Kyagulanyi says he can win Museveni in an election – without army

Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine, former Presidential Candidate, NUP

Former presidential Candidate Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi has said without the  army and police involvement in Uganda’s elections, President Yoweri Museveni can not win him in an election. 

The Kyadondo East legislator who is also the leader of the National Unity Platform, NUP party claims that he won President elect Museveni in the January 14 poll citing fraud and violence in the electoral process. 

Mr Kyagulanyi challenged president Museveni to a re-election where they are only two on the ballot paper to prove how unpopular he had become among Ugandans. 

“I challenge him (Gen Museveni) for a re-election without involvement of the army and police. With internet and a free media, I can win him,” Mr Kyagulanyi said.

Mr Kyagulanyi was addressing about 300 National Unity Platform elected leaders from Mukono South, North, Nakifuma and Mukono Municipality at his home In Magere, Wakiso district. 

He urged elected leaders to remember the people who gave them the mandate through their votes to become leaders and agents of change in Uganda’s political space.

Mr. Kyagulanyi said he is not looking at his party leaders as those to be in the opposition but in government. 

Already, Mukono Municipality Member of Parliament Betty Nambooze has secured interest to become the leader of government business if NUP becomes the next government after the judgment. 

On February 1,2021, Mr. Kyagulanyi filed a petition with the Supreme Court challenging the victory of President Museveni voting fraud and non-compliance with electoral laws. 

“I believe in the rule of law, that’s why I went to court. My belief in the courts does not mean that the courts are not going to be abused by Gen Museveni. I believe in democracy, that’s why I participated in the elections. My belief in democracy does not mean that democracy is not going to be disrespected by Museveni,” Mr Kyagulanyi told Daily Monitor on Monday from his home in Magere. 

The Electoral Commission on January 16, 2021 announced President Museveni as winner of the January 14 polls with 58 percent against Kyagulanyi’s 34 percent. Kyagulanyi insists he won the election. 

The court is expected to deliver its judgment within 45 days from the date of filing the petition. Nine justices of the Supreme Court are to hear the election petition including Chief Justice Owiny-Dollo, Dr Esther Kisaakye Kitimbo, Mike Chibita among others.

“I have thrown the challenge to the judiciary. This is a clear case. Everything that I stated in the petition was actually public knowledge. It is up on the court of law to show that they are worth their name,” Mr Kyagulanyi said. 

Meanwhile, Kyagulanyi and his NUP elected leaders are expected to chose the next leader of opposition in the eleventh parliament to replace Forum for Democratic Change’s Ms Betty AOL Ochan. 

“Giving you an update, we went to court because we have clear evidence that is clear for even for the blind man to see and we therefore asked court for two things. We asked it to cancel Mr Museveni’s victory and if it comes to the worst, we get to have a re-election as long as the army [and security] is kept out polls/election matters and without teargas,” Mr Kyagulanyi told NUP leaders at his home I. Magere on Monday. 

Uganda’s president elect is to sworn into office on May 12, 2021 according to the constitution.

Slum dwellers speak out to Muntu

BY IRENE ABALO OTTO

irene.abalo@gmail.com

The Alliance for National Transformation, ANT party flag bearers went into their second Presidential campaign day in Kawempe Division in Kampala expecting the pomp and flare that welcomed them in Makindye Division on Monday but the team were bombarded with questions from the potential voters.

What normally happens in campaigns is that candidates present themselves and their manifestos before the electorates and are later voted on how the voters perceived and viewed their leadership abilities. That is how democracy makes a candidate compete in a free, fair and credible election. 

But the people of Kalerwe, Ssebina Zone in Kawempe South did more of the talking than listening to the ANT, presidential candidate, Maj Gen (Rtd) Mugisha Muntu Gregg who labored to express himself Luganda, the local dialect of majority of the mainly Muslim slum community. 

“What are you going to do for us? We are tired of empty promises. Some of us lost our cattle during the Luwero War and property in the Luwero war and we are here suffering as if we had nothing before. Look at our children, they are at home and not going to school. Even when you try to borrow a loan for your business, the interest rates are too high and you cannot save enough for the future. How are we supposed to live?” An elderly woman kept shouting from one of the tents as she is seconded by others. 

It looked more like a carefree town hall meeting. The crowd threw random questions at candidates to highlight their personal life struggles, some contrary to what the speaker would be saying. Others were questioning why they should trust ANT leaders because those in power had abused their mandate and misused state resources to enrich themselves.

