RUKUNGIRI: Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja has urged the people of Rukungiri to shun Dr Kizza Besigye’s new pressure group, saying it is anti-development.
Ms Nabbanja said the People’s Front for Transition (PFT) campaign launched by Dr Besigye and other opposition leaders recently can’t lift the people out of poverty.
“Don’t fight the government; support us and wait for the fruits of your support. There is nothing you are going to gain from opposing us,” she said.
The Premier made the remarks at Immaculate Heart Girls School Nyakibare in Rukungiri at the fundraising ceremony of Kabale Diocese Bishop’s Annual Appeal Fund (BAAF).
She also downplayed the strength of FDC party in Rukungiri after the 2021 General Election.
“Uprooting the FDC in Rukungiri in the last elections is a clear sign of strength of the NRM. Dr. Besigye and FDC and his red card campaign were born here but we managed to take the Rukungiri municipality Parliamentary seat from them. This shows their downfall” she said.
NRM has gained more support in Rukungiri district than before if results of the LC3, municipal council, LC5, parliamentary and presidential elections are anything to go by.
The ruling party won 10 of the 14 LC3 chairperson seats in the district, with FDC taking three while one seat went to NRM leaning Independent candidate. FDC had also won three LC3 chairperson seats in 2016 and 11 went to NRM.
FDC retained Rukungiri Municipality Mayoral seat and won nine of the 15 councillor positions at the same level; from 11 municipal council councillor positions it won in 2016. NRM has now won six councillor positions from four it took in 2016.
The weekend fundraiser was meant to collect Shs2.5 b for the construction of the Catholic Church commercial house in Rukungiri town that will shelter Centenary Bank.
Speaking at the event, Thomas Tayebwa, the government chief whip, hailed the Catholic Church for this initiative, and described it as a sign of self-reliance.
“I am very pleased with this initiative because it really creates religious institutions that are self-sustainable, that can give service to the community,” he said.
