Vice President Alupo, Muhwezi urge veterans on peaceful elections

KATAKWI - The vice president Maj. (Rtd) Jessica Alupo together with the security minister Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Jim Muhwezi has appealed to retired army officers to diffuse any harmful propaganda during the forthcoming general elections.

“It is now election time. I want to request you to continue diffusing harmful propaganda from any candidate at all levels who is trying to mislead the people so that the campaigns remain peaceful,” the vice president said.

Alupo, who strongly discouraged electoral violence, stressed to veterans that such violence hampers development and breeds betrayal and bloodshed.

“I urge you to ensure that the forthcoming campaigns are free and fair and focus on issues that affect the people and service delivery. The elections should not degenerate into personality issues,” she warned.

The vice president reminded the veterans about the gruesome instances of electoral violence, including the infamous Okoore incidents, where pangas were reportedly purchased from Aarapoo market and used in violent clashes leading to loss of lives.

Alupo made the remarks as she assessed the implementation and success of the Parish Development Model (PDM) programme, a strategy for organizing and delivering public and private sector interventions for wealth creation and employment generation.

Alupo began the day by meeting district executive committee leaders of veterans and leaders of veterans from all the 20 sub-counties of Katakwi district at her home before addressing leaders and the general public from various villages, including Okoore, Akoboi, Aguriguri and Getom.

The vice president reminded the veterans about the gruesome instances of electoral violence, including the infamous Okoore incidents, where pangas were reportedly purchased from Aarapoo market and used in violent clashes leading to loss of lives.

“The election violence which we witnessed should not happen again. And we should start now as opinion leaders and elders to preach against such barbaric acts,” the vice president appealed.

She used the same platform to thank President Yoweri Museveni for fulfilling his pledge of building houses for over 50 victims of the 2021 election violence in Katakwi district.

The beneficiary election violence victims included families of the late Mark Elobat from Palam Sub-county in Ngariam county and late Teresa Akiror of Apule village in Kapujan, Lucy Apenyo of Apule village, and Charles Otyang also of Apule village, Toroma county who was shot at the polling station and sustained serious injuries.

The Katakwi woman MP also thanked the government, especially President Museveni, for creating and maintaining an enabling environment for Ugandans to enjoy security for the last three decades and urged the locals to remain peacefully presenting their candidates’ manifestos.

She said veterans are extremely important people to the government, and as a government, they will continue being very connected to them.

“I want to tell you that you are one of the pillars of the government which cannot be ignored. I urged you to continue to peacefully support President Museveni and the vice president in the general elections,” Alupo said.

She informed veterans that government has streamlined issues of veterans by establishing a fully-fledged office in every region to address issues of retired military officers, widows and orphans, among other things.

She further urged the veterans to educate their children about the history of Uganda for them to appreciate where the country has come from.

“We should tell the children that the peace they are enjoying is not by coincidence but a deliberate effort by the revolutionaries led by His Excellency the President,” she said.
She informed the veterans that the army is now a very consolidated institution and there’s no longer general victimization of the people who serve in it as was the case a long time ago.  

While addressing various crowds within her constituency, Alupo also assured the electorates that the  NRM would always provide peace and security and development would continue to flourish in the country.

"Please use this peace and security well, plan for your economic activities well knowing that security is guaranteed under the leadership of H.E Y.K Museveni who is the commander in chief", she added.

On Government Programs, the Vice President asked the locals to mobilize themselves and embrace government initiatives and programs, especially PDM, aimed at generating household income.

She encouraged parents and leaders to keep all children in school, regardless of the challenges. She said the Government would continue providing Universal Education for all Ugandan children, “so keep them in school”, she advised, adding that “Government will also keep equipping hospitals and procuring the drugs needed for the health facilities.

In his remarks, Security Minister Maj. Gen. Muhwezi thanked the people of Katakwi for their overwhelming support for the NRM party, especially President Museveni and Vice President Alupo. She asked the locals to maintain the status quo.

The General also encouraged all communities to keep on benefiting from the programs, which he said were deliberate programs to move everyone into the money economy.

He asked the veterans particularly to organize, re-organize, strategize and see how they continue to benefit from the poverty alleviation programs.

He asked the retired officers to encourage the people, motivate them and ensure that they unite to fight poverty and be independent financially.

The meetings were attended by various leaders led by their district chairperson Geoffrey Omolo, deputy RDC Vicent Savior Okwi and security chiefs led by the 3RD Division Commander Brig. Gen. Wilberforce Sserunkuma who encouraged members of the general public to be vigilant by reporting any collaborators of cattle rustling to the security forces.