{UAH} Pojim/WBK: I am not sick, says Museveni

http://www.observer.ug/news-headlines/41279-i-am-not-sick-says-museveni

I am not sick, says Museveni

Written by Edris Kiggundu

Last Updated: 27 November 2015

President Museveni in Moroto

President Museveni, 71, yesterday dispelled rumours that he is "sick and about to die."

Responding to a question by a journalist at the conclusion of his Karamoja sub-region campaigns, Museveni said those who were spreading such rumours should be embarrassed.

"Shame upon those who say I was soon going to die. I am alive and kicking. I got this small accident in Japan on my fist, but it has completely healed. You should instead appreciate the fact that I had gone to Japan to get road equipment which are soon coming," he said at Morulinga state lodge in Moroto.

For weeks in September, the president's right palm was wrapped in a bandage, sparking off rumours that he was not well. At Namboole stadium during the NRM delegates' conference, the president sprinted to the podium, as if to prove that he is still physically fit.
MBABAZI THREAT

Museveni said he was unmoved by his political rival Amama Mbabazi's threat to spill government secrets if he is provoked further by the NRM.

"I cannot be threatened by Mbabazi's comments. He can say what he wants," he said.

The incumbent said that while on the campaign trail, Mbabazi had made promises such as reducing the size of cabinet, which are not tenable.

"If my cabinet is so big like Mbabazi says, why didn't he complain about it before? This cabinet is a factor of efficiency and service delivery," he said.
VISIBLE ACHIEVEMENTS

Museveni said he cannot engage in scarecrow tactics with his challengers because his achievements as president are visible. Museveni said the health programmes initiated by government such as immunisation had reduced on deaths of infants, leading to population growth in the sub-region.

Addressing his biggest rally in the sub-region at Moroto on Wednesday, Museveni said Karamoja is home to him, since he started going there in 1970 when he worked as a research officer in former President Apollo Milton Obote's office.

Museveni accused David Pulkol, the former director general of the External Security Organisation (ESO), who is now a campaign manager for Mbabazi, of trying to pour cold water on government's efforts to disarm the Karimojong.

"They were saying you can't remove the guns in Karamoja without removing those from Pokot, Turkana, Topotha in Sudan and others. One of the people was a young man called Pulkol," he said.

"I told them they were talking rubbish. It was not my job to remove guns from Turkana or Topoth. My job was to remove guns from my people, then defend them from external enemies. We have now removed the guns, what have you missed?"

Museveni said the major problems affecting Karamoja today are poor roads and lack of clean water, but his government had acquired equipment to maintain the earth roads.

"Now with equipment from Japan, each district will get a grader. It will have a wheel loader, a road compacter, and  a water bouser," he said. "At zonal level, like here in Moroto for Karamoja, there will be a caterpillar; a bulldozer…."

Tarmacked road in Karamoja

Museveni promised to be back in the district to break ground on the construction of a cement factory in Moroto district's Katikekele sub-county, whose limestone reserves are said to weigh 300 million tonnes and can be used for 300 years.
ekiggundu@observer.ug

I am not sick, says Museveni

http://www.observer.ug/news-headlines/41279-i-am-not-sick-says-museveni

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