http://www.observer.ug/news-headlines/41938-museveni-jumps-kigezi-hurdles

Museveni jumps Kigezi hurdles

Written by Edris Kiggundu

Heading into Kigezi sub-region last week, fear in the ruling NRM camp trumped optimism.

Some in NRM had feared that the presidential run of former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi could undercut President Museveni's support there. However, going by the warm reception Museveni got, it is clear he still enjoys solid support despite his bitter falling out with Mbabazi, which rubbed some people in Kigezi the wrong way.

The Observer has been told that the NRM has worked hard to dismantle the Mbabazi-led Go Forward campaign structures. From Kisoro to Rubanda to Kabale, hundreds of self-confessed Mbabazi supporters have been defecting to NRM in droves.

At a rally in Kisoro municipality on January 2, a prominent Mbabazi coordinator who jumped ship, Alex Matata, told The Observer that Mbabazi's manifesto did not address the plight of the youth.

"He [Mbabazi] says he is going to create jobs for us but [he] does not tell us where the jobs are going to come from," Matata said.

It was also telling that one of Mbabazi's biggest backers in the sub-region, Reverend Father Gaetano Batanyenda, attended Museveni's rally in Kitanga sub-county, Rukiga county on Monday. Museveni bowed as Gaetano touched his hat.

Museveni later boasted at a rally in Kabale municipality that he felt energized because "I have received blessings from Father Gaetano."

Father Gaetano Batanyenda blessing President Museveni

Gaetano told The Observer on Monday evening that Museveni "requested" the blessing and as a religious leader from the area; it would have been rude of him to turn down the request.

He said his blessing was two-fold: first, Gaetano said, like all of us, "Museveni is a sinner who should change some of his ways" and, secondly, the blessing should help the president continue with some of the good things he has done.

"I cannot refuse to bless anyone whether they are sinners or not. The blessing I give is not mine. It is from God," the vocal priest said.

Talking to locals and from observation, Museveni's biggest threats in the sub-region are two: FDC's Dr Kizza Besigye, on one hand, and the bickering among local NRM leaders.

Besigye and FDC's support, especially within Kabale municipality, is strong thanks largely to the efforts of the mayor of Kabale, Dr Pius Ruhemurana, who is a member of FDC.

On Monday, Besigye was a subject of Museveni's vicious attacks and in Kabale municipality, Museveni said the FDC flag bearer had no right to criticize the NRM because he is not one of the original founders of the NRM.

"Besigye does not know the NRM ideology and, therefore, has no right to tell us what to do," Museveni said, attracting wild cheers.

In Kamwezi sub-county, Rukiga county, the president asked the people not to vote for FDC's Jack Sabiiti, calling him a liar and a hindrance to development.

"Sabiiti was one of the MPs who frustrated government's first plan to construct Bujagali dam. I hear he has been telling people that electricity will never come to Kamwezi. Now it is here," Museveni said, imploring the people to vote for NRM's Herbert Kabafunzaki.

Museveni's attack on Sabiiti came a year after he praised the legislator for being development-oriented much as he fraternized with wrong people.

The president made the remarks in Rukiga last January while promoting operation wealth creation. On the campaign trail, Museveni promised to tarmac the Kamwezi-Kyogo-Muhanga road which leads to the border with Rwanda.

He joked that once the road is done, the people of Kamwezi will regain their pride and stop being laughed at by the Rwandans who cross into the area.

UPBEAT

Generally, throughout his campaigns in Kigezi, the president was in a cheerful mood. In Kabale, he was accompanied by one of his daughters, Natasha Karugire.

For most part, Natasha, clad in a yellow top, jeans and sporting shades, busied herself with her smart phone. She only occasionally smiled whenever her father cracked a joke or made what she considered an interesting point.

For instance, she beamed when Museveni boasted that he knew how to tie the intestines of a sheep, a task, which requires some good experience. Likewise, the president said he is the only one with the experience to man- age Uganda.

In Kigezi, there was a change to Museveni's usual campaign routine. He held two or three rallies a day; as opposed to the four daily rallies he held in other sub- regions.

Secondly, for unclear reasons, Museveni has not used the chopper, driving on the hilly and sometimes bumpy roads. A party insider told The Observer that Museveni simply wanted to have a feel of the roads.

But other sources said the hilly nature of the sub-region could have made flying a risky venture.

Today, Wednesday, Museveni is scheduled to address a press briefing in Kabale before heading to Kanungu, Mbabazi's home turf, where he could face some resistance.

Tomorrow, he heads to Rukungiri, the home district of Besigye where he will finalize his campaign tour of Kigezi.

ekiggundu@observer.ug