My reflections on Age Limit

ruling and elections in new

municipalities

by

H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni

PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA

30th July, 2018

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My reflections on Age Limit ruling and elections in new
municipalities

Country men and women,

1. I draw your attention to my two recent short speeches:

one, in Parliament when HE Modi addressed Parliament of
Uganda; and, the second one, when, I addressed BRICS
( Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) in
Johannesburg, South Africa. All of them illuminate different
angles of NRM’s four principles: Patriotism (anti-
sectarianism); Pan-Africanism (working for African Unity
economically and politically); social-economic transformation
(modernizing the African society); and Democracy (the
democracy of substance, not mere form). We are making
good friends all over the World that will help us to achieve
our goals, starting with unity of our African brothers and
sisters in the form of the EAC and CFTA in order to unite our
markets.

2. Unfortunately, our judges in Uganda spend more time on

form and not substance, on procedure and not substance.
My freedom fighter’s sense of justice, in this matter (the age
limit ruling) focuses more on the convenience of 7 years
rather than 5 years. With the 5 years, a lot of time is spent
on electioneering and less time on development; the 1st two

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years settling in, the 3rd year some work in the constituency
and, then, by the 4th year, electioneering again.

In the end, however, the judges are not the ones in charge of
the country. If the NRM MPs follow my guidelines and bond
closely with the people, through wealth and job creation, we
can, together with the people, make the necessary
Constitutional reforms, judges or no judges.

The Constitution should facilitate the modernization of

Uganda and the economic and political integration of Africa
for the survival of the people of Africa as free people, not just
the theatre of democracy of form without addressing
substance.

The Judges should have taken into consideration the recent

L.C.1 and Women Councils and Committees elections which
gave massive victory to the NRM, soon after the age limit and
the seven years' debate. This was more or less a referendum.
There was open participation by the millions.

We shall harmonise and galvanize our position. The

undemocratic age limit nonsense was clear. "Nibagaya
Engabo oti mwihemu abagurusi?" (How can you say old
soldiers should be disqualified when everybody’s efforts are
needed because the good soldiers are not enough?)

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3. I congratulate the NRM on winning the 4 seats for MPs
and the 5 seats for Mayors in the seven new municipalities.
The new municipalities were: Apac, Nebbi, Ibanda, Sheema,
Bugiri, Njeru and Kotido. It is a shame to hear of the
sectarian manipulation by some elements of opposition in
Bugiri- using religion (Islamism) and tribalism (Busogaism
Vs Badaama). Such nonsense grows when there are
weaknesses in the local area of handling the social- economic
issues, service delivery and lack of sensitization. The NRM
leaders need to deal with social- economic issues, and the
rest will be easy. This year's budget has focused on these
very issues.

Those who use sectarianism of religion and tribe or gender

chauvinism are bankrupt ideologically and dangerous for
the future of Africa. They were the problem of Uganda in the
past and they have no value economically and, therefore,
socially ( socio-economic transformation).

I went to the schools in the 1950s and 1960s because my

father was able to pay the school fees of that time by selling
some of his cattle in the monthly auction markets of
Ntungamo. Who were buying the cattle? Three businessmen,
none of them a Munyankore. These were: Walusimbi-Mpanga
from Kampala, Bukyenya (Bukenya) from Mbarara and
Shear, a Muzungu, operating out of Ishaka, that was taking
cattle to Kilembe to feed the miners there. Who, then, were

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the supporters of my education apart from my father?
Certainly not the Banyankore or Church of Uganda, my
denomination.

Sectarianism is Pseudo-idealogy. If we get evidence about the

promoters of sectarianism, we shall act against them
politically and criminally. I also got alleged reports of
importing voters in Bugiri as happened in Kyadondo and
Jinja East. The case of Jinja East is in the courts on the
same issue of importing voters from other areas. Back to the
question of sectarianism, we should never allow identity to
eclipse or subvert interest. Down with opportunists
( Nalilawa, abanyaanda) - those who do not have positive
( beneficial ) principles that cause our countries to grow.

Thanks everybody,

By Ssabalwanyi

Date: Monday, July 30, 2018

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