Friday 28th November 2020, Presidential Candidate Mugisha Muntu took the campaign to the Rwenzururu sub-region. He was accompanied by the Head of Campaign Bureau, Hon. Winnie Kiiza, Head of Youth League, Counsel Abubakar Matanda, Head of Youth in Higher Institutions of Learning, Mr. Bala David, ANT Kasese District Leaders and flag bearers at different positions in the area.
Campaigning in Kasese was tough because the police went out of their way to block the Presidential Candidate from accessing many of the areas he and his team had intended to visit. Despite various attempts to negotiate with the security agencies, the ANT team was not able to persuade them to be reasonable. Instead, all their appeals fell on deaf ears. Interesting to note is that by 6:00 am of Friday 27th, 2020, security agencies led by the Uganda Police besieged the whole of Kasese and Bwera towns as well as other villages that Mugisha Muntu had planned to visit. By the end of the day, Mugisha Muntu had only campaigned in half of the areas than earlier planned.
Speaking at a press conference in the Rwenzururu capital of Kasese, Mugisha Muntu expressed his disappointment about the government’s adamant refusal to resolve the conflict in Rwenzururu that left hundreds of people dead and others incarcerated. He empathized with the families of the people who are still in prison without trial and those who lost their loved ones. Mugisha Muntu said that ANT, whether in power or outside power, will do everything humanly possible to ensure that these individuals get justice as the law stipulates. “It is deeply saddening to hear that people who were arrested four years ago have never been tried to ascertain whether they have a case to answer or not. By law, once you spend 180 days in prison without a trial, you automatically qualify for the bail, but the government has deliberately refused to utilize these avenues,” Mugisha Muntu said.
The Presidential Candidate also condemned how the rights of the Rwenzururu King, Omusinga Charles Wesley Mumbere have been crashed. He said that it is a total disrespect of the Banyarwenzururu, and it is aimed at pressing them against a wall and make them bow down to Gen. Museveni’s pressure, surrendering their rights.
Mugisha Muntu thanked the Banyarwenzururu for being battle-hardened and focused on fighting for their rights and freedoms amidst tough times and manipulation from the regime. He told them that the whole country looks up to them when it comes to a people determined to defend their rights and determine their destiny. “You proved to us that you can mean to fight for your cause in 2016. You lifted our glory high when you voted opposition, from Presidency to lower councils. We are proud of you, and I urge you to continue with that spirit. Do not kneel before Gen. Museveni, I know that is what he wants but do not dare do that. Freedom is coming soon, don’t bow down,” Mugisha Muntu urged the people.
Presidential candidate Mugisha Muntu further stated that it is in the spirit of change that ANT decided not to field candidates where the opposition had incumbents. He urged the people of Kasese to choose opposition candidates and repeat what they did in 2016, to enable the opposition to expand its territory beyond the Kasese district.
The candidate also urged the people in Kasese who support the NRM to help the country and vote Gen. Museveni out in the forthcoming elections. "When you vote Museveni out of power in the next elections, you will help him to rest, the country will rest, security agencies will rest, and everyone will rest," he said. He revealed that all government agencies are held at ransom and working out of panic because of Museveni’s spurious orders. He said that at times, he “sympathizes with security personnel because the situation is beyond their control and they find themselves between a rock and a hard place.”
The people of Rwenzururu should not drowning in the sea of poverty when they have fertile soils for agriculture and tourism potential. However, Mugisha Muntu noted that this poverty is a result of poor governance, and instead of the government focusing on solving the real problems of the people, it spends its time trying to bar opposition from exposing its many weaknesses. “If they know that they have done something good, what is that they are hiding that we shouldn’t share with people?” Mugisha Muntu asked.
Mugisha Muntu said that once ANT is elected to power, it will establish an agricultural bank to enable farmers access credit at a low-interest rate, increase the agricultural budget from 3% to 10%, enhance extension services, and promote research and value chain management. Regarding health, Mugisha Muntu emphasized the establishment of the National Health Insurance Scheme to enable every citizen of Uganda to access specialized treatment at any time. Other health issues to be tackled include enhancement of health supplies and equipment in health centers and adequate staffing as well as continuous training of staff. He further cited the issue of industrialization where local investors will be given a priority. Education will be given a priority to reenergize human capital development, which is a major component in industrialization and economic development.
Presidential Candidate Mugisha Muntu asked the people of Kasese to entrust the ANT leaders and vote them into power because they are trustworthy, consistent, and peace loving. Mugisha Muntu revealed that these are the characters that people should focus on while electing leaders who will transform this country for the better.