Many Ugandan are now making claims of their overdue needs from the current President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni an incumbent contender for the 18th February 2011 presidential elections.
Museveveni who is the National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential flag bearer has been generous with giving out new districts, changing towns into municipalities, paying overdue gratuities, donating to victims of circumstances and attending burials prompting the people of Mbarara Municipality to also ask for a city status before elections.
President Museveni addressing a crowd
Museveni a former resident of Mbarara district before the current Kiruhura district was curved out has found difficulties in giving his former municipality a city status without giving reasons.
Museveveni who was recently requested by his people of Ankole region to give Mbarara Municipality a city status says that consultations and research will be done first.
Museveni gets over 90% of votes from Ankole/Mbarara region compared to his competitors. The President is now facing a situation where his biggest supporters are complaining over favours he gives those he wants to attract in his NRM political camp.
The Banyankole (People of Ankole) are saying that Museveni who is also a Munyankole responds to other Ugandans’ pleas without making second thoughts but when it comes to them Museveni is always hesitant.
Some members of the Nkole tribe say that they have been clamouring for the revival of their Kingdom (Obugabe) but the Head of State-Museveni and other members of the State House who hail from Ankole region have not been supportive to the plea.
“Since the Banyankole started asking for the revival of their Kingdom, President Museveni has granted over ten Kingdoms in Uganda including those which never existed before” said with Moses Mugisha from Mbarara.
Recently, the government paid billions of money to the Ex-Soldiers ranging from 1914 to date. Museveni is promising to construct new roads and supply electricity in all districts. The Members of the opposition are calling these handouts “NRM Elections Pressure”.
With all those handouts from the President, the Nakivubo Park Yard traders have refused to pay the 1 billion shillings the President offered to them as a loan after their properties were destroyed by fire in February 2009.
The traders say that the President should go and do the demanding himself than the team that was set to do the demanding work.
So how sure are Ugandans that tax payers money being distributed in presidential pledges in this election period will be put to right use?
By Issa Asuman