{UAH} New 'pro-Mbabazi' group emerges

New ‘pro-Mbabazi’ group emerges

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Sunday, 16 March 2014 22:00

Written by Edris Kiggundu

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Another youth group has declared support for Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi should he decide to seek leadership of the country.

The development comes days after police dropped charges against other pro-Mbabazi youths following a meeting between the premier and police chief, Gen Kale Kayihura. The youths had been accused of soliciting signatures in support of Mbabazi’s presumed presidential bid and spreading false information about President Museveni.

The new group, Kampala Poor Youth Forum (KPYF), was formed in 2011 to unite unemployed youths in Kampala and other urban centres. Their chairman, Richard Kilekyankuba, told The Observer last week that they had come out openly to identify with Mbabazi because they felt he had been mistreated by his party.

Mbabazi was a victim of tongue-lashing during last month’s NRM caucus retreat at Kyankwanzi that ended with members adopting a resolution to have Museveni as the party’s sole candidate in the 2016 elections. Kilekyankuba says the group he leads has more than 3,000 members.

“Mbabazi is the only leader in NRM fighting for [internal] democracy. The others are only worried about selfish personal interests,” Kilekyankuba said.

Claiming that the group had been threatened by the police and other security agencies, Kilekyankuba asked:

“If we all keep quiet because we fear to be arrested, who will fight for justice, equality?”

He added that Museveni had gone to the bush in 1981 to fight for democracy and yet the country was now reaping “dictatorship.” Kilekyankuba said police chief Kale Kayihura had met them last year and tried to dissuade them from engaging in partisan politics.

“Leave politics to politicians. As young people, you should be engaging in income-generating projects,” Kayihura reportedly said.

During a patriotism seminar at Bat Valley primary school, the youth leader said, Kayihura implored them to love their country and not listen to opposition leaders. Indeed some youths have since left the group after they landed jobs as law enforcement officers at KCCA or as community vigilantes under the Uganda Police.

Vincent Kaggwa, Kilekyankuba’s deputy, said they were disgruntled because of Museveni’s unfulfilled promises. He pointed at the Shs 16.5bn earmarked for Kampala youths, saying they had not benefitted from the fund.

Although they denied being closely associated with Mbabazi, another source told us that the prime minister had helped them at an informal level.

“Mbabazi feared these people could be wooed by the opposition and he promised them some token support,” the source said, adding, “He is sort of their patron.”

On Good Friday, April 18, the group plans to hold “special prayers” at the Constitution Square in remembrance of the sacrifices Jesus Christ made. They argue that Uganda needs a leader inspired by Jesus who is willing to make sacrifices.

“This country needs prayers,” Kaggwa said.

ekiggundu@observer.ug