POINT BY POINT REACTION TO MR. JACKSON MUTAMBA ON HIS “M7 AGAIN?” SKELETON CRITIQUE

By Faruk Kirunda

KAMPALA, Uganda|SHIFTMEDIA| A one Jackson Mutamba has listed a number of accusations which he uses to warn Ugandans against voting President Yoweri Museveni again. Although Mr. Mutamba only outlines his accusations without backing them up with facts, I will respond to them with some quick facts.

🚫Should we Vote Museveni Because Of The Stinking Corruption In His Regime?

What does Mutamba mean by stinking corruption? All forms of corruption are bad, to be condemned, fought and defeated. Museveni is at the forefront of fighting corruption. Additional to the traditional courts and the IGG’s department, he established a special unit, State House Anti-Corruption Unit under Lt. Col. Edith Nakalema. This unit is sending shockwaves down the spines of the corrupt, with many apprehended, prosecuted, jailed and their property appropriated to compensate Government for the loss. Museveni stands for zero tolerance to corruption and it is known that it is the corrupt and their allies fighting him.

🚫Should we Vote Museveni Because Of The Stinking Unemployment In His Regime?

In fact, Ugandans are going to vote Museveni because he is the solution to unemployment. His gospel and emphatic practical steps towards modernisation of Agriculture and industrialisation have saved a difficult situation, which is not unique to Uganda, from getting worse. Many Ugandans are moving on from searching for jobs to creating their own ventures because they empowered through various capital venture funds such as Youth Livelihood Programme (YLP), Emyooga, UWEP and now funds at Uganda Development Bank (UDB).

🚫Should we Vote M7 Because Of His Distorted Education System?

The distorted education system, how? Museveni who introduced Universal Primary Education (UPE), Universal Secondary Education (USE) and expanded University and Tertiary education by over 200%? Anybody faulting Uganda’s education system is either living in cuckoo land because facts are on the ground for all to see.

🚫Should we Vote M7 Because Of His Distorted ill Health System (New Mulago has been sold off)?

A distorted health system which kicked the six killer diseases out of Uganda and currently leads Africa in fighting Covid-19? Has there ever been a time when Ugandans have access to health care as it is with President Museveni in charge? Which Mulago has been sold off? Has Mr Mutamba been to Mulago of recent or he just imagines that because it has been upgraded and rehabilitated to the first-world status it is no longer owned locally? Mulago is owned by Ugandans and will continue helping us to totally weed out medical tourism.

🚫Should we Vote M7 Because There Is No Freedom Of Expression of politicians?

Freedom of expression is not for politicians only. All Ugandans enjoy the right to express themselves on any matter but within the enshrined Constitutional order. How can there be no freedom of expression when people abuse each other, including insulting the head-of-state

🚫Should we Vote M7 Because Of Torturing Political Opponents?

All forms of torture are outlawed in Uganda. The fact that Mutamba classifies his complaint as “torturing political opponents” indicates that his concern is politically engineered to score points.

🚫Should we Vote M7 Because Of Promising What He Can’t Deliver All The Time ? (Empty Promises- Promises & Lies)?

Ugandans have consistently preferred and voted Museveni against a line of contenders because he is the one whose word and record are tested. If he did not deliver as per the party manifesto, he would be rejected like the other candidates who usually come to reap where they have not sowed. Museveni’s achievements speak for themselves if only people could be honest.

🚫Should we Vote M7 Because He Uses The Military To Suppress, threaten/intimidate  Ugandans of their Rights?

Ugandan’s military (UPDF) under the overall command of Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is the most disciplined and people-centred army that Uganda has ever heard. It is a people’s army, composed of their relatives and friends. Without the army’s professionalism and pro-people stance, instability would be rife. Progress would not be possible. With UPDF, Ugandans are secure. Only criminal elements feel intimidated. And, kindly, keep the army out of cheap politicking.

🚫Should we vote Museveni after selling 90% of this nation’s national assets?

Which national assets have been sold? Under which programme? Mutamba, like other naïve people who have raised similar accusations, may be referring to privatization which was part of the programme of divesting of Government interests to the private sector for efficiency in management and production in order to spur rapid economic development. No Ugandan asset has been sold off and none will be sold off as long as Museveni is in charge.

🚫Should we Vote M7 Because Of The Rampant Stinking Taxes In His Regime – Rampant double taxations?

Which double taxation is in reference here? Which particular aspect of business is double taxed? That is the problem with addressing issues in haste. Let us be deep in our analysis of issues if Ugandans are to take us seriously. If there is double taxation, what are the Members of Parliament (MPs) doing about it?

🚫Should we Vote M7 Because Of The Big Debt The Country Has Borrowed In His Regime Moreover Being Spent Corruptly  67 TRILLION?

Uganda’s debt burden is sustainable. No entity can lend to a Government incapable of meeting its debt obligations. All the monies borrowed are approved by Parliament where the opposition is well represented. And the money goes into development projects. No money is borrowed for consumption. But also, because of the improving economic situation, Uganda needs less and less donor support because we can fund our budget locally by a bigger percentage. The aim is to totally stop relying on donors. That will only be possible with Museveni consolidating his programmes.

🚫Should we Vote M7 Because Of The Abject Poverty citizens are Languishing In?

There is no time in history when Ugandans are prosperous than today. Every serious Ugandan fits in the money economy either as a worker or a business operator. How can Ugandans languish in abject poverty when the economy is expanding and what is the ratio of those in abject poverty to the ratio of those who are prospering? Let us get mathematical! According to the World Bank Poverty Assessment report 2016, Uganda has reduced monetary poverty at a very rapid rate. The proportion of the Ugandan population living below the national poverty line declined from 31.1% in 2006 to 19.7% in 2013.