KAMPALA, UGANDA: President Yoweri Museveni has congratulated the Opposition Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) political party on their victory in the Oyam North County by-election.
The President who is also the ruling National Resistance Movement National Chairman in a lengthy Friday statement acknowledged the defeat in the heated race where his candidate Samuel Engola, the son of the late Minister Col (Rtd) Charles Engola was defeated by Dr Apio Eunice Otuko of the UPC.
In the results announced by Mr Richard Onoba, the Oyam District Returning Officer, Dr Apio rode to the election victory with 15718 votes while Samuel Engola had 15176 votes, portraying a tight race between the two party strongholds and political allies.
“Congratulations to our allies, the UPC and to the candidate, Eunice Apio, for winning the Oyam by-elections. Congratulations also to the NRM and the candidate Engola Junior because the difference between the two was very small,” said Mr Museveni in his congratulatory message posted on Twitter.
The President, however, expressed concern over incidents of pre-ticked ballots discovered during the election day.
“I condemn and demand action against the law-breakers that are said to have ticked the ballots on behalf of the voters. This is treason and no NRM should ever take part in that crime. It is the Opposition that has been doing that around Kampala, with the incompetent NRM officials failing to catch them.”
Below is Museveni’s message in full;
Ugandans and, especially the Bazzukulu,
Greetings.
Congratulations to our allies, the UPC and for the candidate, Eunice Apio, for winning the Oyam by-elections. Congratulations also to the NRM and the candidate Engola Junior because the difference between the two was very small.
If UPC cheated in any way, the NRM can follow the legal channels. I condemn and demand action against the law-breakers that are said to have ticked the ballots on behalf of the voters. This is treason and no NRM should ever take part in that crime.
It is the Opposition that has been doing that around Kampala, with the incompetent NRM officials failing to catch them. If the voters cannot do so genuinely and influence the choice of the candidates and Parties, then how can the People guarantee their future and discipline leaders? This is why the NRM went to the bush. Vote rigging, bribery, violence, lies, etc., must be banished from our elections.
I insist that all voting must be electronic, using the thumb prints. How, then, does the pre-ticking come in? Are some People still allowing non- electronic voting?
UPC has been, in recent years, positive and not disruptive and so has DP been. That is why I congratulate them, although I would have preferred the NRM to win. Nevertheless, both the UPC and the DP should pay attention to what I said at Icheme recently.
The sabotage of the UNC by the DP in 1954 and the sabotage of the UNLF in 1980 by both the UPC and the DP, denied Uganda a broad-based political force that could guarantee peace in Uganda, the way Tanu and Afro-Shirazi did in Tanzania. The two of them, again, since 1994 (the CA time), have been trying to sabotage the broad-based NRM but the People of Uganda have rejected their efforts.
Therefore, the surviving UPC and DP members -people like Rwakasisi, John Kawanga, and Joyce Ssebugwawo (KY) – should sensitize their members about the historical mistakes that disadvantaged Uganda.
What would have Uganda lost if the UNC in 1954 or the UNLF in 1980, had remained united? What would have Uganda, East Africa, Africa and even the individual actors (Muteesa, Obote, Amin, Ben Kiwanuka on the Uganda side and elders from Kenya and Tanzania -Mzee Kenyatta, Mwalimu Nyerere, etc.) lost if the East African Federation had been actualized in 1963 as the Declaration of Federation proclaimed? So many lost opportunities and a lot of unnecessary trouble.
The NRM in Oyam and the rest of the Country should concentrate on wealth and get away from the sterile and nonsensical politics of cheap popularity -giving money, attending burials, etc.
In Oyam, I drove for 27kms, from Col. Engola’s home to Icheme and to Otwal, looking at the different sides of the road. I only saw some little patches of Muhogo (cassava) and maize. That is why at Otwal, I asked the question: “Cente (sente), tie kwene?”- “From where do you get money?”
What has Operation Wealth Creation been doing in that area? No coffee, no fruits, no poultry, no piggery, no dairy and no fish farming. In otherwords, no PDM.
As I told the Oyam People, I am going back in August to get an answer to that question. The chairman, told me about watermelons and soya beans. Those are not part of the activities for PDM. What is the cura (Kibaro)?
I also noticed some irresponsible people encroaching on the wetlands. They must get out. We need the swamps as dero (granary, store of water) for irrigation; not for rice and crops. Crops are for the dry land.
Towards the end of next week, I will make a broadcast on anti-terrorism and crime. Stay tuned.
I am here in Kisozi, deworming my cattle. Yesterday, I was on a point where I could watch Katonga bridge (Gomba side- upstream). We the Gomba and allied People of Butambala, Ssembabule, etc., are happy to have given Uganda and East Africa an alternative route when the Katonga Bridge, near the Equator, flooded. I saw so many trucks, buses, etc., yesterday-crossing the Katonga Bridge of Gomba.
The cattle industry of Uganda will be a big money earner for dairy and beef.
While here, I got the sad news of the death of Aponye, our big supporter and active economic actor. Condolences to his family and the Ugandans in general. May his soul rest in eternal peace.
Signed:
Yoweri K. Museveni
7th July 2023
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