Gen Muntu came clear on this and told the crowd that he never stole any money as an army commander for the 28 years that he served in the military. He assured the crowd that his name is clean and whoever wants can check his record.Munut wanted to mingle with the ordinary Ugandans, so he chose slums within Kampala where he is selling his presidential bid because he believes the lives of the people in the slums represents the living conditions of the majority of Ugandans who live in deplorable conditions. 

35 year old Ms Namakanga Margaret was among the most active women in the crowd of more than 300 people in two tents, others standing, who not only cheered the general but shouted her issues for him to respond to as he laid his manifesto people his potential voters. 

“I have been in this area (Kalerwe Slum) for over ten years but I cannot even educate my four children without a sponsor. My first born got pregnant at 14 years and went off with a man when she was just in P.6. We all live in that one room and the rent is high, Shs100, 000 per month. My husband is a gardener, he works so hard but all we can get is just money for food.” Laments Ms Namakanga who hails from Luweero district. 

She says she will only listen to a candidate who is willing to provide a solution to their problems and enable them access credit to boast her business in tomatoes and other vegetables which she sells at her stall in front of her shack house.A narrow path that should have been a draining sips water past her verandah.

The children play and run around a heap of dump garbage near less than ten meters away from Ssebina playground where Gen Muntu’s team organized the campaign event. 

Ms Fauzia Baluku, 30, a single mother of three sat in one of the tents with her hand in her chin. She tried to pay attention to the different ANT candidates in various positions but seemed distracted by her distant thoughts. 

“I came here to hear if their coming into leadership can give us any hope. I want to hear him talk about the education of our children. My children need bursaries or sponsorship so that they can study. My first born is in primary seven this year and I do not know how she will join secondary school. I am a street vendor but KCCA keeps chasing us away. At Kalerwe market here, I am not making enough money to cater for my children.” Explains Ms Baluku. 

She laments that there are government programmes that come to the slum dwellers but a few selected people benefit. “The Youth are always rowdy and chaotic because they are idle. Our education system does not train a child to be productive after school but rather look for jobs that are not there.” Says Mr. Mayanja Musaazi Yakubu, ANT candidate for Kampala Lord Mayor. 

Ms Rachael Mutesi, 30, a resident of Kalerwe says all her life, she has live in Kalerwe and watched with pain how the area never gets any project to clear the drainage, construct schools for children or plans for decent and affordable housing for the people. 

“How do we let people stay here in the numbers that they are and still have decent housing. Borrowing from Countries like South Africa where there are flats for the poor but they pay subsidized rates for rent or mortgage. Then Children can have a playground, the drainage can be sorted and people can live in a better and healthy environment without all this garbage piles.” Says Ms Mutesi.

She believes that for any candidate to get votes from slum dwellers, they must address the unique challenges that slum dwellers face daily. But Gen Muntu responded to most of these issues saying that the people in slums need to elect leaders who can be trusted to equitably allocate and efficiently utilize the available resources for the development of all. 

“It is possible to life the standard of living for all the people in these slums. Ensure that there is low cost housing. It has to be planned well. Some of these are public while others are private land. So it requires negotiation with the land owners to buy from them, build but you must also ensure that they have the means to pay for those mortgages. There is no way you can say that a country is developed when there are still slums in these areas.” Mr Muntu explained to the media after speaking in the local dialect to the crowd. 

He later campaigned in Kampala Central and heads to West Ankole region on Wednesday beginning with Ntugamo district. 

Muntu launches presidential campaign in slums

BY IRENE ABALO OTTO

irene.abalo@gmail.com

Alliance for National Transformation, ANT yesterday launched their Campaigns in Makindye Division with a call to Ugandans in deplorable living conditions to trust the party leadership for the change they want.

“We started our campaigns in Makindye because the lives of the people in this area reflects the lives of other people in other urban settings in this country. Even if you go to Karamoja, you find the same problems of poverty and poor service delivery in those areas.” Said Ms Winnie Kiiza, the national campaign coordinator for ANT candidate.

“Look at the issues that Ugandans have and who can solve them before you vote for any leader,” Mr. Kasim Kyaze, the Makindye incumbent MP, told crowds gathered to listen to candidates speak and lay their manifesto before them.

