Presidential candidate Amama Mbabazi launched his campaigns in Masaka on Monday, where he told a huge crowd to vote him into power so he deals with corruption.
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6.30pm: ‘Do you want change?’
Mbabazi tells his large audience: “We have enough money to do what the country needs, but the people in charge do not know how to use it. There is also the problem of corruption. If you vote me, you will not hear of corruption again. We shall give back Buganda land, and the land that belongs to other regions such as Ankole, Toro and Bunyoro. The power is in your hands. If you want change, you will have it. So, don’t listen to what these other people are telling you. You know I have been in the army before and I have been minister of defence. I know someone cannot refuse to leave power because the army is for the people. If you want change, we should all go forward.
“The big question for 2016 is: ‘Do you want change?’ If the answer is yes, put your hands up. May the Lord bless you.”
6.20pm: ‘Police for people’
“The best police is the one that works for the people. Our police is good, but the problem is the leadership. The army has remained loyal and friendly to the people. That’s the kind of police we want. I know the problems that we have with our schools, hospitals, roads and we shall work on all that. We want our people to get jobs as well,” says Mbabazi.
6.10pm: ‘In your hands’
He continues: “So those who say I have been in government and I have been working under him should know the difference. In a few days, I will launch my manifesto. I want my people to have the rights to think, act and do what they want.
“So, if you vote me, know that every decision will be in your hands. You will see change in just 100 days of our government coming into power.”
5.55pm: ‘Change is the only constant’
Amama Mbabazi, the man in the light in Masaka today, addresses the huge crowd thus: “Please forgive me for arriving late. But I have seen excitement on my way and it showed me that people want change. When I saw you people here, I knew change was coming. People are asking themselves questions such as ‘Mbabazi has spent 30 years in NRM, why is he doing this?’ I know when you are in politics, time comes when people want change. In life change is the only constant and we can do nothing about it.
“I know what I am telling you because I have seen and heard things. What forced me to do this was because we tried to get change in a good way ever since we got independence, but it has been hard and you also know that,” he says.
“And the kind of change we have been getting is the kind where we shed blood and destroy people’s property, but the change I want is different and peaceful. That is the change I want to bring. All the power in this government is in the president’s hands and all those who work for the government just help the president because you cannot do what he has not ordered you to do.
5.40pm: ‘Roof is leaking’
The Masaka rally is attended by the likes of Mathias Nsubuga, Norbert Mao (Democratic Party president), Brenda Nabukenya, Florence Kiyingi, Medard Lubega Ssegona, Solome Kabanda, Dr. Joseph Bossa, Dick Odulu, Michael Mabikke. Mbabazi has been given a spear and a shield by a DP official.
Speeches on. And first up . . . . Nobert Mao
“We thank the NRM supporters for trying to disorganize our rally, which they failed to do,” says the DP leader.
“During the nominations, I am sorry I was out of the country. I was in South Africa and failed to get a plane back to Uganda. However, I was with you in spirit. All of you who are still in NRM should leave.
“All of us have tried to hit the snake, but we have only inflicted wounds on it and failed to kill it. I believe it is Mbabazi who is going to hit the snake on the head. All the heads in NRM have run away and the bus has lost meaning because its roof is leaking.
“Kizza Besigye left with the steering wheel, Salaam Musumba left with the lights and now Mbabazi has left with the engine. I don’t think the bus can still move.”
5.30pm: But much earlier than that . . .
. . . NRM party supporters from Lukaya in Kalungu district expressed their support and loyality to President Museveni before the procession of Mbabazi at Bukulula near Lukaya town NRM party offices located at the Masaka-Kampala highway.
DP vice Chairperson Denis Mukasa Mbidde and his wife, who is the Bukomansimbi district woman MP, Susan Namaganda, expressed might and solidity as they passed by Lukaya town.
5.20pm: The time when . . . .
. . . . Mbabazi arrived in Masaka . . .
4.20pm: Mbabazi campaign underway
The stage is set, entertainers are doing their thing on stage. We have a rally. It’s the first of many to come . . . a whole three months of that ahead.
4.00pm: Earlier . . . in Nyendo
2.40pm: Are we there yet?
Oh yes, finally! Amama Mbabazi enters Masaka town. But there is a lot of traffic jam as his conyoy snakes into the town. He will address his supporters at the Golf Course grounds, about a kilometre away.
