Africa-Press – Uganda. ELECTIONS WATCH 2021 |National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi has promised to cause an amendment of the Constitution to restore presidential term limits if elected into office.Kyagulanyi said once restored, each president will only lead for two terms.”No president should rule beyond two terms. We have to have a limit, ” Kyagulanyi said over the weekend while canvassing for votes in Sheema, Bushenyi, and Rubirizi districts in western Uganda.In 2005, Parliament scrapped the presidential term limits ahead of the 2006 presidential elections, paving the way for President Yoweri Museveni to seek another term in office.In 2017, Parliament also amended the Constitution to remove the presidential age limit cap of 75 years.”When you elect me as your next president, you will have voted a president and a government that will restore the presidential term and age limits as well as constitutionalism,” he said.On Friday, Kyagulanyi who was in the company of his wife, Barbara, combed for votes in three districts, where he held peaceful rallies.His journey to Sheema, Bushenyi, and Rubirizi districts did not, however, go uninterrupted as the Police kept on mounting roadblocks to check the cars and members of Kyagulanyi’ entourage.Imploring his supporters to turn up in big numbers to vote for him on January 14, 2021, Kyagulanyi said unlike some past and the current regimes that used guns to transfer power, he will use the ballot to transfer power.FactoriesIn Sheema town council, where he held his first rally, Kyagulanyi promised to establish factories for milk and food production to ensure value addition to agricultural produce.”Why, for example, don’t you process your milk into yogurt and we export finished products to other countries, especially our neighbours,” Kyagulanyi advised.He said with increased value addition and factories in western Uganda, the country would benefit from the market across the continent.CorruptionKyagulanyi also accused the Government and President Museveni in particular of turning a blind eye to people implicated in corruption scandals.He argued that those who are corrupt are being rewarded instead of being fired.Kyagulanyi cited some high-profile personalities, who he claimed have been protected by the regime despite being implicated in corruption scandals and embezzlement of public funds.He said in the new Uganda, such tendencies of corruption would not be entertained.”I can confidently tell Ugandans that all money collected from their taxes will be accounted for. Anyone who plays around with public money will be held responsible,” Kyagulanyi said.Don’t ashame meEarlier, while campaigning in Ntungamo, Kyagulanyi urged supporters to turn up in big numbers and vote for him come January 14, 2021.Ntungamo is the home district of Barbara Itungo, his wife.President Museveni, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential candidate and First Lady Janet Museveni also come from the same district.”I know President Museveni was here and he said do not vote for Bobi Wine. But I want to ask you to vote for me and make Barbie the first lady. Tell Museveni that our in-law loves us and we also love him,” Kyagulanyi said.Kyagulanyi who was in the company of top party leaders, including Lewis Rubongoya, the NUP secretary general; Jolly Mugisha, the deputy party president western region and Joel Ssenyonyi, the party spokesperson, described his wife as an intelligent woman who will help in the development of Uganda.Campaigning for Kyagulanyi, Barbara described her husband as a man of his word, who should be trusted with the presidency.Asking the people of Ntungamo to vote for him, Mrs Kyagulanyi said using her office as the first lady, she will promote education and health services, especially for the girl child.Before his rally in Ntungamo, Kyagulanyi was set to address his supporters in Rwampara and Isingiro districts.However, the Police foiled his planned rallies by diverting him to longer routes, which resulted in his losing time, thus holding only one rally in Ntungamo.In Isingiro, where he reached at 6:00pm, the closing time for campaigns, the Police used teargas to disperse Kyagulanyi’s supporters and members of the NRM who had gathered to counter the former.Wearing yellow NRM T-shirts with Museveni’s portrait emblazoned on the front, the NRM supporters chanted, “We want Museveni” as Kyagulanyi’ supporters responded: “People Power”.
