SHEEMA – Opposition leader Kizza Besigye on Monday pulled a massive crowd as he returned to Sheema Municipality in Ankole sub-region to campaign for FDC candidate Plan Virginia Mugyenyi ahead of the July 27 election.
Business in Kabwohe Town came to standstill as tens of thousands of people gathered at Kabwohe playground to listen to Dr Besigye and a cohort of other opposition leaders such as Kampala Lord Mayor Elias Lukwago, Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Winnie Kizza, MPs Francis Mwijukye, Roland Kaginda, Mubaraka Munyagwa and Betty Muzanira, FDC Secretary for Mobilization Ingrid Turinawe, former MPs Oddo Tayebwa and Vincent Mujuni Kyamadidi and Martin Byomuhangi.
In his usual self, Besigye criticized NRM for frustrating developing in the country and asked residents to accept bribes from the NRM candidate but vote for FDC.
“For us in Rukungiri Museveni brought bags of money, trucks, motorcycles but people received them and voted wisely,” Besigye said.
He said bribing people with Shs2000, Shs5000 or Shs10,000 is degrading.
“Shs10,000 cannot even buy a chicken. So for NRM to bribe you with such money is equating you to chicken,” he told a cheering crowd.
The four-time presidential candidate also ridiculed the achievements of NRM, saying the ruling party no longer has any agenda for the country.
Maj Gen Amanya Mushega, a former Education minister, also lambasted government for impoverishing people.
He said no one loved NRM and President Museveni like him but when he deviated from the core Bush War values, he abandoned him and urged residents not to vote the NRM candidate.
He said the new Mobile Money tax is an indication that the government is intent on impoverishing people.
Speaker after speaker sought to reassure the voters to overcome fear, confront those who intimidate them and ensure they demonstrably show their disgust to NRM misrule by voting for Virginia Plan.
They also appealed to voters to resist bribery and other freebies distributed by Dr Tumwesigye.
Seven candidates in the race for the election that will take place on July 27. They are Ms Mugyenyi (FDC), Dr Tumwesigye (NRM), and Independents Mesarch Katusiime, Ambrose Mwesigye, Jonas Tumwine, Raymond Akankwasa and Ben Ruyombya.
