BY BIIRA HELLEN
As Ugandans await to cast their valuable votes to choose a leader, they need to be aware of which leader is capable of taking Uganda ahead. Voters don’t need to cast their votes because of how much a candidate has offered but what the candidate views Uganda in 2021.
“The vote is precious. It is the most powerful non-violent tool we have in democratic society, and we must use it” John Lewis
Here are the nominated presidential candidates, their backgrounds, Manifestos, the nature of their campaigns, Police/Military actions towards them and finally their reactions towards the brutality.
1.Gen.Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, National Resistance Movement(NRM).
President Museveni, who has been Uganda’s president since 1986, is seeking another five year term after successfully removing a clause in the Constitution that would have, otherwise, barred him from standing on account of his age (he will be 76 next year).
He was the first to be successfully nominated on Nov. 02. Later in the evening, Museveni unveiled the National Resistance Movement 2021-2026 manifesto whose theme is: “Securing Your Future”.
Museveni says the NRM government has an unmatched record of performance and a clear vision of securing future of all Ugandans.He says the manifesto is only building on the success of NRM. “We are now ready for takeoff,” he said. Museveni says after years of turmoil, it is the first time ever that Uganda is enjoying more than three decades of uninterrupted stable democratic process based on the ruling party’s core principles of democracy, patriotism, and Pan-Africanism.
2. Hon Kyagulanyi Robert, National Unity Platform (NUP).
He is the incumbent Member of Parliament Kyadondo East. Bobi Wine as commonly known is a graduate from Makerere University with a degree in law and Music Dance and Drama. Bobi Wine started revealing his activism in his songs like Jennifer, and Freedom. he promises to lead a people centered government with full enjoyment of rights and freedoms by the citizens..
Launching of NUP Manifesto in Mbarara.
Kyagulanyi has promised to run a people-centred government where all Ugandans will fully enjoy all their freedoms. Kyagulanyi said shortly after his nomination that his would open a new chapter of action and close that of lamentation. Kyagulanyi says his government intends to increase the pay of the security forces (soldiers, police and prison officers) which he claims is miserable. He also intends to improve access to affordable quality health care for all Ugandans.
Nature of Kyagulanyi’s campaigns. On most occasions, his campaigns are brutally suppressed by the Uganda Police. The campaigns are characterized by teargas, brutal arrests of supporters or Kyagulanyi himself, denial to access the already booked campaigning venues or lodges. Bobi wine halted his campaigns and reported all the brutalities to the Electoral Commision which later gave him new security guards. However, as if this ignited the Uganda Police to brutalise Bobi Wine and even extended the brutality to journalists covering the campaigns he resumed.
On Friday 11th this month, the Electoral Commission has summoned National Unity Platform (NUP), Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine for alleged persistent breach of the electoral guidelines and standard operating procedures to control the spread of Coronavirus.
3. Gen Mugisha Muntu, Alliance for National Transformation (A.N.T)
Gen. Mugisha Muntu is a former Guerilla National Resistance Army with Yoweri Museveni. In 2008, Muntu unsuccessfully contested against Dr. Kiiza Besigye as party president. He lost to Dr. Kiiza Besigye in three consecutive flag bearers race. He lost his seat to Patrick Amuriat Oboi, a former Kumi Lawmaker in 2017. In September 2018, Mugisha Muntu and his supporters quit the FDC party to form a new party called Alliance for National Transformation.
Inside Muntu’s draft Manifesto
https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/muntu-unveils-campaign-team-hints-on-manifesto-ahead-of-launch-2733606
Muntu promises tolerance of divergent views, Respect, mobilize people to embrace national development, Preach peace and foster conflict resolution, anti-corruption; creation of public awareness, enforce punishment after conviction, demonstrate exemplary leadership and strengthen Anti-Corruption institutions to recover proceeds of corruption and make corruption very risky.
Muntu too has not survived Teargas and police brutalirty.like other opposition and independent presidential candidates especially Robert Kyagulanyi of National Unity Platform.
Police foil early A.N.T rally.
4. Nobert Mao, Democratic Party (DP)
Nobert Mao is a politician, lawyer, and currently the presidential flag bearer for president of DP since 2010. Nobert is a former Makerere University Guild President from 1990-1991. He played a very big role in uniting the LRA and the government of Uganda in 2006 when he was the Local council v for Gulu District. He preached reconciliation between the government of Ugandaand the Lord’s Resistance Army rebels.
DP Manifesto. Reclaiming your future
Mao too has not been left out by teargas, bullets and venue blocking by the uganda police. however sepite all those acts by police, he is still firm and ready to lead ugnada in 2021.
5.Patrick Oboi Amuriat, Forum for Democratic change (FDC)
Patrick Oboi Amuriat is Third President of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) since 2017 when he won Gen Mugisha Muntu on the same seat. He is a former Kumi Municipality FDC Chairperson and former Kumi County MP (2001 – 2016). He is an enginner by profession. Patrick started experiencing police brutality on the nomination day in kyambogo where he had to walk bear foot to the nomination grounds.
