{UAH} Pojim/WBK: Museveni rallies Bunyoro

http://www.observer.ug/news-headlines/39146-museveni-rallies-bunyoro

Museveni rallies Bunyoro

Written by Edward Ssekika

Last Updated: 07 August 2015

President Museveni in Bunyoro 

President Museveni this week descended on Bunyoro to sell Operation Wealth Creation (OWC), but was greeted by a litany of complaints about his unfulfilled promises to the region.

With the 2016 elections barely six months away, Museveni was careful to state that he was not "campaigning", but as he left Bunyoro on Tuesday, his promises made four years ago must have been fresh in his mind.

Ahead of the 2011 elections, the president promised to construct four major roads in the region, extend electricity to rural areas, establish a public university, give Shs 50m towards the construction of Nyantozi catholic parish, and Shs 600m to Masindi hospital.

While Hoima-Kaiso-Tonya road was completed, three are pending: Kigumba-Hoima-Kyenjojo road, Hoima-Butiaba-Wanseko road and Mubende-Kagadi-Ndaiga road. On Monday, Museveni started his tour in Masindi district's Pakanyi sub-county, where he commissioned a grain processing plant constructed with support from the World Food Programme (WFP).

He later addressed a rally at Boma ground in Masindi town, where the promises were raised. District chairman Wilson Isingoma Mugimba, for instance, pointed out that Kigumba-Hoima- Kyenjojo road had not yet been tarmacked.

This road, connecting Bunyoro, Tooro and Northern Uganda, has become a serious political issue. Early this year, political activists Jonathan Akwetaireho and Rogers Kanti were arrested for collecting signatures to petition the speaker of parliament over this road. 
FUNDING

"Mr President, yes, this road is in the budget, but we want it constructed," Isingoma said, before mentioning the other pledges as the crowd cheered.

The minister for Bunyoro Affairs, Ernest Kiiza, said when he was appointed, he established a contact office in Hoima and, with other stakeholders, formulated the Bunyoro Integrated Affirmative Action Plan. But, Museveni was told, the plan is not funded.

President Museveni commissioning a grain processing facility owned and operated by "Joseph Initiatives" in Pakanyi, Masindi District

In reply, the President said he was aware of the issue of Kigumba road, to be tarmacked with a World Bank loan under the Albertine Region Sustainable Development Project. For the first phase, from Hoima to Kabwoya, the contractor is already on site and Museveni promised works would start soon. For the Kigumba-Buliima-Hoima phase, works are expected to start in October.

Museveni said works on the Hoima-Butiaba-Wanseko road construction would start in September. This road was awarded to the Turkish firm Kolin without competitive bidding because the company had completed the Hoima-Kaiso-Tonya road ahead of schedule.

"These debts of roads are going to end. But in addition to roads, you need to increase on your household incomes," Museveni said, touching an issue at the heart of his wealth creation gospel.
TRIBAL POLITICS

On Tuesday, the president was in Kibaale district, where he presided at a fundraiser for the construction of St Francis of Asisi Catholic Church. He later addressed a rally at St Jude Secondary School in Burora sub-county, Buyaga West constituency.

At the rally, Museveni said he had learnt that some politicians in the district had embarked on sectarian politicking to divide the people. Kibaale district is known for its tribal politics that pits the Banyoro against migrants mainly from Kigezi, commonly referred to as Bafuruki.

Matters came to a head in 2001 when Fred Ruremera, a Mufuruki, was elected district chairperson; with a frightening spectre of violence between the Bafuruki and Banyoro, Museveni forced Ruremera to step down and to allow a Munyoro to rule.

For the 2011 elections, Buyaga and Bugangaizi constituencies were split along tribal lines: Buyaga West, represented by 'rebel MP' Barnabas Tinkasiimire, is predominantly a Bafuruki constituency, while Buyaga East, represented by Ignatius Besisira, is Banyoro-dominated. Bugangaizi East, represented by Mabel Bakeine, is Bafuruki-dominated, while Dr Kasirivu Atwooki's Bugangaizi East is Banyoro-dominated.

There have been fears of a likelihood of tribal  conflicts in 2016 elections.

"Let leaders tell you what they want to do for you and leave your tribes because all tribes and people were created by God; we are all gifts from God, so don't divide God's people," Museveni said. 

"I am not campaigning but when time comes, I will come here and tell you that NRM defeated rebels and brought peace to this region and I will ask you to vote NRM on those grounds, not on tribal or religious basis because sectarian politics is evil.

"Uganda is peaceful, united and developing and nobody should divide Ugandans and spoil all the gains the country has realized."
The president pledged to extend electricity to rural areas as he had earlier promised.
ssekika@observer.ug 

Museveni rallies Bunyoro

http://www.observer.ug/news-headlines/39146-museveni-rallies-bunyoro

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