{Independent presidential candidate John Patrick Amama Mbabazi has asked people to end fear of political intimidation if they want a change in government.}
Mr Mbabazi made the plea while speaking at a rally in Kabuhanguzi, Kabale District, after one supporter in the crowd informed him that police had blocked the routes leading to the rally venue and asked him to tell the crowd what they should do amid intimidation and threats.
“These police here?” he asked while pointing at a police patrol pick-up truck that had parked nearby where he was standing. “I have been told about it and it has disturbed me.”
Borrowing from a phrase he got at a rally in Arua, Mr Mbabazi told the people not to be intimidated and to stop fearing. He then asked people to respond “no we are not afraid” each time he posed the question, “Are you afraid?”
“I want those who are not afraid to take the photos of those who intimidate you and my lawyers will take action with evidence,” he said.
Mr Mbabazi’s call came almost a month after NRM apologised for disrupting his rallies and a fortnight after the Electoral Commission warned political parties and participants against holding counter rallies and intimidating opponents’ supporters.
Mr Mbabazi also castigated the deputy RDC of Kabale, Denis Nzairwe, whom, he said, had worked with police to cut off all routes from villages to where his rallies were to be held.
About 80 people that were heading for his rally were briefly intercepted at Katuna border town as the police claimed that the lorry they were being carried in was overloaded. The Kabale District police commander, Mr Dickens Bindeeba, said that it was a simple issue which they quickly resolved.
Speaking on the sidelines of the rally, Go Forward’s in charge of field operations, Hope Mwesigye asked government to desist from disrupting her team’s rallies. “Ugandans know what is good for them. We expect government and the NRM operatives to behave themselves. Mr Nzairwe has been arresting our supporters and putting them in cells but we all know the RDC has no power to arrest anyone.”
Ms Mwesigye said most of the people were arrested as they trooped from villages in Ndorwa. Further explaining the lukewarm crowds from Paliisa to Kabale, Ms Mwesigye said it is all the work of demobilisers.
“It is not that we are not working with our local teams. But you have people who go and pay and intimidate our supporters not to attend rallies,” she said.
Promises
Mr Mbabazi has promised to establish government banks at every sub-county and silos for agricultural produce.
While addressing his supporters at Nyeikunama playground in Muhanga Town Council in Rukiga County, he said he will establish commodities exchange that will help local farmers access loans from commercial banks using warehouse receipts.
Mr Mbabazi also promised to reinstate presidential term limits so that able leaders are given chance to participate in the leadership of their country. “Everywhere I go people say that the situation in their communities is bad. Vote Go Forward so that these problems can be solved. It is true that I have been in government but I have never been the president,” he explained. “Vote Amama Mbabazi for the president of Uganda and development shall be in every sector,” he said.
He asked his supporters to remain at the polling centres until the voting process ends and he would himself monitor how the results are entered into the Electoral Commission computers in Kampala. Mr Mbabazi also promised to make available electricity to benefit at least 80 per cent households that shall be paying subsidised prices.
He opened the Go Forward offices at Muhanga Town Council before holding mini-rallies at Bukinda, Kyobugombe, Nyakigugwe, Kaharo, Ahabuyonza vegetable market, Jonan Luwum playground in Kamuganguzi and Lower playground in Kabale Town.
SOURCE:DAILY MONITOR:[End fear of intimidation to bring change, says Mbabazi->http://www.monitor.co.ug/SpecialReports/Elections/End-fear-of-intimidation-to-bring-change–says-Mbabazi/-/859108/2991922/-/fwym61/-/index.html]
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