Mao pledges to develop Acholi

Democratic Party (DP) presidential candidate Norbert Mao has urged the Acholi community to vote for him in the January 14 polls not because he is a fellow Acholi but on merit based on his developmental agenda.

Mr Mao made the remarks while speaking to his supporters in Koch-Goma sub-county in Nwoya District on Monday during the first leg of his Acholi sub-region campaign.

Mr Mao said he is not in the race for the top office in the land as an Acholi candidate but as a DP representative.

“Acholi gave me to DP and DP gave me to Ugandans for presidency,” Mr Mao said.

He, however, said among all the candidates in the race, there is no doubt that he represents the interest of the Acholi community more than any other candidate based on his previous track record as a Member of Parliament (MP) and chairman of Gulu District.

“I believe that from West Nile, Lango, Acholi and Karamojong, we are the least developed parts of Uganda and we should be conscious while voting. We will get more development funds from the central government if we make our voices heard by voting for me,” Mr Mao said.

He added: “As long as you continue to vote for the National Resistance Movement (NRM), they will ignore you and never keep their promises just like they have always done.”

Mr Mao said once he is voted into power, he will establish a  truth and reconciliation commission to help the region recover from the two-decade rebellion by Joseph Kony, saying  many victims have never found peace.

“Uganda needs a healing president through truth telling and reconciliation and that is where I want to offer my entire commitment for the people of Acholi,” Mr Mao said.

[email protected]