President Museveni has underscored the role of reconciliation in bringing about peace that Uganda currently enjoys.
“People are talking of peace but it didn’t come by accident but by some actions. With our ideology of patriotism and pan Africanism we look at all Ugandans as the same people. We don’t have a bad tribe, bad religion but good from all tribes and religions. We don’t look at who you are but what you do. If you do good things, you are patriotic. If you bad things then we oppose you. We oppose wrong and support right. Because of that we have been able to achieve unity in politics by having a national political party which brings Ugandans together,” Museveni said.
“We also promote reconciliation among those who were against us. We promote reconciliation. It is in the manifesto and that’s why we say protect these gains.”
Museveni was on Monday afternoon speaking at Paridi stadium in Adjumani town council, Adjumani district as he concluded his campaigns in West Nile sub-region.
He made the comment about reconciliation in regards Gen Moses Ali, a kingmaker in Adjumani who had earlier led the Uganda National Rescue Front in 1986 to reconcile with President Museveni and joining the National Resistance Army.
President Museveni said because of such reconciliation, the West Nile has been at peace for many years.
He however insisted that many other things led to the peace that Ugandans are currently enjoying.
The NRM presidential candidate said peace has given birth to development and many other fruits that the country is currently enjoying.
“The ideology of unity has united the politics but has also enabled us form national institutions like the army, police, prisons, civil service and judiciary. It is those and the people that have brought peace . If you are auditing NRM , you start with peace before you go for development.”
Museveni also mentioned the development achieved by Adjumani during the period when NRM has been in power, mentioned electricity, roads, health facilities and schools among others which have been achieved.
“For the roads you can see for yourself. When NRM came to power, tarmac was stopping in Gulu and we had to repair the road from Gulu to Kampala a number of times and extend it up to Koboko and Yumbe. I am told that the security road to Obongi is not in good condition. I told the people of Ministry of Works to maintain murram roads and repair the tarmac ones.”
He told the people of Adjumani that the road from Pekere to Abo and then one from Adjumani to Obongi which are in a bad condition are soon being worked upon.
“Once we agree on budgeting what comes first, things will move. You have seen how it can work. We have finished the road from Gulu to Atiak to Adjumani and more are to come.”
On education, Museveni said in the upcoming term, government will ensure each parish has a government primary school while each sub county must have a government secondary school to add onto the current ones.
Wealth creation
Museveni however didn’t leave the podium without emphasising the need for households to create income.
He urged people to different between development and wealth, noting that while the former belongs to everyone, the latter is for an individual.
“There is a tarmac road now in Adjumani but at night do you sleep on the tarmac road? The answer is no because the poverty you left in the morning at your home, when you go back, it will be waiting for you. That’s why you need to ensure household incomes.”
“We are begging you to get out of poverty. There are some people who are rich but those are not our problem because they are not the majority. What we want those who are in poverty to come up. The struggle is to bring out those who are not yet in the money economy.”
He insisted that wealth creation is not like football, where there are spectators and players, urging all households to be involved in creating wealth.
“My message to you is in three words; peace, development and wealth creation. I therefore thank the people of West Nile for understanding the message of NRM. Continue supporting NRM, we shall add much more than we have done now.”
