Tuesday 25 February 2014

Analyzing the Kyankwanzi declaration to endorse President Museveni



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.

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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