President Museveni has stated that science, not speculation, informs the National Resistance Movement‘s (NRM) political party strategy.
“NRM politics is politics of science, not guesswork,” President Museveni said as he addressed a political rally in Iceme Town Council while campaigning for Mr. Samuel Okello Engola, the NRM flag bearer in the forthcoming Oyam North by-election as the vote hunt comes to an end.
The former Minister of State for Labour, Employment, and Industrial Relations, Col (Rtd) Charles Okello Engola Macodwogo, passed away on June 30, leaving the seat vacant. A by-election is now set for July 6. On May 2, 2023, the legislator was shot and killed by his bodyguard, Pte Wilson Sabiiti.
President Museveni, who has been in power since 1986 after shooting his way to State House through a five-year guerrilla war, claimed he is not looking for anything from the government because he “has got everything in my home” in an effort to sway voters to the NRM candidate’s side. I have my own cattle and receive no assistance from the government. We were not looking for anything personal, even when we were fighting [former president] Idi Amin.
“From the beginning, we were telling you we were here for your good,” added the president, who reportedly earns a monthly salary of Shs3.6 million but oversees Shs239 billion budget allocated to the State House in the new financial year.
He claimed that the late Engola Macodwogo joined the NRM because he was an intelligent cadre who was enthusiastic about the current state of peace in the Oyam District.
“And that’s what Engola fought for. Once you get kuc (peace), the next thing you need is otela (leaders). Now, leaders are crucial. If you don’t have leaders, where do you go?” He said this, urging the people of Oyam North to choose the right leaders.
“You must elect a leader who can show you the way because if you don’t know, you may end up in the east instead of going west. Therefore, when leaders come saying, ‘I want to lead’, I want to lead’, you must look at them and ask yourself, ‘Does this one know the way, or will he take us to the forest?” remarked President Museveni.
He urged the electorate to choose Okello Engola so that he could cooperate with the administration to finish the unfinished business of his late father.
“You are lucky to get one of the kids who has been growing up close to him (late Engola) in this unfortunate situation of getting a replacement. For myself, I would choose that boy because I would rationally reason that perhaps the boy had learned from his father, Mr. Museveni continued.
A few attendees at the rally who were allegedly from the opposition parties Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) and Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) switched allegiance to the ruling party.
They include UPC ardent supporters Mr. George Ojwang Opota, Prime Minister of the Tekwaro Lango or Lago cultural institution, Mr. George Rashid Opio (FDC), a former speaker of the Lira District, and Mr. George Ojwang Opota.
Speaking on behalf of other defectors, Mr. Opio said: “I did everything practically within my power to fight this government, even going as far as going to the bush, but I am today making an official declaration that I am totally defeated.”
The Oyam District consists of 16 administrative units, 74 parishes, 1,094 villages, and the Oyam South and Oyam North political constituencies. With at least 187,000 registered voters, the area has a population of about 553, 000. According to Mr. Benson Dila, the district chairman, there are 93,000 voters in Oyam County.