The party Presidential candidate, Maj Gen (Rtd) Mugisha Muntu Gregg told the people of Nsambya, gathered near Gogonya play ground that their situation reflects what majority of Ugandans are going through and it is upon them to choose the right leaders who can efficiently use taxpayers’ money for holistic development.

“I am not asking the people of Uganda to like me, I am asking you to trust me because I can be trusted. Do not put feelings in politics, it is about interest. I am not asking you to trust me out of the blue, I have been there. I served in the Military for 28 years where I saw money being carried in sacks. But you can check my records, I never stole any tax payers’ money.” Gen Muntu told the people of Nsambya.

Gen Muntu laid his campaign manifesto before over a hundred people gathered under tents and others braved the brief afternoon drizzle just to have a glance at the retired army general turned politician. 31 years ago, Muntu became a commander and Major general in the UPDF in his early 30s and is among the longest serving army generals in Uganda.

As the crowds cheered on and listened to him, there was a general confusion of his campaign slogan, People First, a New Future’ and that of former FDC Presidential Candidate, “One Uganda, One People.” The masters of ceremony were patient with people one leaders after the other, they emphasized the new slogan.

Usually, Gen Muntu would speak in his soft and diplomatic tone, but when he spoke to the people of Nsambya, he spoke with vigour and energy. His eyes creased and focused to the unknown, he labored to explain to the crowd why the current government needs to change to save Ugandans from poverty and untold suffering in the hands of security agencies who are supposed to protect them. With time, the crowd adjusted and adapted to the slogan.

Gen Muntu told the people of Nsambya not to look at development in terms of the roads, electricity and other infrastructures but the livelihoods of their fellow citizens.

“If you want to see the level of development of a country, look at the widows and orphans. Look at the most lowly people and where their level of livelihood is. That is what we want to be measured by. Not by roads. Not by might, not by power but by the levels in which we intend to lift the lives of orphans and widows. The impoverished, lift them from where they are to where they are meant to be. By God’s grace, we will achieve that.” Said Gen Muntu in a rather louder voice than the soft spoken general people are used to hearing or seeing in the media.

A mother who chaired the party president all through his speech, clutching a toddler with her left hand later followed the candidate to where he was to board his car. Shockingly, she did ask him what he will do to become president since in most elections, candidates who claim to have won complain of vote rigging.

Muntu calmly asked her and those around him to be present during vote counting so that ballots are not secretly added and counted after voting.

Flanked by his national campaign coordinator and former Leader of Opposition in Parliament Ms Winnie Kiiza, Makindye Member of Parliament contestant, Mr. Kasim Kyazze, other party flag bearers, the lively one hour interaction left many following him to his car as he boarded off to his next campaign venue in Kisenyi, a major Kampala slum.

To him, the campaign journey started in one slum but ahead awaits 145 districts who equally deserve to hear his message of peace and tranquility in his promised new future for Uganda.

The 64 days before he faces other candidates in the ballot box may come sooner than he or any other candidate wished, but Ugandans will on February vote to elect in a democratic election who their next president and parliamentarians will be.

Yesterday, the electoral commission released a complete roadmap that bears campaign schedule for Gen Muntu throughout his campaign period. He is campaigning within Kampala Central tomorrow before heading to Ntungamo district. On Sunday, Muntu’s campaign team were troubled after failing to have a harmonized campaign program at the Electoral Commission as required by law to avoid clashing with other candidates campaigning in the same area.

Inside Gen Muntu’s Manifesto and Campaign team

BY ABALO IRENE OTTO

iaotto@ug.nationmedia.com

Alliance for National Transformation, ANT on Friday unveiled a national and sub-regional campaign team that saw him launch presidential campaigns in Makindye, Kampala today ahead and the January 2021 presidential elections. 

On May 22, 2019, ANT was launched. The party has fielded a presidential candidate, Rtd Major Gen Mugisha Muntu Gregg whose slogan is, The Change You can Trust. On Friday the pasty president gave highlights of their manifesto and unveiled the 47 man campaign team planning to traverse the 146 districts of Uganda within the 65 days allocated by the Independent Electoral Commission.

The team which comprises of regional leaders including prominent leaders like Ms Alice Alaso (former Deputy President FDC), Mr. Wadri Kassiano(MP Arua City), Mr. Paul Mwiru (Jinja East MP) and Mr. Gerald Karuhanga (Ntugamo Municipality MP) is to be led by Ms Winnie Kizza, the former Leader of Opposition in Parliament as the National Campaign Manager.

