President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni yesterday had a pulsating welcome back to the capital Kampala on his maiden public appearance as the newly elected President following sweeping victory in the February 18 polls in which he garnered 68.38 percent of the vote, trouncing his closest rival Kiiza Besigye of the FDC party who stood at a paltry 26.01 percent. President elect Museveni braved a ten hour drive from his country home in Ntungamo to Kampala, making various stop-over’s at Mbarara, Lyantode, Lwengo, Nyendo and Lukaya where thousands of supporters poured into the streets to congratulate him amidst chants of “Akomyewo Paka Last”.
Supporters were particularly excited that the President took time to ask for their vote individually by phone alongside his national campaigns in which he elaborated his plan for the country and also that he found time after to thank the electorate in Uganda for their wise voting through the use of short message services (SMS). In one of the messages, Museveni says; “Nze Muzeyi owe’kikofiira. Weebale kunonda ne’kibiina kyange ekya NRM. Nsaba tukolere wamu ku lwobulungi bwa Uganda. Tuyoogeyoge ku buwanguzi bwa NRM,” (Am the old man with a hat. I want to thank you for voting for me and my party the NRM.
I urged you to work together with me for the good of our country). The President is today expected at national celebrations to mark his victory by the NRM party at Kololo grounds. Museveni expressed his gratitude to the people of Ugandan for the trust and confidence they vested in him by re-electing him as President for the 2011 – 2016 five-year term saying this would enable him consolidate the gains and ensure transformation, job creation and industrialization. He expressed his appreciation to the people for standing with him and the National Resistance Movement Party (NRM) Party and said their support ensured the Movement’s overwhelming victory. “Thank you for voting for the wise old man wearing a hat and the National Resistance Movement”, a visibly jolly Mr. Museveni said.
He emphasized the relevance of improving household incomes and pledged his unflinching commitment to ensuring the successful take off and operationalization of the second phase of the National Agricultural and Advisory Services (NAADS) programme that has been placed at the village level for closer supervision by Ugandans themselves. As the President’s convoy made its way through Masaka, some of the newly elected Members of Parliament Vincent Bamulangaki Sempijja, Nanziri Kasse Mubanda and Hajji Muyanja Mbabali assured the President of their continued support to him as he steers the NRM Party and country forward. They congratulated him upon his resounding victory in the 2011 general elections and said that this goes further to confirm the confidence of the people of Uganda in him and the Movement to steer the national affairs of the country for the next 5 years.
ENDS