On 22nd February 2014, panelists appeared on HITS
FM to discuss the Kyankwanzi declaration of endorsing President Musenevi,
whether the decision was in line with the national laws, policies, promoting
democracy and participatory. “The National Resistance Movement (NRM) has
structures that one has to go through to become a flag bearer and they include
the policy organs, administrative organs, special organs, and NRM caucus. The
Kyankwanzi retreat was contrary to the NRM constitution and therefor was not
legally binding to the structures by endorsing that no other person should
stand as flag bearer for the NRM party apart from President Museveni”, said Mr.
Mashuhuko Joseph, a local citizen in Kabarole District from the NRM party.
Mr. Mashuhuko said this during the ‘Orukurato Program on
HITS FM, a 2 hour weekly radio program that discusses issues of accountability
every Saturday (08:00-10:00pm) that is sponsored by ToroDev. The live radio discussion
was also attended by Mr. Mboijana from the FDC (Forum for Democratic Change)
party, Mr. Bamanyisa Patrick, a journalist in Fort Portal Town and Mr. John
Byabazaire, all local citizens of Kabarole District.
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| NRM MPs during the February 2014 retreat at Kyankwanzi |
During the program, Mr. Mboijana indicated how Uganda has
been ruled under military dictatorship. “Since 1966, Uganda has been under
military dictatorship. This is because no other party can go to the National Leadership Institute in Kyankwanzi for
a retreat apart from the NRM party. Even Members of Parliament who belong to
the NRM party put on army uniforms and do military drills when they go to
Kyankwanzi. This is against Article 208 of the Ugandan Constitution which
states that the army should be under civilian authority and therefore no member
of the army should be in parliament. This is however contrary to the present
where we have the army in parliament”.
Mr. Bamanyisa Patrick also participated in the live radio
discussion by indicating how African leaders use a lot of lies so as to
overstay in power. “African leaders use a lot of lies to contradict issues so
that they can over stay in power. Uganda has never got peaceful handover of
power and our leaders should focus on doing this without always relying on
military action”.
Meanwhile, Mr. John Byabazaire indicated the failure of the
NRM government to improve livelihoods as it had promised. “NRM promised to
improve the status of livelihoods but nothing much has been done. There is wide
spread corruption in the country and leaders are busy fulfilling their own
mutual benefits in the offices they handle. Over two billion Ugandan Shillings
was spent in Kyankwanzi yet most Ugandans get one meal a day and no resolution
has been formed, this portrays total exploitation and mismanagement of the tax
payer’s money”.
Local listeners also participated in the live radio
discussion through call ins and the program’s facebook page called ‘orukurato’
to raise their issues and concerns. “If the president keeps refusing in power,
he will be provoking a threat of military action”, said Isingoma from Kasunganyanja Trading
Center, “President Museveni should retire and give chance for others to rule”,
said a caller from Karago Town Council, “Ugandans should be discussing better
issues of delivering the country from poverty than wasting time on political
issues”, said Edward.
The Live radio discussion was moderated by Mr. Kasigazi Willy Donanto.
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