“Majority of these are sub regional and district coordinators. We envisage expansion more so at the sub regional and district levels.” Rtd Maj. Gen Mugisha Muntu Gregg the ANT presidential flag bearer told the media at the party headquarters on Buganda Road in Kampala

Whereas the party planned to launch their campaign roadmap on Friday, the party president said there were hindrances and the harmonization programme with the electoral commission was incomplete. Candidates whose campaign roadmaps had not yet been harmonized are to meet the electoral commission on Saturday. Presidential campaigns are slated to begin On November 9, 2020 will end on January 12, 2020.

Ms Kizza called upon the electoral commission to ensure that there is a leveled campaign ground and the opposition candidates have equal opportunities to interact with their potential voters just like the incumbent Gen Yoweri Museveni is likely to enjoy.

“As you talk about the 70 people to be met, put a torch on NRM to ensure they also have 70 people in their gathering. If we are to practice democracy, we need to level the ground for all candidates to equally campaign.” Said Ms Winnie Kizza.

Gen Muntu also asked the people of Uganda to support the ten presidential candidates financially so that they are able to traverse the whole country within the 65 days and meet their voters.

“We are not shy about asking for money. We need money. Put money into the parties (of your choice). Do not sit back waiting for change. If each Ugandan gave Shs5, 000, that would be about two billion shilling to cushion the opposition during their campaigns.”

He added;

“Let’s leave emotions out of this election to have the change we want. Elect capable people who have value and integrity.”

Inside Muntu’s draft Manifesto

ANT Pledges to do the following in the next five years once they assume power after successful elections in 2021.

1.       Tolerance of divergent views. Respect and mobilise people to embrace national development.

2.       Preach peace and foster conflict resolution.

3.       Anti-corruption; creation of public awareness. Enforce punishment after conviction. Demonstrate exemplary leadership. Strengthen Anti-Corruption institutions to recover proceeds of corruption and make corruption very risky.

4.       Economy: Ensure there is an agricultural value chain established. Increase funding for agriculture from the current 3.5 percent in the budget up to ten percent. Reinstate cooperative bank, start an agricultural bank, and properly capitalize Uganda Development Bank. Reinstate properly managed marketing boards based on public private partnerships for key products, attract investments where Uganda has comparative advantages. Develop transport infrastructures, railways, marine services, air cargo and tourism and its facilities. Ensure prudent management of oil, gas and petrol industries. Develop all electricity sources; hydro, thermos, wind, solar.

5.       Natural resources; Increase environment conservation, the planting of 40 million trees over the next five years. Protect water sources, lakes, rivers, swamps and water catchment areas. Ensure mining, mineral beautification up to the finished product. Immediately build the oil refinery and pipeline without further procrastination.

6.       Social services; Primary and secondary education must be for all children. Vocational schools must be in all sub regions of Uganda to train for those who cannot continue to universities. District bursaries and scholarships must be on merit. Syllabus and programmes should not be segregative for rural and urban pupils and students. Provide uniform scholastic materials and teaching aids. Education should foster National Unity.

Health sector should promote primary care alongside curative measures. Equip hospitals and health centres and ensure medicines are stocked. Reduce brain drain of health professionals and reduce medical tourism by government officials and use the funds to equip hospitals and remunerate the workers well.

7.       Related Development services: Recreation, awareness, participation, civic education, encourage sports, music, dance competitive festivals, encourage cultural competitions like cooking traditional dishes, encourage community development centres with libraries, encourage gender equality, balance and equality for both girl and boy children, women in leadership, care for the elderly person, make sure there is medical insurance for all Ugandans and National Social Security Fund for all workers.

8.       Foreign Affairs; encourage economic diplomacy, respect the concept of territoriality, reciprocity, national interests, pan Africanism, foster advancement of peace, human rights and conflict resolution. Observe ratified conventions, fully implement the diaspora compendium, dual citizenship, vote rights and investment at home.

9.       Armed Force; promote civil-military relations, professionalise the forces, involve the armed forces in economic production to improve welfare. Make sure the armed forces are in the barracks and not used for political interest of leaders.

10.   Local Government; The Local Government Act must be fully implemented to build capacity of local governments to be productive and sustainable. Increase funds for essential services, popularize local governments to serve people and make systems work for improvement of revenue collection.

“Human capital shall be the core focus of our manifesto implementation. Uganda is not the same under our leadership. We hope for rapid social economic and political development. People First, A New Future,” General Muntu concluded as he read out part of the draft manifesto yet to be launched ahead of their campaign trail.  

