant that they want to remain barefooted, and in poverty forever.
At Nyadri market in Maracha, a Police officer attempted to stop the FDC leader from addressing the people after it clocked 8:00p.m. Besigye reacted by accusing the NRM government of using the Police to frustrate the opposition.
He urged his supporters to be firm, assuring them that the ruling party will be ousted from power in the next general elections. He reminded his audience that over the years, President Museveni’s support has been falling, adding that the President will not poll even 50% of the votes in next year’s election.
“It is now clear to everybody that NRM has failed for 24 years, the whole country is crying of poverty, lack of medicine in hospitals, no jobs for graduates. The only thing which is in plenty is corruption,” he said.
He warned West Nile to be careful about the ongoing oil exploration in the area, saying it could expose the people to the risk of losing their land to unscrupulous people, some of them disguised as pastoralists.
Nomadic pastoralists have become a cause for concern in Arua. The district council, sitting on February 11, set up a committee to probe activities of the nomads and report to council in April.
Besigye warned that corrupt NRM politicians will swindle oil revenue if returned to power, citing the billions meant for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in 2007 that went unaccounted for. He said the money could have built 4,000 schools to ease congestion in UPE classrooms. POST NRM UGANDA
Besigye further said that his party has drawn up a programme to turn the country round by wholeheartedly fighting corruption and promoting irrigation and mechanized farming.
He said that national food stores will be established and some of the surplus produce bought from peasants by the government for export.
He promised to increase primary school teachers’ salary to Sh400, 000 per month. He said he will retire all Resident District Commissioners and use money saved from their salaries to improve the welfare of teachers and medical workers.
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MAKE ONE PARTY NOW written by mugisha abdul , March 07, 2010
kindly retired Col. Dr. KB its better you all come up together and with Mao plus others so that u ease the voters work of seeing off NRM by votting for one group of opposition than ten contenders who can divide our votes.It will be easy for peasants to even guard their votes.
DP's Nobert Mao excites Masaka written by kyeyune , March 07, 2010
Mao waving to residents of Masaka town who turned up to welcome him on Saturday
By Ali Mambule
THOUSANDS of Democratic Party (DP) supporters turned up at Lukaya, Nyendo and Masaka town to welcome the party presidential candidate, Norbert Mao, on Saturday afternoon.
The supporters travelled on motorcycles, bicycles, motor vehicles and others walked long distances to have a glance at Mao.
Mao addressed a rally at Lukaya town where he vowed to win the 2011 presidential elections.
“I am the only candidate who has so far come out publicly to show interest in the presidential seat in next year’s election,” he told hundreds of residents. Mao said the Uganda People’s Congress was still battling court disputes, while the National Resistance Movement (NRM) members were not decided on their flag-bearer,
“Our colleagues in the NRM are not sure whether they will bring our usual suspect but they should know that Mao has come to win the 2011 elections,” he said.
Former DP president John Ssebaana Kizito introduced Mao to the residents of Lukaya.
Mao was accompanied by the party vice-president, John Kawanga, who doubles as the Masaka municipality MP, the party district chairman, Dennis Mukasa Mbidde and other DP officials who were elected in Mbale recently.
Mao expressed his happiness over the warm reception he received in Masaka. He appealed to those who left for other parties to return, saying it was time for DP to win the presidency.
“We have drawn a programme to move to every district, calling our people back to the Democratic Party,” he said.
“The other task we have ahead of us is to look for candidates who will contest on the Democratic Party card at all levels and to reorganise our party structures.” Mao’s supporters chanted, “Mao our Ugandan Obama”, as he proceeded to Masaka town. However, the Police blocked a rally scheduled to take place at Nyendo trading centre.
“They have told me that we organised the rally at a health centre, which is a Government facility,” said Nyendo Sennyange, the division chairman.
He criticised the Police for blocking the rally, saying the NRM office, which is located at the division premises, should also be relocated.
Dr Besigye needs to address the political system written by Stephen Kakooza , March 08, 2010
FDC has the majority support among opposition parties but that support may not be reflected on voting days.
WHY??, It is simply because most Ugandans still have alot of doubt in all politicians' promises since independence, which have failed to turn into guinue political change to bring about a lasting peace to all Ugandans.
Dr. Besigye needs to pronounce himself on the political system of governance other than the current unitary system that will only turn FDC into another NRM, which is a mere change of guards.
I know Dr. Besigye has a mind problem of accepting Hon. Betty Kamya's Federal system of governance as the only hope for Ugandan's problems. But we should all burry one differences in the opposition and agree on a compromise that will allow the people of West Nile to enjoy the fruits of their tobacco without having to travel long distances, under district delegations to meet the President Museveni in Rwakitura, President Mao in Gulu Palace or President Besigye in Rukungiri Paradise.
... written by Jim Kamezza , March 08, 2010
It is hight time DP joined ICP , because we have plans that will surprise the dictator just before elections , We need to act as a solid body and throw NRM away in sewers
Mao attacks Museveni over Buganda radio closure written by kyeyune , March 08, 2010
Mao attacks Museveni over Buganda radio closure SHARE BOOKMARK PRINT EMAIL
Posted Tuesday, March 9 2010 at 00:00 IN SUMMARY Mr Mao is the second candidate to be handed a party flag to challenge Museveni in the next general elections after the People’s Progressive Party endorsed its president and former Local Government Minister Jaberi Bidandi Ssali. Masaka The newly-elected president general of the Democratic Party, Mr Norbert Mao, used his two-day tour of Masaka to turn his guns on Mr Museveni and his thorny relation with Buganda. Mr Mao, the first non-Muganda to lead the DP executive, criticised the President for shutting Buganda Kingdom’s Central Broadcasting Services (CBS) Radio and demanded that it be re-opened. He also criticised Museveni for personalising Buganda Kingdom issues, saying institutions like the Media Council should have played a central role to resolve the misunderstandings. “It is clear that he wants to destroy the kingdom by denying it a voice and revenue. He wants to frustrate the kingdom’s efforts to grant school bursaries to your daughters and sons. If it was the issue of people abusing him using the radio, why didn’t he deal with those people as individuals?” Mr Mao, who was received by large enthusiastic crowds at all his events including a prayer session at Kitovu Catholic Church, sought advantage over Museveni on the federo debate pledging that he would grant the kingdom its wish of a federal status if elected President in next year’s general elections. He, however, had a brush with the police on Sunday after his convoy was blocked by the force. Mr Mao was blocked as he tried to proceed to Buwunga Sub-county but the police said the route was not on plan. The acting District Police Commander, Mr Titus Byaruhanga, told him he could not take any other route out of Masaka other that the one he had used to get to Buyaga in Kyanamukaaka Sub-county where he had addressed a well-attended rally. “There are a few things we are doing and we want to ensure we give him protection, so he cannot continue,” Mr Byaruhanga, told Daily Monitor. According to DP Secretary General, Mr Mathias Nsubuga, Mao was expected to use the road from Buyaga through Buwunga Sub-county and back to Masaka Town before proceeding to Gomba. Mr Mao is the second candidate to be handed a party flag to challenge Museveni in the next general elections after the People’s Progressive Party endorsed its president and former Local Government Minister Jaberi Bidandi Ssali.
ARUA — Buoyed by the huge crowds that turned up for his rallies in the West Nile region, FDC President, Col. Kizza Besigye, said Ugandans had finally understood why he is opposed to the NRM administration.
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