David K Nsubuga
Sembabule. As the 2016 campaigns continue to heat up, the People’s Development Party flag bearer Abed Bwanika has traversed the districts of Sembabule and Bukomansimbi where he excited supporters with prophesies that predicted the NRM government’s defeat in the next elections.
Bwanika entered Sembabule, one of the NRM stronghold districts on Monday and sympathised with voters in the area for failure to get visible benefits from the government they have wholesomely supported for nearly thirty years.
“I came here in 2006, and your pertinent problems were water shortage, bad roads, and electricity to date, government has not moved any steps towards having the problems solved, and there are no signs that they will attend to you, expect after denouncing their leadership and vote the government out” he noted.
Bwanika pledged that besides digging valley dams that act as reliable sources of water at every parish across Sembabule, his government will restore community ranches in the area as well as stocking them with improved breeds of cattle and goats, whose products will be sold under the Agricultural Marketing Authority he will put in place
Sembabule is one the leading cattle rearing districts in Uganda, but the area is usually hit by acute water shortage during dry seasons, outbreaks of foot and Mouth disease coupled with poor breads of animals that all reduce the farmers’ general output.
These according Dr Bwanika are a true indicators that the NRM government has failed to deliver on its leadership responsibilities.
“These ranches and water dams existed in the 1960’s, but because of the current government negligence, the projects died out even when they benefited many people in this area,” he added.
He promised that once elected in power, his government will increase the agricultural ministry budget from the current 2% allocation from the national budget to 15% which according to him will boost the sector and help many Ugandans earn sustainable incomes.
In Sembabule town council, voters brought to his attention the problem of increase in land conflicts where many Bibanja holders are being displaced by Landlords before selling off the land to wealthy people.
The PDP Presidential contestant said his government is to institute a Land fund, which will help the landless to acquire titles from their landlords, but insists that the policy will not spare anybody who acquired land through fraudulent means.
“The land will strictly be bought from those individuals who acquired in right terms and those that grabbed it from the people will definitely loose it with no compensation. I am aware that Land grabbing is a common phenomenon in this district,” he said amid applause from his audience.
While in Bukomansimbi district, voters tasked Bwanika to explain his plan towards protect his votes against ragging.
In his response Bwanika said he is currently recruiting a team of one million supporters across the country, whose cardinal role will be mobilise for him support and ensure that votes are not guarded against any rigging.
Bwanika also promised at establish at least one Agro processing plant in each rural district as part of his plan to promote agricultural enterprises in the country and widen the tax base.
Meanwhile, independent candidate Joseph Mabirizi skipped his campaigns in Kalangala and Masaka districts where he was expected on Sunday and Monday respectively. When contacted over the same, Mabirizi claimed he was still attending to a series of meeting in Kampala to discuss his new campaign strategy.