2.00pm: Hungry? . . . almost there
Amama Mbabazi is making a stop at every trading centre en route to Masaka and making it a point to come out of his vehicle and buy foodstuff like roasted meat, gonja (plantain) and sweet bananas. He is now at Lukaya. Not far off from his destination. Unlike fellow candidates President Yoweri Museveni, Dr. Kizza Besigye and Dr. Abed Bwanika, Mbabazi is a first-timer on such a trail.
1.50pm: At Mbizinnya
1.40pm: Feel like mchomo?
You don’t? Well, someone else sure does . . .
Urban TV’s Edward Muhumuza snaps Mbabazi’s group stop over at this market in Kayabwe to catch a skewer or two of ’em juicy meat. He’s got quite a handful of them! When you pass by this market, be sure to eat some of the gonja and liver and chicken and . . . oh my, the list goes on . . .
1.20pm: Early afternoon jog?
Did you have an early morning jog today? Or is it that you lack a tad bit of inspiration to get down to it? Well, if these men on Mbabazi’s security detail (pictured earlier while still in Kampala) aren’t inspiration enough, then I don’t known what else would be?
Cummon boys, let’s get moving!
12.50pm: Getting set in Masaka
By 10.00am today (almost three hours ago), Mbabazi was still at his home in Kampala, getting ready to hit the road. But where he is destined to, his Go Forward crew has been busy building the stage from where the former Prime Minister will kick off his campaigns.
12.10pm: Anger?
Meanwhile . . . why is Democratic Party (DP) member from Masaka Municipality, Peter Mutesasira, ripping off this poster of presidential candidate Amama Mbabazi along Elgin street in Masaka town?
Well, he is angry. He accuses Mbabazi of dropping him and instead choosing Masaka Municipality MP, Mathias Mpuga as his coordinator for Masaka. Posters of Mbabazi were pulled down in many places in Masaka town Sunday night.
While some look on, perhaps clueless, and in amusement . . .
Others decide to invade the one-man episode and become confrontational . . .
11.20am: Voters’s concerns in Masaka as they await Mbabazi
By Joyce Nakato
Today officially kicks off the presidential campaigns that will see eight successfully nominated presidential candidates traverse the country for the next 90 days seeking support ahead of the 2016 elections that are going to be held on the February 18.
One of these candidates is John Patrick Amama Mbabazi who is expected to kick off his campaign rallies in Masaka town this morning. However, as Mbabazi writes up his first campaign speech, the people of Masaka have already spoken out on some of the issues that they want him to address in his campaign and these among many others include the following;
The first issue that the people want addressed is poverty with 62% of the people surveyed by the New Vision saying the poverty had become an issue of concern to them because of its adverse effect on their lives.
The second issue that the want addressed in this campaign is the issue of health services. 39% of the people surveyed complained about the poor state of the government health centers, the lack of drugs and medical equipment in addition to the minimal health staff that found in these health centers. Many want to know how Mbabazi is going to address this issue.
37% of the people surveyed also expressed dissatisfaction with poor or no access to energy. Many of the people surveyed here say that poor energy has affected their businesses and the running of their own personal lives. In addition to this was also the issue of poor energy use, with many people claiming that alternative energy sources like biogas and solar are too expensive and government has refused to subsidize them.
37% of the people want Mbabazi to address the issue of poor road network in Masaka.
Although they appreciate the tremendous effort that has been undertaken by government to improve their road network, many believe that a lot of work still remains to be done to improve the roads which they say are a main stay of their lives. Many of the people surveyed noted that the poor state of the roads had not only affected their businesses but also access to other social services like health centers.
Among other issues that they want addressed is agriculture. As the backbone of the country’s economy, 23% of the people in Masaka believe that government has done little to boost this sector which has in turn left to languishing behind in spite of the fact that it is the major employer of many Ugandans.
So in that regard, they want to see what Mbabazi has in store for them.
10:12am: Mbabazi leaves home
The former Prime Minister with the ambitions of becoming Uganda’s next president, sets off on his journey to Masaka. At Busega, his convoy meets many supporters who block the road, prompting his security team to clear the way for the convoy. He briefly talks to them.
9:00am: Let’s get this started
Mbabazi wearing a white shirt emblazoned with the Go Forward logo, has emerged from his house in Kololo raring to hit the day ahead of a busy schedule. But before setting off, he talks to his supporters, who include boda boda riders. He tells them the rally is at Golf Course in Masaka town and that they will not be able to travel with him, but says they will go to other rallies. He says he was leaving them with Hope Mwesigye.
By 7:00am, Mbabazi’s supporters had already converged at his home.
