Kiiza Besigye of the Forum for Democratic Change and Amama Mbabazi of Go Forward have no support in their home areas and should not be voted for by Ugandans, Information Minister Maj Gen Jim Muhwezi has said.
Muhwezi was speaking on Saturday at Kaunda Grounds in Gulu town during the 13th anniversary celebrations of Mega FM, a leading radio station that played a key role in the return of peace in northern Uganda. Mega was founded in 2002 and is part of Uganda Broadcasting Corporation.
“These leaders[Besigye and Mbabazi] who are coming to tell you lies especially the likes of Besigye and Mbabazi should not lie to you because they come from my area and in that region, they have no support, so they should not deceive you,” Muhwezi said who was representing the president at the event.
Muhwezi was not specific on what lies Besigye and Mbabazi had told.
Mbabazi’s spokesperson, Ms Josephine Mayanja Nkangi, in response to the attacks against her candidate told Acholi Times: ‘‘Their continues attacks against Mbabazi shows that Mr Mbabazi is a threat against the NRM. We don’t have time for such nonsensical utterances.’’
Until he was fired as Prime Minister in September 2014, Mbabazi who had worked with Museveni for around 40 years, was considered a close confidant of the president. A poll conducted by Research World International and released in August found that most NRM supporters preferred Mbabazi as successor to Museveni.
Kiiza Besigye and Amama Mbabazi are considered two of the main challengers to Museveni’s 30- year hold onto power.
However, at press conference at State House, days after his nomination, Museveni said he is the best placed to continue leading Uganda saying only the ‘‘mad’’ can vote for Besigye and Mbabazi.
In this presidential race, like others before, Museveni’s party- the NRM continues to use state structures to have a competitive advantage over the other candidates raising questions about the fairness of the polls.
