NOBERT MAO CAMPAIGNS FOR SSEKIKUBO

THE Democratic Party (DP) presidential candidate, Norbert Mao, surprised NRM party supporters in Lwemiyaga county, Sembabule district when he campaigned for the NRM parliamentary flag-bearer, Theodore Ssekikubo. During a rally in Ntusi trading centre and on several stopovers in Lwemiyaga on Tuesday, Mao lamented DP’s lack of candidates in Sembabule district. “We shall officially announce the DP favorite candidates from other parties in Ssembabule district, since we do not have our party candidates here,” he said. Mao, who addressed rallies in Ntusi, Mitima, Ssembabule and Mateete town councils, said he admired Ssekikubo’s bold stand on truth. “Ssekikubo always sticks to the truth, which is one of the DP ideals. “In fact we support him and we have no problem if you vote him back to Parliament,” Mao said. Ssekikubo, who officially starts his campaigns next week, is to face his arch-rival, Patrick Nkalubo (independent). Ssekikubo beat Nkalubo in the NRM primaries with a difference of three votes after a vote recount in the constituency. Reacting to Mao’s support, Ssekikubo yesterday said Mao is a seasoned politician, who has served Parliament as MP, Gulu district as chairman and now his party, with distinction. Despite being the DP leader, Ssekikubo noted, Mao never shies away from appreciating President Yoweri Museveni where he performed. “In the same way, where I have made a mark, he is not shy to mention it. He has a right and I have no quarrel with it, although I remain strongly committed to my party and urge all people of goodwill to join it,” he said. Partisan politics, Ssekikubo added, should not blind Ugandans from their main agenda of developing the country. In the 2006 elections, DP presidential candidate Ssebaana Kizito campaigned for the Ssembabule district chairman, Herman Ssentongo, since the party had not fielded a candidate in the district. In Bukoto East in Masaka, a prominent NRM supporter, Hajji Bull Katale, campaigned for DP candidate Florence Namayanja against NRM’s candidate and ICT minister Alintuma Nsambu, citing the latter’s arrogance and vanity. Mao, who was accompanied by the party secretary general, Mathias Nsubuga, regretted that Ssembabule district residents were still loyal supporters of the NRM party, even when they still lagged behind in development. “When I was coming here, I thought the Masaka-Ssembabule road was tarmacked. To my surprise, the road is in a sorry state. Be careful because President Museveni makes empty promises,” he said. Mao asked Ssembabule residents to vote for him because DP will give the Kabaka and the Buganda Kingdom total protection. He promised to help Museveni go back to Rwakitura with a gift of a modern music studio, since he has of late developed a love for rap music,” he said, attracting deafening laughter from residents in Ssembabule town council. Mao accused President Museveni of failing to fight corruption, citing the CHOGM incident, in which Vice-President Gilbert Bukenya attributed some of the mistakes done to Museveni, who authorised some of the deals.