I will personally handle vote rigging, says Mbabazi

Independent presidential candidate Amama Mbabazi has re-assured Ugandans that he will protect their votes from being stolen during the 2016 presidential elections.
Mr Mbabazi says he will partner with the voters at the local level to see that votes are not stolen.
"How shall we protect the vote? We'll have a partnership with the voters at the local level. Cast your ballot and stay at the polling station untill the counting and declaration is done. The other place where rigging can be done is in Kampala in the computers and that one, I will handle personally," he said.

Mr Mbabazi was addressing a press conference in Gulu town ahead of his rally in Lira district on Wednesday.
He says his intention is to restore presidential term limits, bring about peaceful transition of government and ensure that there is equitable distribution and sharing of resources.
“Our economy has expanded exponentially, growing by about 6% of GDP per annum for the last 25 years. We now have oil, but how shall we handle that process? How much of that will go to the local persons! I would like to see a policy that promotes equitable share of resources,” he said.
On the question of affirmative action for northern Uganda and the Peace, Recovery and Development Plan for Northern Uganda (PRDP) funds that was misappropriated when he was prime minister, Mr Mbabazi apologised before saying he was not directly responsible for the funds.

"There has been that nonsense kept in the media by [Aruu County] Odonga Otto that I bought an armoured Mercedes Benz with PRDP money. That vehicle is not armoured and does not cost Shs600 million as some people like Otto say. A prime minister is not responsible for funds,” he said.
Mr Mbabazi further explained; “My predecessor (Prof Apollo Nsibambi) had requested me to retain one of the vehicles he was using. A prime minister is entitled to two vehicles. I allowed him to retain one vehicle and for one year. I used one vehicle that was used by my predecessor for one year before a new vehicle was bought for me. The old car had been used for 10 years. In the PAC hearings and the Auditor General’s report, there was nothing pinning me to have used 600 million to buy the new car.”

According to him, the car was bought to replace the old one he found in place when he took over office as prime minister.
“Its procurement was handled in the normal, ordinary way. I have been fighting for a better Uganda since I was a little boy and now I am offering myself to do that again,” he added.
When asked how he intends to deal with National Resistance Movement (NRM) party supporters disrupting his rallies, Mr Mbabazi said he’s yet to come up with appropriate measures to counter any disturbances.
“We shall announce on Friday the new measures we intend to take on some of the activities against us. The campaigns are about selling our ideas to the people and everyone must have a chance to do that freely,” he said.