Muntu chooses Winnie Kizza as his national campaign manager

BY IRENE ABALO OTTO

Rtd Maj. General Mugisha Muntu Gregg has officially declared former Leader of Opposition in Parliament Ms Winnie Kizza as the national campaign manager in his presidential campaign as he plans to traverse the country for votes within two and a half months of the campaign period. Muntu believes Ms Kizza has energy for the youth to demand for change and trust for equitable distribution of resources and development.

“Youth, you have the numbers. Use these numbers to bring change to this country with discipline and focus,” Said General Muntu while addressing his supporters and some members of the Alliance for National Transformation for which he is the presidential flag bearer at the party headquarters on Buganda Road, Kampala.

Gen Muntu said the campaign will mainly focus on building confidence and trust in the leadership of Uganda by restoring dignity and involving the youth in the affairs of the country.

His campaign kick starts on November 9, 2020 after presenting his manifesto to the nation with a formidable campaign team to travel throughout the country. Muntu has the backing of other leaders like Ms Alice Alaso who accompanied him to the nomination centre at Kyambogo University ground during the day.

He is the first flag bearer for Alliance for National Transformation, ANT. He was all smiles as he walked side by side with his wife Mrs. Julia Kakonge Muntu. General Muntu’s was yesterday was given a green light and duly nominated as a candidate to contest as a presidential candidate for the 2021 general elections by 3:40pm.

“Today, we start a journey of making history. To all Ugandans, we ask you to trust us and give us your votes. You will not be disappointed,” Said Muntu after his nomination.  

He looked jovial and calm throughout the nomination process. He easily moved through the traffic clear Jinja road to Kyambogo University Nomination grounds with his wife Mrs. Julia Kakonge Muntu by his side.

Despite being a year and six months old party, ANT so far has about 185 duly nominated candidates for various political offices with 126 vying for parliamentary seats. Gen Muntu believes that a value driven campaign with his team is what will bring trust and win him the presidency. 

General Muntu, the former incorruptible and loyal officer to the president

BY IRENE ABALO OTTO

Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu is what many have described as a diplomat with a soft spot for democracy and the rule of law. Even as he vies for the most coveted seat at State House ahead of the 2021 general elections, Gen Muntu is your calm candidate who can easily spit Venom with a soft tongue.

The Russian trained soldier who fought alongside General Yoweri Museveni during the NRA liberation struggle in the 1980s fell out with the regime and became leader of the main opposition Forum for Democratic Change from 2012 to 2019.

But he had a rather smooth ride in the current regime as an incorruptible and loyal officer to the president before things got sore for his political ideologies. Gen Muntu became army commander in 1989 after the ragtag National Resistance Movement stormed the capital, Kampala and took over power. He was in his early thirties, the youngest ever to take that position. Gen Muntu was one of Uganda’s longest serving army commanders from 1989 to 1998. When the National Resistance Army was renamed the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), General Muntu became Commander of the UPDF. That post was later renamed Chief of Defence Forces of Uganda. As army chief, he oversaw the demobilization of many sections of the army. He was removed from the army after disagreeing with the President and appointed a minister, a position he politely turned down.

Political analysts believe he maintained close ties to the President throughout the 1990s till he openly fell out with the president in 2005. In November 2001, he was selected by the members of the Ugandan Parliament to serve as one of the nine Ugandan representatives to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA).

When he joined the FDC party, Gen Muntu was the secretary for Mobilisation and contested for party president against Dr. Kizza Besigye in 2008. He lost. Eventually, he became party president in November 2012. He then embarked on rebranding the party.

Whereas the regime adversaries saw Gen Muntu’s rise to active politics as a blessing since the main antigovernment figure Dr. Besigye had handed power to a seemingly weaker politician at the time. The general public opinion after the 2016 general elections was for a figure that could step into the shadows of Besigye at the election podium, a character many did not see in the calm and soft spoken General. But Gen Muntu continues to challenge all manner of narratives about his personality.

In September 2018, he parted ways with his successor in the FDC presidency, Mr. Patrick Oboi Amuriat citing ideological differences. He then silently mobilized to bring to life his new political ideology that birthed The New Formation that later changed to Alliance for National Transformation, launched in 2019.

