“We are saying President Museveni is not going anywhere and if it is the issue of presidential age limits, we removed them. At Kyankwanzi we told him; father, there is no way you’re going to abandon this country; it wasn’t us who took you to the bush to fight for us. That’s why the Kyankwanzi retreat unanimously asked him to be our presidential candidate and he is coming back,” Nankabirwa said.
The 35 and 75 year lower and upper presidential age limits respectively were removed last year after a fierce parliamentary battle. The removal breathed new political life into President Museveni’s re-election ambitions in 2021.
Nankabirwa told the cheering crowd that they have formed a presidential committee, which is going district-to-district campaigning for Museveni’s ‘children’ and decampaigning those against him.
“I have a presidential team that I’m working with that is moving district by district. We were recently in Kassanda and by the time we left, one of the MPs said he would not stand for re-election,” Nankabirwa said referring to the NRM rebel MP for Kasambya, Gafa Mbwatekamwa, the self-confessed admirer of Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine who announced recently he would run for president in 2021.
Nankabirwa also urged voters to allow their members of parliament serve for a longer time.
“We need to give our leaders an opportunity to do what they are meant to do. When you give them time, you have in effect put value on them; that’s why I would want to thank the people of Kiboga district for the trust they put in me,” she said.
“I wouldn’t have become the minister for Luweero Triangle if they hadn’t elected me; I wouldn’t have become the state minister for Defence if they hadn’t re-elected me; I wouldn’t have become the state minister for microfinance, minister for fisheries or Government Chief Whip. Therefore, you should not make your members of parliament just ‘beep’ in parliament by giving them only one term because it is very hard to look for a job in Kampala when you have been an MP,” she said.
Nankabirwa has been a woman MP for Kiboga district for 25 years. She joined in 1994 as a Constituent Assembly delegate. Meanwhile, Sylvia Nayebale, the woman MP for Gomba, who organised the function, thanked President Yoweri Museveni for championing women’s causes. She said since the country got independence in 1962, no government has prioritized women issues more than Museveni’s ruling NRM.
“We would like to use this opportunity today to reflect on our journey as women. We have come from very far; when you talk to 80-year-old women up to now, they don’t eat chicken or eggs because they were considered second-class citizens. That’s why we want to thank President Museveni for giving women leadership opportunities at all levels,” Nayebale said.
She urged woman MPs to prioritize women issues.
“I have focused on women issues like maternal health, girl-child education, reduction of household poverty and the environment because these are the issues that mainly affect women,” Nayebale said.
She donated two ambulances to help move expectant mothers. She also participated in the cleaning of Maddu health centre IV where she donated several items used in the maternal wing. Similarly, 150 expectant mothers received Mama kits; an assortment of materials used by mothers during delivery.
The function was attended by several MPs: Galabuzi Ssozi of Busiro North; Lydia Mirembe of Butambala; Peter Ogwang of Usuk; Mariam Naigaga of Namutumba; Robina Rwakoojo of Gomba East; Mwine Mpaka, youth Western; Emmanuel Ssengo, Gomba West; and Ruth Katushabe, Bukomansimbi North, among others.
bakerbatte@observer.ug
