Prime
Museveni vows to crush protesters
President Museveni (C), Archbishop Stanley Ntagali (L) and North Kigezi Diocese Bishop Patrick Tugume tour the new bishop’s house at the weekend. PHOTO BY PEREZ RUMANZI.
What you need to know:
The warning. Mr Museveni told those who want to protest his victory to do it in their homes or playgrounds but not on the streets, vowing that those who will fail to heed will be crashed.
RUKUNGIRI: President Museveni has said he will closely work with Opposition but vowed to crush any protests challenging his victory endorsed by the Supreme Court last Thursday.
“[Opposition] MPs who will want to work, we shall work with them on development issues but if they want to protest, we shall refuse,” Mr Museveni said.
“If you want to protest, go to your home, or to a playground and do everything you want... but don’t attempt playing in my garden. I can kill you,” he added.
The President, who has been in power for 30 years, was speaking at St Emmanuel Cathedral Kinyasano, the seat for North Kigezi Diocese in Rukungiri District last Saturday.
He was at the diocese to officiate the opening of a Shs800m Bishop’s House, where he pledged to contribute Shs50m towards development activities of the diocese and a chicken hatchery. He gave the diocese a cash donation of Shs10m.
Rukungiri is the home of former FDC presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye who insists the February elections were a sham.
Dr Besigye has on four occasions lost to Mr Museveni in in 2001, 2006, 2011 and on February 18.
Rukungiri voted Opposition-leaning candidates from FDC, including Mr Roland Mugume Kaginda and Mr Fred Turyamuhweza who represent Rukungiri Municipality and Rujumbura constituency respectively.
NRM took Rubabo, and the district Woman MP seat. Out of the 28 councillors in the district council, only six were from NRM while the entire municipality has no NRM councillor.
“As Movement [NRM] I shall work for everyone … we have to work together now. Time for elections is over,” Mr Museveni said.
The President, who was accompanied by First Lady Janet Museveni emphasised unity and working for wealth creation.
“The gospel of the Movement [NRM] is to unite. I have been preaching wealth, this has been for 20 years but there are those who have been saying, ‘let him go.’ I have no problem with going because I have a home to go to anyway,” he said.
He said because people have failed to listen to his messages and concentrated on politicking, many have not started commercial undertakings to improve household income.
“In the 2001 census, 68 per cent of households were engaged in subsistence agriculture and the percentage is still the same. We have only 32 per cent of the households doing commercial agriculture and other commercial activities, others are producing for only the stomach, and yet the population has increased,” he charged.
Preaching at the same function Archbishop Stanley Ntagali called on leaders to respect human rights, asking the newly elected leaders, as well as church leaders to be mindful of transparency and accountability as core values in serving the people.
Archbishop Ntagali told President Museveni that the church congratulated him upon his victory and that the Supreme Court had cemented it, proving that indeed he was lawfully elected and is a leader chosen by the Almighty God.
Advice
Return to work: Mr Museveni, who court last week declared as having won the election fairly, says time for politicking is over and Ugandans should return to work.
No protests: Mr Museveni also says he will crush all those who will challenge his February 18 election as some members from the Opposition, especially Dr Besigye continue to call his win a sham.
Commercial agriculture: He also says there is need to concentrate on agriculture through which a number of households could be pulled out of poverty.
