MITYANA. National Unity Platform Presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi has rallied youth in Buganda Region to vote for change, saying the more the incumbent President Yoweri Museveni continues occupying State House, the more suffering they will endure.
Addressing a final rally at Busuubizi playground after crisscrossing villages in Mityana District on Monday , Kyagulanyi promised to protect Museveni if he peacefully hands over power after losing next January polls.
“If Gen Museveni peacefully hands over power ,we shall protect him,” he said
The two-time presidential candidate rallied electorate to turn out in big numbers to vote the NRM government out of power in the January 12 polls. President Museveni,81 has been in power since January 1986 since he shot his way to State House after a five-year guerilla war .
“You can see the poor and impassable roads among other failed service delivery systems in Buganda ,but for now I will not talk about this because they will say I am being tribal, yet this is the area that brought Museveni into power .Let us just vote them out of power,” he said amid ululation from his ecstatic crowd
He promised to turn around the economy, improve road infrastructure, providing good , affordable education and health care by putting to good use the Shs10trillion the country annually loses to corruption .
“ The money this country loses to corruption annually translates to Shs50 trillion in five years .This money is enough to around things in this country and citizens enjoy what comes out the taxes they pay ,”he said
Before Kyagulanyi entered Mityana , there a standoff between NUP leaders and security officials in the district on where he should hold the main rally ..Initially, NUP leaders had planned to have the Monday evening main rally at Mityana-Ssaza Grounds in the heart of Mityana Town , but the district security committee advised that it is taken to Busubizi Playground ,located about 5kms outside town. NUP leaders also wanted to use the rally to launch Kyagulanyi’s campaign trail in Buganda Region –which is the party’s stronghold.
According to Deputy Resident District Commissioner Ms Prossy Mwanjuzi argue that the earlier proposed venue is located in a busy area which may pose a serious challenge on public safety and crowd management.
“Our responsibility is to maintain order and ensure safety for everyone. The change of venue was purely a security precaution.”
The decision sparked a sharp criticism from NUP leaders, who accused authorities of political interference and deliberate obstruction of opposition activities. Today, Tuesday, Kyagulanyi is campaigning in the districts of Kassanda and Mubende as he continues to canvass for votes in Buganda Region .