By John Okello Lapok
With only two days to the voting day, the political mood in Lango sub-region of Northern Uganda is said to have steadily improved giving the incumbent President, Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni an upper hand in the race.
According to Amb. Rebecca Amuge Otengo who’s the lead campaigner for the President in this sub-region, the voters are ready not only to vote but to vote the NRM Presidential candidate Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
“A decision has been taken unanimously that Lango vote is for President Museveni. All our people are ready to vote and we expect a bigger margin this time” she said.
She said that serious mobilization of the wanainchi has been done and what remains now is actualisation of this general decision.
We understood that in the past week, there were conflicting messages being peddled against the President by some groups urging the people to vote for the opposition NUP. However, the Otengo team launched a robust counteroffensive urging people to vote for the President citing a number of achievements his government has made to the area.
Some of the gains include the PDM and Emyooga programs, infrastructure structure development, peace and stability among others. The President was also credited for appointing Langis to cabinet including members of the Milton Obote family even as they remain in opposition.
“It is only in Museveni’s government where you find everybody serving in cabinet regardless of whether he likes or opposes him. That shows he’s a true Statesman. We know Museveni loves Lango so much and if we vote massively for him, a lot more benefits await our region” she said.
Otengo who is Uganda’s ambassador to Ethiopia, African Union, UNECA and IGAD, said necessary arrangements have been made to allow people vote peacefully without any intimidation.
“Everyone will be free to vote and go back home safely. Our people are ready to wake up early and be at polling stations in time to be able to cast our votes” she said.
She urged all local leaders to mobilize people to turn up in big numbers to vote.
Among the key issues that have made Langis to love Museveni is the issue of cattle compensation. The President has taken a decision that each homestead affected by cattle theft shall be given an equivalent of five cows as part of the restocking programme.
Recently, during a press conference at Baralegi State Lodge, Museveni denied accusations by UPC stalwart Jimmy Akena claiming that he was the one who blocked his Presidential ambitions. The President explained that the allegations were simply empty rhetoric because Akena’s troubles were legal and orchestrated by his own UPC party members not the State. The voters upon hearing this position by the President decided to ignore Akena’s statements the reason they are warming up to shower Museveni with massive votes. She said Langis are now driven by the desire to sustain the prevailing peace and stability, unity and development, all aspects that Museveni has already delivered on and should be preserved by keeping him in State House.