The man from Mugisha Muntu, 62 year old Gregory Mugisha Muntuyera, a retired military officer turned politician is not your piece of cake. His demeanor of a soft tone conceals a principle so calculated one must touch the right buttons to crack his mind.

He is now the Party President of Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) challenging his former boss in the NRA, incumbent President Yoweri Museveni Kaguta who has been in the highest office in the land for 34 years. Ugandans are yet to see how he penetrates the President’s patronage system to obtain the seat of power.

Mugisha Muntu hails from Kitunga village in present-day Ntungamo District, Ankole sub-region, Western Uganda. His parents Enock Ruzima Muntuyera and Aida Matama Muntuyera gave him an affluent childhood as his father was a strong government functionary and close friend of Ugandan leader Milton Obote.

Since 1992, he has been married to Julia Kakonge Muntu. They are the parents of one son, born in 1993, and one daughter, born in 1996.

Why Kampala’s Non Motorised Transport is out of order

BY IRENE ABALO OTTO

Kampala Capital City Authority is finding difficulty in enforcing order at the pilot Non Motorised Transport, NMT corridors stretching from Namirembe Road to Luwum Street that were completed during the coronavirus lockdown to ease walking and traffic downtown.

The cycling lanes are two meters both sides and the walkways are four meters wide to allow vehicle access in restricted hours especially night and early morning. But the political season is playing an invisible hand in messing up the area with motorists flocking the area. Namirembe Road and Luwum Street were redesigned to a 1.95km Non-Motorised Transport Pilot Corridor (NMT) in 2018 to create wider spaces for pedestrians and cyclists for whom priority was to be given. The bigger picture was decongesting downtown. But that was easier said than done.

Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago told a meeting for media engagement on NMT in Kampala on Friday that he would rather walk from City Hall to Luwum Street to attend an event than get stuck in crazy traffic to the same place but fear the congestion in the streets.

“Walking is not comfortable in Kampala. It is not enjoyable. That is something we have to find answers to. How do we make walking in Kampala enjoyable? I would like to walk. Those who are enjoying walking are only in upscale areas like in Kololo, but down town Kampala, it is not enjoyable. That is where we should focus our attention.” Said Mr. Lukwago.

“Our challenge with implementation is with the vendors downtown. If they do not see the blue or yellow shirt (uniform for enforcement officers), they will not move. Currently, we are into the political season and enforcement has gone down for purposes of maintaining harmony, which is very unfortunate. That is why you see many vendors onto the streets. What is lacking is the political will to enforce (order in the NMT),” Says KCCA’s Engineer Andrew Sserunjojji.

The Authority engineers say the design of the NMT was to allow easy access to the city centre and businesses to thrive in less congested spaces without interference from motorists.

“We targeted the corridor between Namirembe Road and Entebbe Road because at that time, UN habitat and other stakeholders carried out a study which revealed that that was the most congested areas of the city that deserved to be converted into an NMT corridor,” KCCA’s Engineer Sserunjojji explained.

However, the cycling lanes and walkways especially around Namirembe road that is part of the pilot NMT in the city is currently congested with taxis and other motorists entering the Central Business District. Downtown Kikuubo is always full of vehicles loading or unloading or maneuvering the crowd to access stores in Kikuubo lane. During the coronavirus lockdown, KCCA amazed pedestrians and cyclists with the speedy construction and completion of the Non Motorised Transport Network with a city centre loop and one way directional flow. The city looked clean and beautiful with paved walkways and covered drainage.

“What we found interesting is that all the shop owners in Kikuubo, did not want vehicles there because the vehicles compromise their sales. People park trucks in front to their shops, block and they cannot sell their merchandise. The resistance we got was from the building owners because they are the owners of the trucks. The compromise we had to make was to allow a one way flow from Pride Theatre downstream to Ham shopping Centre.” Says Engineer Sserunjojji.

However, upon lifting of the lockdown and businesses getting back to the new normal, accessibility within the city and the NMT corridors is becoming harder as some motorists park in the NMT areas. The Planning section of KCCA says that sensitization of road users have been done but due to political sentiments, building owners complained of cargo trucks not accessing shops and stores.

“The people going downtown to shop, do not actually need to come with a car to buy their merchandise. All we need to do is create for them infrastructure where traders can load merchandise at night and vendors come during the day and take the merchandise out of the city. That is the strategy we want to implement,” says KCCA’s Engineer Andrew Sserunjojji.

