Museveni in Prime time, Good leader for Uganda - NRM SG Todwong

Kanungu _ Richard Todwong The ruling National Resistance Movement Party Secretary-General has reiterated that those crying for President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s long stay in power as NRM leaders are mistaken because he has reached a prime age where he can provide good leadership for the country with wisdom and not excitement.

Todwong says that Ugandans need to put more trust in president Museveni, describing him as a leader who has vast experience the country cannot stand to miss.

“I stand here to inform you that Uganda needs president Museveni now more than ever,” He said adding, “As far as I am concerned, our president is not going anywhere. he is growing younger,” he stressed.

Todwong made the remarks on Thursday, March 10th while speaking as the Chief Guest at the belated 36th NRM Anniversary for Kanungu District which was held at Rushorooza Seed School in Kihihi sub-county, Kinkizi West constituency, Kanungu district attracted a multitude of NRM supporters and fanatics who endured heavy downpour to listen to the party officials.

Todwong tasked NRM leaders to master the party’s ideological principles on which the party is run, saying, “Before you assume the leadership, you need to know what NRM stands for. As a leader you must guide people well on the direction, policies and ideology of the party you serve,” he said.

He hailed the leadership in Kanungu for working hard to ensure that the NRM remains strong in the area as reflected in the sequence of elections wherein 2016 had 56% support for NRM and President Museveni, while in 2021 they voted overwhelmingly for the ruling party with 86% and asked them to make it 100% in future elections to deny the opposition a chance.

Todwong urged NRM leaders of Kanungu to ensure coherence and reconcile with one another for the betterment of the people they lead saying that need district leaders to remain united and avoid parochial divisions that stall party activities.

*Todwong speaking during the celebrations in Kanungu*

“It is my mission to preach reconciliation among party leaders as a precursor to promoting party cohesion and unity,” Todwong said, asking leaders to pay more attention to people’s needs and work out the possible solutions.

“As a political teacher, I must tell you that a leader should understand what the society needs. People need peace and security, they need programs that elevate their conditions,” he noted, adding, “Leaders need to help people to benefit in government poverty eradication programs.”

Todwong said that the core need of leadership is to provide the engine for development that include infrastructural development such as roads and bridges, construction of schools and health facilities, agricultural improvement and ensuring the masses access these facilities to improve their welfare saying that the NRM has managed to remain long in power because of their well-planned policies which are pro-people in all sectors without discrimination and for that matter the NRM is here to stay as it has happened in countries like Tanzania and South Africa where the ruling parties continue to lead their countries.

Todwong said that he had taken note of the District Leaders concerns on unfulfilled pledges by President Museveni which include elevation of Kihihi Town Council to Municipality status, elevation of Mpungu and Rugyeyo Health Center IIIs to IVs and purchase of a Lorry for Kihihi High School, a school bus for Bishop Comboni College Kambuga among many others.

He however said that the government has managed to work on other serious infrastructural developments like the ongoing construction of Kanungu – Rukungiri Road, provision of Ugx 30 billion for rehabilitation of Kambuga Hospital so that it becomes a Regional Referral Hospital, construction of Seed Schools and creation of 5 Town councils for job creation among many other developments in Kanungu District.

He thanked Kanungu leaders, including the district RDC, Hajj Shafik Ssekandi for ensuring unity in the district which has enabled the smooth running of party activities.

The Central Executive Committee Chairperson for Western Region who is also Kinkizi East Member of Parliament, Hon. Chris Baryomunsi promised to work with the secretary-general to solve the issues affecting the people of Kanungu. He says that the division among religious leaders in some parts of the district stalls party progress.

The Minister for Information, Communication Technology and National Guidance, Baryomunsi thanked the people of Kanungu for voting president Museveni in the January 2021 presidential elections.

Eng. Sam Arinaitwe Kajojo, The district LC5 chairman an independent but NRM leaning said that coordination between leaders and security in the district made it possible for president Museveni to get 86% in the last presidential polls. He rooted for continued collaboration among district leaders for the development of Kanungu.

James Kaberuka, the Kinkizi West Member of Parliament appreciated the government intervention to tarmac the access road, saying that barriers to economic activities especially the movement of people and merchandise to the market places are yet to become a nightmare. But the MP condemned blackmail and divisive speeches from some elements, calling for round table settlement of disputes whenever they emerge.

Todwong was accompanied by the senior officials from the party secretariat including; the Deputy National Treasurer, Kyatuhaire Jaqueline, NRM party Electoral Commission Chairman, Dr Tanga Odoi, Director for Mobilization, Hon. Seninde Rosemary and Director for Communication and PR, Hon. Emmanuel Lumala Dombo received over 100 converts who crossed from the Forum for Democratic Change to NRM.

To galvanize party support, the Secretariat team in November last year enrolled regional outreach programs targeting party structures from the village level to among other activities reconcile antagonizing forces within district leadership caused by party primaries.