How presidential candidates spent Xmas

L-R: FDC presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye (with blue tie) with Christians of Moyo Catholic Parish after Christmas Day Mass. Farmers Party presidential candidate, retired Maj Gen Benon Biraaro (C), interacts with the faithful at All Saints Church in Mbarara on Christmas Day. President Museveni carries a child at Nshwere Church of Uganda in Kiruhura District on Christmas Day. Right is First Lady Janet Museveni. Photos by Coleb Mugume, Rajab Mukombozi and Scovia Iceta 

President Museveni told Christians at Nshwere Church of Uganda on Christmas Day that he was closely watching and will stop anyone who will try to disrupt peace.

“I have heard you are worried about elections. Jesus asked the disciples when the storm came as they were in a boat ‘why are you so frightened?’ He ordered winds and the lake was calm. The country is peaceful, those who are talking this and that, we (sometimes) leave them but when they go overboard we know how to handle them,” said Mr Museveni.

He was responding to a prayer by a church elder, Ms Esteri Magaga, for God to keep Ugandans united because people have abandoned tolerance and harmony.

Ms Magaga said people are increasingly forgetting the past dark days of hostility and hatred that Uganda went through.
First Lady Janet Museveni implored those who love NRM and the President not to miss voting on February 18.

“Remember to go out and vote, it is the only way we can talk as a nation. Some of you say you love the President but staying at home on the elections day is bad,” Ms Museveni said.

Dr Besigye
Presidential candidate on the Forum for Democratic Change ticket, Dr Kizza Besigye postponed his campaigns in Yumbe District and instead spent the Christmas Day with the people of Moyo District.

Besigye first attended prayers at St Mary’s Asumpta Catholic Church in Moyo and later at St Paul Church of Uganda.

In his brief message, Dr Besigye urged Ugandans to live in harmony by exercising fairness and being good to their neighbours. Besigye also visited the home of Mr Abdul Malik, a mobiliser of FDC who died. He described him as one of the “immovable men” he had ever known.

At both the 7:30am mass at Moyo Catholic Parish and later St Paul Church of Uganda at 9:00am, Besigye was accompanied by Mr Hassan Kaps Fungaroo, the Obongi MP and other party officials.
Dr Besigye described his coming for Christmas as a unique opportunity for him.

“I am not considering myself as visitor in the district. Whenever I come to Moyo I receive warm welcome from the people that means Moyo District is my home too,” Dr Besigye said.
Dr Besigye asked the Christians of Moyo to pray for God’s guidance so that he wins the 2016 general election.

“Let us have love, equality before God and equality among ourselves,” he urged the excited congregation.
This was the first time a presidential candidates celebrating Christmas in Moyo.

Mbabazi
Independent presidential candidate Amama Mbabazi attended the Christmas prayers at All Saints Cathedral, Nakasero in Kampala.

Addressing journalists after the prayers, Mbabazi said he would apologise to Bishop Bernard Obaikol for being added on his (Mbabazi’s) campaign team without consulting him.

Mr Mbabazi said he should have spoken to the bishop himself but had relied on a trusted confidant who had assured him that he spoke to the bishop.

While a number of people have come out to deny consenting to join his campaign team, Mr Mbabazi, said that except for the bishop, the rest who were named on his task force had been consulted.

“For the other members, I had appointed as part of my campaign task force, I have talked to them personally apart from Bishop Charles Obaikol. I am writing to apologise because I relied on information from a trusted colleague who had not spoken to him,” Mbabazi said during the 11:30am service at All Saints Church Nakasero.

He said he would resume his campaigns on Saturday (yesterday) in Luweero and added that Christmas is supposed to be a season for forgiveness and repenting sins as Jesus whose birth was being celebrated asked his followers to do.