During the effective observance of the NMT use, the middle class were able to shop from the CBD with ease without using their cars. But this was short lived as cars and motorcycles continued to flock the NMT areas.

“The dynamics of managing the city are so many. My brother the Lord Mayor will explain to you that even in the implementation, we had to compromise the design to take into account other stakeholders. For instance from Pride Theatre to Jaguar, we received complaints from the petrol stations that were upstream saying they were to sue KCCA for loss of business. So we had to convert that section into a two way traffic flow. Between Pride Theatre and Jaguar was supposed to be purely NMT,” says Engineer SSerunjojji.

He adds; “What we had initially designed as cycling lanes is what we have converted into a one way route. However, the space for cyclists is still there because it is big, we had provided two meters on either side.”

According to Claire Birungi, the Country Manager of Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, ITDP, streets are spaces for everyone and no one should be chased away when using them.

She advises that KCCA plans and organizes the streets better to accommodate vendors.

“We have the space on the streets but we have not organised the space well. Vendors can be placed in the spaces under trees and shades because it is their livelihood. The space can be organized for everyone including the utility vendor zones,” Ms Birungi explained as she pointed to the original designs of the NMT on her slide during the meeting.

The great majority of Uganda’s roads have no infrastructure specifically designed for use by pedestrians or bicyclists: they must ‘share the road’ with motorised traffic. The NMT was a new idea that created a short lived relief from congestion on the piloted roads, something many pedestrians and cyclists wish had been maintained.

Gulu, the new Northern regional city

BY IRENE ABALO OTTO

iaotto@ug.nationmedia.com

Some people believe that Gulu derived its name from a physical feature around Michan, near Gulu High School. The valley had a curved spring that oozed from the bowels of the earth. This strange occurrence gave the area its name from the sound of the water, gulugulu. Others say it was named after a prominent elder of Patiko Pageya clan, Mr. Gulu.

In the 18^th and 19^th Century, the British searched for a place to settle. Keyo in the current Amuru district was their first spot but since it was prone to lightening, the settlement was moved to Gulu.

The town was less developed as the local inhabitants were conscripted into the army and police. Many were taken to fight in the first and second World Wars.

Throughout the 1900s till independence in October 1962, Gulu remained a dirt town with less development. The people are predominantly agriculturalists.

In the 1960s, many Sudanese, Rwandese, and Congolese refugees settled in Gulu.

In the early 2000s, local business men like Kakanyero, Makweri, and Hillary Onek among others set up a few storied buildings that included hotels and residential apartments.

Before the beautiful roads that changed the face of Gulu were constructed under the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructural Development project, the little town had dirt paths that smeared new and old buildings alike.

Gulu sprang back to life after the over two decades of the Lord’s Resistance Army Insurgency led by war lord, Joseph Kony that pushed people into concentration camps under squalid conditions. During the war, the town was used as a safety ground for over 15,000 night commuters.

People rebuilt their livelihoods from a traumatizing background of war. Non-Governmental organizations that enabled education and supported other services like health care in the community left handing over the mantles back to government of Uganda.

Since the return of relative peace in Northern Uganda, the town grew to a municipality status and is due for a city status on July 1.

Notable among the prominent facilities that make Gulu stand out is the multimillion main market, presence of commercial and central bank branches for businesses, employment and savers. A well connected road infrastructure with highways connecting Gulu to major towns and South Sudan. This makes Gulu the business hub in Northern Uganda.

The town boosts of a vibrant business environment that attracts tourists visiting various destinations across the region by proving the best hospitality, travel and tour facilities.

The educations system is picking up with Gulu University offering various courses, including medicine and agriculture, private and government schools dot different parts of the town.

Three hospitals: St. Mary’s Hospital Lacor, the Gulu Regional Referral Hospital, and Gulu Independent Hospital provide one of the best health care services in the country. The District administrative units are built near Gulu Hospital.

The city also has the second largest airport in Uganda with a tarmac runway of 10,314 feet and a station on the metre gauge railway that connects Tororo and Pakwach, which has been out of service since 1993.

Though the city has a designated industrial park, there just a few oil seed and milling plants in Layibi Division. Others like a milk processing plant in Unyama is in the outskirts of the town where electricity connection and stability is a challenge. The town is connected to piped water and has the biggest water reservoir plant behind Kakanyero Hotel with a capacity to produce 50,000 litres of water per hour. Officials said the site has the largest volume of water ever discovered at a single site in the country.