Last Friday, Amuriat was summoned by the Electoral Commision for alleged persistent breach of the electoral guidelines and standard operating procedures to control the spread of Coronavirus.
Patrick Oboi Amuriat walking bear footed after police seized him. Photo credit: PML Daily
Despite all the brutalalities, Patrick is still patriotic and ready to lead Uganda no matter how the police tries to intimidate him.
6. Pastor Joseph Kabuleeta, Independent.
Pastor Joseph Kabuleeta who is commonly called the financial liberator is a former sports journalist. In July last year, he was arrested because of his social media posts. He was accused of using offensive messages to critique the regime of President Museveni. This instead increased patriotism in him as he intends to liberate ugandans financially.
The first real problem, he said, is reviving the economic welfare of Ugandans, saying the issue of financial liberation is crucial because “there has been an intentional design by the government to impoverish everybody”.
Mr Kabuleta pledged to use his first days in office to reverse what he termed as deliberate impoverishment of Ugandans and focus on putting money in the pockets of Ugandans, especially the young people. He also stressed that economic conversation is the most important dialogue Ugandans should engage in under his slogan, reclaiming our Country.
7. Nancy Kalembe, Independent
Nancy is the only lady in the race and is mostly called the “iron lady”. As Africnas think a woman is inferior, Nancy is boldly campaigning on the same seat with 10 men. In 2003, she joined the Miss Uganda contest and although she did not emerge winner, she was voted Miss Intelligence, earning her a job with Sanyu FM.She is the founder of Spring Clean, a cleaning company, and Mbalimbali Ltd, a pineapple juice and jam-producing company based in Nakawa. Before reaching these heights, Kalembe, 34, tasted the varied waters of employment. She worked as a news anchor at the then Uganda Television (UTV). All the above potray Nancy as a competent woman who can also lead uganda in 2021.
Nancy too has also been teased by the uganda police. Being a woman, she potrayed the sense of stregth and still holds on to the goal of being the president of Uganda.
8. Pator Fred Mwesigye, Indpendent
Fred Mwesigye, a born-again Ugandan Pastor and father of 5 children, is among several individuals who intend to challenge veteran leader Yoweri Museveni for the presidency next year.
The 39-year-old recently declared his intention to run for president in the 2021 polls, and also unveiled his manifesto saying this is the time for Ugandans to “resolve and get the nation back to its foundation.”
“You can draw this from the National anthem where it’s stated, “Oh Uganda, may God uphold thee.” They further had it in mind that leadership is supposed to be in service to God first
For him, this will achieve by working with all God-fearing people without discrimination or favor, but recognizing individual merit, personal abilities and credibility. “I’m non-partisan. I neither belong to the ruling NRM party nor the main stream opposition. I stand as an independent with a Godly impulse to make a difference through the political sphere that will have a positive impact and effect on Uganda and on Africa as a whole,” he says.
Pastor has no manifesto about what he will do for ugandans but bases on God’s love as his campaign slogan is called “the era of love”. he says that with love, everything is possible. He too has also exchanged bitter words with police.
9.Katumba John, Independent
John is 24 years old and the youngest in the race and he as promised to develop and boost the Boda-Boda Industry saying the industry employs millions of youths.
According to Katumba, the Boda-Boda industry that employs both the educated and the uneducated youths must be looked at critically as one of the ways of dealing with unemployment in the country.
He says despite the fact that the industry plays a pivotal role in uplifting the standards of youth employed in the sector and fighting unemployment, the current regime has not bothered to consider the youths in the Boda-Boda industry in its development plans.
He too has exchanged bitter words with the uganda Police.
10. Gen Henry Tumukunde, Independent
Henry Tumukunde is a retired senior military officer of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF). He was the Minister of National Security in the Cabinet of Uganda.
He was appointed to that position on 6 June 2016. On 4 March 2018, he was relieved of his duties in a cabinet reshuffle.
On November 18th, he joined other opposition presidential candidates to suspend campaigns due to police suppression as a sign of solidarity and dissatisfaction with the Uganda police that is harassing other presidential candidates. Tumukunde however has resumed with campaigns though his supporters turn in low numbers. On some occasions, Gen Tumukunde has resorted to abandoning campaigns due to empty campaigning venues.
11. Willy Mayambala
Mayambala, who has severally confessed about the heavy financial burden he is experiencing to run his campaigns, has only covered districts in the central region since he was nominated and cleared by the Electoral Commission to canvas for votes.
Mayambala said he has been forced to cancel most of his long-distance campaigns because of transport challenges.
According to Mayambala, he has opted to spend much of his time on radio and television talk shows and interviews in Kampala to disseminate his message to voters across the country.
journalism practice 