We have lost confidence in Museveni, say Karamoja MPs

Kampala

Members of Parliament from Karamoja sub-region have asked President Museveni to come clear on his unfulfilled promises of developing infrastructure in their region.

At Friday’s media briefing, the lawmakers also blamed the office of the Prime Minister for spending money on expensive means of transport such as flying to visit Karamoja, money which would otherwise have been used to build roads.

“For 26 years Karamoja has been listening to this Museveni song, but we have now realised that it is a lie and a raw deal,” said Mr Simon Peter Aleper (Moroto Municipality).

This is not the first time that leaders from the region have blamed or made threats over poor roads and social services in the region. However, it is the first time they have heaped the blame on President Museveni. “Is it because we don’t have people in government also? I have now learnt that paying allegiance is very bad,” said the chairperson of the Karamoja MPs, Mr Samson Lokeris.

“President Museveni has been everywhere commissioning roads, but you can never hear him in Karamoja for the same. What did we do?” he asked.

Karamoja has consistently shown their trust in President Museveni’s government, giving him 95 per cent of the votes in the last four elections. According to Uganda Bureau of Statistics, Karamoja is said to have a 75 per cent indicator of poverty rate as compared to the rest of the country. And with the return of rains, several roads have become impassable and bridges have been washed away, cutting off the region from the rest of the country.

First Lady Janet Museveni is the minister for Karamoja but the MPs said she is frustrated by the President’s refusal to release funds for the area’s development.
“The President is a hard man hence forcing his wife to fly to Karamoja when it is expensive. You find a whole team of hundreds spending fuel and allowances visiting Karamoja to inspect a toilet which is even built by Unicef,” Mr Aleper said.

Among the MPs grievances is that when the whole greater northern had abandoned the NRM, joining the opposition, its Karamoja which continued supporting the NRM party. “We have been lied to and we now want President Museveni to tell the Karimojongs where the fairness is in making their region suffer,” said Achia Remegio (Nakapiripirit).

However, Mr Tamale Mirundi, President Museveni’s spokesman, advised the MPs to seek audience with the President. “Like God sent his begotten son Jesus, Mr Museveni sent his wife to Karamoja which means he loves and cares for the region. So what are they saying that he has neglected them?” Mr Mirundi said. He added: “There is a difference between those MPs and the people in Karamoja. I am sure what the people think is different from what the MPs are saying.”

To show their dissatisfaction, the MPs have vowed not to support the next budget.
Though Moroto- Nakapiripirit Road was earmarked as one of the nine roads to be renovated, it was reportedly later removed from the list without giving a reason.
The MPs also complained of poor health and education services where pregnant women have to walk more than 20kms to health centres.

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