The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential candidate, Dr. Kizza Besigye, has cautioned the electorate against voting for people with tainted records, including those implicated in scandals such as corruption.
While on the campaign trail in the eastern districts of Pallisa and Butaleja on Thursday, Besigye asked residents to watch out for people he said had amassed a lot of wealth with which they hope to confuse voters during the ongoing campaigns and elections.
He, however, encouraged them to accept money and any other freebies that may be donated to them, but elect upright leaders with clean records.
“As you choose your leaders for the next five years, reject those with bad records: the thieves, corrupt and liars. It is such people who have a lot of money during the campaigns.”
He is one of the eight presidential candidates canvassing the country for support. Other candidates are incumbent President Museveni, former premier Amama Mbabazi, veterinarian Abed Bwanika, former Makerere University vice-chancellor Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba, educationist Joseph Mabirizi, retired army officer Maj. Gen. Benon Biraro and Maureen Kyalya Walube.
Kyalya is the only female candidate in the race.
“Once they come to you, take the money because it is yours but do not vote them into office,” he emphasised.
Besigye who said institutions such as the Inspectorate of Government and the Police that are mandated to fight corruption, are not independent and vowed to overhaul them if elected president in the February 2016 polls.
“They serve interests of certain political leaders, on whose orders they act. If you criticize such leaders, the Inspector General of Government will arrest you and when you apologise you are released,” he said.
Besigye was accompanied by FDC president Mugisha Muntu, secretary general Nandala Mafabi, secretary for mobilisation Ingrid Turinawe and Members of Parliament: Geoffrey Ekanya (Tororo County), Kevina Taaka (Busia Municipality) and Isaiah Sasaga (Budadiri East).
They traversed areas such as Kabweri and Kameke in Pallisa as well as Nabiganda, Butaleja plus Busolwe in Butaleja district.
During a rally at Nabiganda trading centre, Besigye observed that whereas Uganda is endowed with a lot of natural resources, making it one of the richest countries in the world, the majority of its people live below the poverty line.
“This is a rich country, but with high levels of unemployment, bad road infrastructure, limited access to clean water and where the number of mothers dying in labour each day has risen from 16 to 19,” he argued.
Besigye said all this happens because the resources that would have been used are squandered by those in positions of leadership and because grass-roots people are powerless.
“You watch as all this happens and you know the people stealing what belongs to you, but there is nothing you can do about it since they took away your power. When someone steals your vote, he takes away your voice,” he noted.
“When you lack power you are more or less a refugee in your own country. In fact, even worse than some refugees,” he stressed.
Besigye expressed the need to change people’s attitude and mindset so that they can believe in themselves and be able to demand for their rights. He suggested instead that people demand accountability before the President and other leaders.
He lashed out at President Yoweri Museveni, who he said is fond of boasting about how he has developed roads.
“What Museveni boasts of as good roads are actually death traps. They are narrow and congested, increasing the rate of accidents. The death toll on our roads is more than the deaths in all wars in Uganda combined.”
Mugisha Muntu said FDC strives to build a nation where there is equality before the law, without anyone trampling on the rights of others.
Nandala said the whole of Butaleja has no tarmac road, while the district, like many others, does not have a student on the State House scholarship for bright, but needy students. He said the scholarships are not awarded on merit as the scheme is meant to be.
