VIDEO: Amama Mbabazi finally declares to run for presidency in 2016

Patrick Amama Mbabazi was the Prime Minister of Uganda from 24 May 2011 to 19 September 2014. Prior to this position, he served as the Minister for Security in the Ugandan Cabinet from February 2009 to May 2011.

FULL STATEMENT BY AMAMA

My fellow Ugandans,

I greet you wherever you are. It is a great privilege for me to address you.

I come before you today, to tell you that I will be seeking your vote, first within my party the NRM as its flag bearer; and later on in the whole country for President in the 2016 Presidential elections.

The coming election is about the future, about making Uganda work for everyone.

It is about reinvigorating our country and making it fit for the 21st century and beyond.

And it is about breathing new life into our system of government – a system that has become weak and inefficient.

We need to revive our mission to improve education, health and public services and ensure that they are delivered fairly and to high standards.

We need to restore our party, the NRM, and return to its roots – a genuine, accountable and democratic movement.

And we, as a country, need to rediscover our democratic principles.

52 years ago we gained our independence and Uganda has since achieved many things.

We have united the country and increased prosperity ...

Attained a greater level of peace and security...

Greatly improved the provision of education and won the respect of the international community...

These are all achievements of which I am sure the men and women - who even before Independence envisioned what Uganda would look like as a self-sufficient nation - would be proud of.

We have too much to be proud of to allow anyone to belittle those gains.

Yet we still face many challenges. It is abundantly clear that what Ugandans want now, what you want, is not simply a change in leadership but a change of systems, a change in order: The kind of change that will not only strengthen the gains of the last 52 years, but will enable the nation to rise above where it is today.

To bring about this change I believe we must focus on eight critical things:

Reviving Uganda's democracy and institutions.

Transforming the economy and attracting heavy local and foreign investment.

Promoting equitable development where all communities and all regions of the country equally benefit from decisions made by the government.

Providing jobs that are fit for the 21st century.

Ensuring a greater level of accountability on the part of your leaders and making a stronger effort at fighting corruption at all levels.

Reinforcing observance of and respect for the rule of law while ensuring security for all.

Providing good quality healthcare.

Enhancing the quality of education and addressing the skills gap.

43 years ago as a youth and, later on, as a young idealistic lawyer with a hunger for justice I joined the struggle against the destructive forces that were threatening to derail the self-governing hopes and dreams of our new democracy.

That hunger still remains.

As most of you know, I have dedicated many years of my life to serving the people of Uganda.My loyalty is absolute. It is to the people and Constitution of Uganda. It is to the founding principles of the National Resistance Movement and the values for which I fought as a young man and for which many lost their property, liberty and even their lives.

This is the most important election in a generation.

As a people we must choose between achieving success and true prosperity in the new global economy or nursing a tired nation - yesterday's story.

You will be making a choice for your families, for your children and the generations to come.

In the coming days you will hear and read, in greater detail, more about my plans for Uganda's future.

The future is not secured by what we do tomorrow; it is entirely determined by the decisions we make today.

You hold Uganda’s future in your hands.

So I want to urge you to take the first step - by choosing a fairer society and a democratic future.

A new age is upon us and upon this our focus must rest

Yesterday is gone and today's challenges must have newer, better answers.

Uganda can work. Together, let’s make it work.

Situation at Amama Mbabazi's home

Reports from Amama Mbabazi's home in Kololo indicate that operatives dressed in civilian clothes have deployed. However, Mbabazi's guards have tried to chase them away in vain.

Amama Mbabazi's wife Jacqueline Mbabazi waves to journalists through the window, they cheer as she smiles. Ms Mbabazi then leaves the house shortly after.

At around 10:25am, Amama gets out of the house and is stopped by journalists outside his home, he addresses them: "Like i said i will tell you, haven't i told you?" he says.

Spreading Amama gospel elsewhere

REACTIONS

Andrew Mwenda (CEO of the Independent Magazine)

For now I predict there will be criminal charges brought against @AmamaMbabazi over temangalo, oil bribes, chogm procurements etc

MP Barnabas Tinkasiimire

Hon Tinka Barnabas @HonTinkasiimire
@AndrewMwenda @AmamaMbabazi as usual museveni the master of blackmail shall go for criminal charges. But they may go with him this time.

Frank Tumwebaze (Minister for Presidency and Minister for Kampala affairs)

Once again this morning my phone was full of multiple calls and text messages from news reporters asking me to comment on Hon Amama Mbabazi's candidature declaration. Below is my brief comment;

"It's his constitutional right to vie for any office. And since he says that he will contest within NRM, the membership of NRM will look at his record. Fortunately, he is not new from heaven. He has been here for all the years being part and parcel of the government architecture until he was sacked. We are yet to see the new miracles and ideas that he is bringing on board which he never dispensed when he was part of government moreover not as a small actor. What is new with the 8 points I have seen him talk about? He knows well what NRM has accomplished on each of those. We shall however asses him more as a person vying to hold our party's flag. But one thing to note is that Leadership does not start when one declares to be president".

Alan Kasuja

Alan Kasujja @kasujja
This contest between @AmamaMbabazi an @KagutaMuseveni will be brutal. Messy. Deeply personal. #Uganda

ARRESTS

Two of Amama Mbabazi agents have been arrested in Soroti.

The suspects were arrested by police on Sunday night at a guest house in Soroti Municipality shortly after the former premier Mababazi declared to stand for presidency in the 2016 general elections. (Full story in the Daily Monitor -Tuesday)