Kampala, Uganda | URN | President Yoweri Museveni on Thursday 10th, December 2020 cancelled his presidential campaigns in Entebbe Municipality to attend to the National thanksgiving prayers at State House. The prayers are held annually by the Inter-Religious Council.
According to the Electoral Commission [EC] campaign schedule, Mr Museveni was scheduled to hold campaign meetings in Kisoro on Thursday 10th and Entebbe Municipality on Friday 11th.
However, Don Wanyama, the senior press secretary to the president says Mr Museveni will not be campaigning in Entebbe today, but instead preside over prayers and will return to the campaign trail on Saturday 12th in Kabale where he will also meet selected leaders from Kisoro district at Kigezi College Butobere.
His campaign meetings in Entebbe will now be held on December 29. Stephen Kabuye, the chairperson NRM Entebbe branch says that the NRM secretariat and President Museveni’s protocol team informed the local leaders on Wednesday that Mr Museveni would only be presiding over national prayers in Entebbe.
Kabuye says at the time of the announcement, the leaders in Entebbe were yet to conclude on activities and venue for presidential campaign meetings.
Michael Mutebi Kabwama, current Entebbe Division A chairperson and NRM candidate for Entebbe Municipality mayoral seat, says members are canvassing votes for all flag bearers despite challenges from within party following the heated primaries and also the opposition.
Jolly Kiconco and Christine Namonywe Oonyu, residents of Post Office and NRM village leaders, say that Museveni’s campaign meetings come at a time when the party’s popularity in the area is threatened by the emergence of National Unity Platform and NRM leaning independent candidates.
Oonyu says the president must address the concerns of the electorate about the actions of the Fisheries Protection Unit personnel deployed on Lake Victoria. Kiconco also says women in the area have also faced challenges accessing funds under the Women Empowerment Fund.
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In Kisoro, the cancellation has angered some leaders. Abel Bizimana, Kisoro LC V chairperson says that the president’s campaign in the area was overdue. He says that they were planning to remind him about his unfulfilled pledges of tarmacking tourism roads, construction of John Kale Institute of Science and Technology and expansion of Kisoro airfield among others.
Peninah Habyara, NRM party woman councillor flag bearer representing Kisoro Municipality says that Museveni should spare time and travel to Kisoro to show the electorate that he has them at heart.
