FDC presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye addressing a rally recently. Inset is the writer, NRM deputy spokesperson Mr Ofwono Opondo
In Summary
It was very surprising that as a medical doctor with some years of experience, albeit limited and rudimentary, Besigye could describe the nodding syndrome affecting children in parts of Acholi as an “NRM disease” from which, instead of showing empathy to those affected, he sought to extract election capital.
Every passing day during the on-going presidential election campaigns, it is getting very interesting – although not entirely surprising – that each opposition candidate conjures up some mischievous story line to sell to their listeners whom the media have dubbed as “supporters”. While it may be true that among the crowds at the public rallies there are organisers and supporters, I think it may be more prudent for the media to describe such gathering as listeners who want to know what the different candidates have on offer.
It is particularly interesting that since the 2006 election campaigns, Dr Kizza Besigye has repeatedly made false statements without any sense of shame and embarrassment, that President Museveni has sold a chain of national assets at a song, and turned Uganda into his personal estate. Among the assets Museveni has sold, according to Besigye, are Lakes Victoria and Kyoga, private land in Lango, Acholi and Teso sub-regions.
During his campaign trail this past weeks in Karamoja and those sub-regions, Besigye has repeated the same allegations, and seems to enjoy them with relish because no one has challenged him to adduce credible evidence as to whom, at what price and when these lakes and swathes of land have been sold. Basking in the media galore, Besigye seems unstoppable on these blatant claims, and yet, many informed people and listeners consider this as cheap talk, perhaps not worthy responding to.
While in Soroti last week, Besigye, in reference to Museveni hosting the Uganda Cranes over their recent good continental performance, claimed most of the sports stadia in the country had been sold by Museveni who has not bothered to put a penny in sports. In many peoples’ view, it is these kind of bogus statements that make Besigye unbelievable nationally and, therefore, not worthy the presidency.
Also, it was very surprising that as a medical doctor with some years of experience, albeit limited and rudimentary, Besigye could describe the nodding syndrome affecting children in parts of Acholi as an “NRM disease” from which, instead of showing empathy to those affected, he sought to extract election capital.
If Besigye had been a serious medical professional interested in public health, he would have known or even joined teams sponsored by the Uganda government, and reputable organisations such as the Centres for Disease Control, Medicine San Frontier and World Health Organisation researching on this syndrome. He would know that some findings on the progress made so far are due to be released on December 21, 2015. In that case, Besigye would have also known that most of those initially affected have either fully recovered, made some progress and that the residual cases are mostly among children. But, I honestly believe this is perhaps too much for Dr Besigye to find out because then, it would not fit in well in his political election calculations, and it is absurd!
In Karamoja, Besigye alleged that as a result of the disarmament, the Karamojong had their livestock stolen, although he was clever not to say by whom, blaming the loss generally on the 30 years of Museveni administration. As a candidate who want to be taken seriously, had Besigye done elementary research, he would have come to the conclusion that the most recent statistics show that actually livestock heads have increased many folds in Karamoja since rustling stopped, and that energies are being channeled to useful and productive purposes.
The 2008 Livestock Census indicate that Karamoja had 2,253,960 cattle (19.8 per cent), 2,025,293 goats (16.3 per cent), and 1,685,502 sheep (49.4 per cent) of the national stock. It has the highest number of donkeys at 134,000 out of about 150,000 nationally, the highest number of horses at 906 out of 1,590 nationally, and 32,030 camels out 32,870 countrywide. Cattle ownership in the rest of the country in 2008 stood at: western 2.5m, eastern 2.5m, central 2.3m, and northern 1.6m.
Part of the challenge is that while in western region 42.7 per cent of animal products are sold, in Karamoja only 6.4 per cent is for commercial and the rest used for domestic consumption.
Mr Ofwono Opondo is the NRM party deputy spokesperson. ofwonopondo@gmail.com
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