Trek helping me monitor government programmes, says Museveni

President Museveni has said the195km Galamba-Bireembo trek is helping him track the performance of programmes put up by government to assist residents who helped him in the Bush War.

Speaking in Buwanga Sub-County, Kiboga District, on Day Four of the trek yesterday, the President said the journey has given him chance of directly reaching out to programme beneficiaries.

“[This is] to check on my system because by walking, I get the opportunity to meet some of our contacts along the way. Wherever we passed, I was able to see like those old women in Masulita [sub-county in Kiboga District]. So this is my advantage. Because when we came from the bush, we put up a number of efforts,” Mr Museveni said.

“The information I have got, I will use it to sort out [the leakages noted],” he added.
The President explained that the trek has afforded him the chance to bond directly with the fighters that participated in the 1981-86 Bush War.

Bonding
“At the time of fighting, we had only one job which was strike and attack. But here now, we are remembering but also bonding with our members. So that is why the walk has turned into a mobilisation [move],” Mr Museveni said.

“Wherever we stop and talk to people. For me, I am gaining a lot of information because I can see why there are income issues because our people have not yet mastered the way how to work with the population,” he added.

Mr Museveni is leading more 2,000 people in the walk that started off last Saturday in Galamba Village, Masulita Sub-county, Wakiso District, and will end in Bireembo, Kakumiro District.

Along the way, the President has been interacting with the people and at times giving out money, especially to the elderly. The trek has, however, attracted mixed reactions from across the political divide, with many calling it a campaign gimmick ahead of the 2021 elections.

This assertion was dismissed by the Government Chief Whip, Ms Ruth Nankabirwa.
“If the President was specifically campaigning or looking for votes in this trek, then he would not be targeting the old people. You have been observing that wherever we found people gathered along the way, he has been targeting the old people,” Ms Nankabirwa said.

Meanwhile, youth participating in the trek have described it as a learning moment. Ms Mercylina Busomoke, a member of the National Youth Council, said the trek has been challenging and tough for her.

“I have come to notice that what these guys [fighters] went through were not easy. If us that have come to trek with Mzee [President] are already tired, what about them when they were still in the bush under pressure and on the run to save their lives,” Ms Busomoke said.

Youth pick lessons
“Therefore, because of what we have experienced and gone through in this trek, we shall be ambassadors and advocates for NRM,” she added.

The trek is meant to go through the districts of Wakiso, Nakaseke, Mityana, Kiboga, Kasanda, Mubende and Kakumiro. On the third day, Mr Museveni led the trekkers through the hills of Katere and Kagogo in Kiboga District before they pitched camp in Ndirwere Village, Buwanga Sub-county, Kiboga District.

By the close of yesterday, trekkers had gone through Butologo hills. Trekkers only move after Mr Museveni has briefed them. The President explains the reason for stopping at a given location, purpose of the trek and also the expectation ahead.

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