The city is home to more than 177,400 people according to a 2020 estimate by Uganda National Bureau of Statistics.

Seven new regional cities gained city status effective July, 1 after parliament approved their creation.

Apart from Gulu, the other cities are Arua in West Nile region near Democrati Republic of Congo, Mbale and Jinja in the East, Mbarara in the Midwest, Fort Portal in the West and  Masaka in the Central region.

Also read this related story; https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/ea/Uganda-seven-new-cities/4552908-5585824-8y6tya/index.html

Local Government devolution remains a mere paper work in Uganda.

The government disseminated a new constitution in 1995 with the
provision on decentralization of Article 176 2 (b) that acted shortly
before the rebirth of the local government act in 1997. Devolution as
a form of decentralization transferred both political and
administrative powers from the center to lower local councils
specially to handle the responsibility of service delivery.

According to Hon. Raphael Magyezi, the Chairman Parliamentary
Committee on Local Government, devolution allows local governments to
plan for their people and decide on what is best for the needs of the
people in their area but their autonomy has been undermined by the
inadequate local revenue to finance service delivery and meet their
budget expectations as demanded by their people.

Magyezi who spoke to our reporter from Kampala says that much
as decentralization has increased the capacity of local governments to
plan and budget for their local development, about 9% of the budget is
still funded by the central government as grants. He says the grants
are mostly conditional which restrict the money to particular uses and
may not address the needs of the people in a district or an area.

Amid delays to release the funds and return of unexpended funds to the
treasury for various reasons, local governments continue to struggle
with about 5% of local revenue generated to meet the huge demands of
the local people.

Magyezi suggests that there is need to devolve tax sources to enhance
the tax base of local governments so that they are able to finance a
bigger percentage of their budget to avoid dependence on money that
comes from the central government with strings attached.

He says as long as tax sources like transit tax, tourism, among others
continue to go to the central government, the local government
autonomy will remain a paper work since finance is a major area for
decisions in local government operations and administration.

In Gulu district, the Chairman LCV, Ojara Martin Mapenduzi says that
unless money is released from the central government into the district
account, most times their activities at the district is affected which
affects service delivery to the local people. He adds that the local
government revenue base is still narrow at the district level which is
inadequate to meet the huge service demand of the people.

In 2014, local government officials under their umbrella organisation,
Uganda Local Government Association (ULGA), asked the central
government to cede more powers to them Under decentralization. They
claimed that since decisions on their operations and financing are
made at the local government ministry, they are left with little power
especially in relation to raising revenue.

The commissioner for Local Councils Development however says the
councils just need to invoke the powers they already have to execute
their plans and also seek alternative revenue sources.

Opposition leaders concede defeat in the Omoro elections.

A section of leaders from the opposition have conceded defeat and attributed the failure by their parties to win the Monday Parliamentary and LCV positions due to disorganizations within the opposition parties that saw 10 candidates competing to the woman member of parliament and five men in the LCV race.

Gilbert Olanya, the Kilak South MP say that the elections were free and fair and congratulated the candidates who won the elections.

They are, Catherine Lamwaka for the Woman MP Position and Douglas peter Okello for the Chairman LCV of the new Omoro district.

Gilbert Olanya says that the opposition candidates lost because of being divided along party lines and not speaking the same voice for their candidates. He also attributes the loss to internal wrangles within parties that deviated interests of members from fighting for a common cause.

“I really feel the opposition were totally disorganized. DP headed by Mao had a candidate. FDC who lost in the primary election also got nominated. If the opposition had fronted a single candidate against NRM we would have taken the positions. We lost because we were very disorganised as the opposition and this should be a lesson. ” Says the Kilak South MP.

Patrick Okello Oryema, the Nwoya Chairman LCV says that as the opposition in FDC party, they concede defeat because the elections were free and fair.

He adds that the people of Omoro have decided and their voice should be respected.

” We want to concede defeat, the opposition lost but i want to say the people of Omoro have spoken their minds. In the history of Acholi elections, this has been the most contested election where almost all parties had their candidates. To me the election was free and fair. Congratulations to those who won.”

Denis Kamuchene, the DPC of Omoro district confirmed to our reporter on phone that the elections were peaceful with no major incidences and the situation is calm and normal in the district.

“The situation is calm and peaceful and we never had any major incidences.”

The five new districts that voted on Monday this week were Omoro, Rubanda, Kibaale, Kagadi and Kakumiro that combined have 49 sub counties.