Museveni cautions Ugandans against demanding unfulfilled pledges

President Museveni has cautioned Ugandans against reminding him of his unfulfilled pledges, some of which, he made during the early days of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government.
President Museveni made the remarks during the celebrations to mark 33 years of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Liberation Day, which took place at Nabuyoga play grounds in Nabuyoga Sub County in Tororo District on Saturday.
He said he was aware of most of the unfilled pledges he has made in the past 33 years, his government has been in power.
“You should not waste your time reminding me of what I have not done. I know my obligation. I know most of the things I have not done for this country,” he said.

Mr Museveni said Ugandans should instead focus on working hard to improve their household income in order to defeat poverty.

“A lot of things have changed in this country since we captured power and I am now appealling to the people to concentrate on uplifting their household income instead of reminding me the little things I have not done,” he said.

Mr Museveni, however, pledged to compensate Ugandans who were affected by the insurgencies including the Lakwena war survivors and victims’ in Tororo district.

More than 2,700 survivors and victims of the insurgency mainly from the sub counties of Nabuyoga, Mulanda, Iyolwa, Kirewa and Magola in West Budama have for long been asking to be compensated for their properties and lives they lost during the course of the insurgency.

“The government has not ignored the pain of those who were affected by the insurgencies,” he said.

President Museveni also used the celebrations to launch book titled: Universal Primary Education: Transforming Uganda, which highlights the success story for the UPE that started 20 years ago.
The book details the successes, challenges and the investments the NRM has made in the education sector, among other things.
Mr Museveni said the introduction of free education has had a positive impact on the economic development of the country.
“The ones who were laughing at me should come and see what has been done by UPE,” he said.
Mr Museveni also unveiled NRM principles, which included patriotism, integration of both East Africa and Africa as at large, social economic transformation, among others.
“The integration of both East Africa and Africa as a whole is important because it will guarantee prosperity for all occupants of the continent,” he said.

On tribalism in Tororo District between the the Iteso and Jopadhola communities, the president asked the leaders to reconcile and unite in order to foster development in the district.
“I have requested elders from both sides to sit and talk to their children so as to rejuvenate the earlier relationship that they had,” he said.

There has been a long-standing conflict between the Iteso and Jopadhola communities over ownership of Tororo municipality.
The First Lady and Education Minister Janet Kataaha Museveni lauded her husband for introducing free education in the country.
“We believe UPE has played a major role in transforming education in Uganda. It has enabled many children who may have not got opportunity to acquire education,” Mrs Museveni said.