While addressing women and youth leaders from the region at the weekend, Museveni described the old Movement cadres as âold batteriesâ.
âIâve been listening to these people on radios and reading them in papers; I know them well, however I am waiting for them to reform or else Iâll deal with them,â a local leader who attended the meeting quoted the President as saying.
THINGS FALL APART THE CENTER CANNOT HOLD by ...ACEBE... as in CHINUA Acebe!
I just wonder who Museveni is going to Kurru this time arround in ankoleland?
Matek
Museveni woos western Uganda
By Alex B. Atuhaire & Felix Basiime
Jan 6, 2004
MBARARA â President Museveniâs current tour of western Uganda is aimed at restoring confidence amongst his supporters, officials close to the presidency have said.
Mr Museveni travelled to his country home in Rwakitura during the Christmas holidays and has been meeting local administrative and opinion leaders in the area.
Museveni met leaders from Mbarara at the weekend at Rwakitura and asked them to remain steadfast in their support, officials who attended the meeting told The Monitor.
The meetings come in the wake of sustained public criticism of Museveni and his policies by eminent Movement figures.
Two of those critics â former deputy premier Eriya Kategaya and former Inspector General of Government Augustine Ruzindana â are historical members of the Movement and were once close to the President.
While addressing women and youth leaders from the region at the weekend, Museveni described the old Movement cadres as âold batteriesâ.
He told the gathering that the Movement was started and is still run by the youth.
âI joined Fronasa when I was 26 years old to fight against bad leadership in this country, so those who talk against the youth are old cells,â Museveni is reported to have told the gathering.
âIâve been listening to these people on radios and reading them in papers; I know them well, however I am waiting for them to reform or else Iâll deal with them,â a local leader who attended the meeting quoted the President as saying.
Museveni is expected to visit Mbarara, Ntungamo, Rukungiri and Bushenyi districts as part of his political reassurance tour.
Officials in Mbarara said Museveni is scheduled to meet with the districtâs LC-V council at Mbarara University tomorrow.
The presidential press secretary, Ms Mary Okurut, declined to give details of the Presidentâs schedule.
âItâs true there are a number of people who want to meet the President but I donât know how long he will be in [Rwakitura],â she said by telephone.
Museveniâs political assistant, Mr Moses Byaruhanga, also declined to give details.
On January 2, Museveni met Mbarara LC-III and sub-county Movement chairmen at Rwakitura.
The next day, he met women and youth leaders.
On January 4, the President presided over a fundraiser for Rubaare Church of Uganda in Ntungamo district before meeting local leaders.
Well placed officials said the President was expected to meet leaders from Bushenyi yesterday and today.
Charity at home
Political observers say Museveniâs political canvassing in the west is important to repair any damage caused him by the withering criticism from his former allies.
On December 30, some of Museveniâs vocal critics within the Movement held a big party for Mr Kategaya at Nyeihanga in Ntungamo district.
The critics had earlier held a meeting, on December 23, in Bushenyi at the home of former minister Richard Kaijuka.
The meeting was attended by Kategaya and Mr Amanya Mushega, the secretary general of the East African Community and a Movement historical.
However, Museveni has been in a bullish mood over the growing opposition within the Movement top ranks.
During the January 2 meeting at Rwakitura, Museveni, who was speaking Runyankore, is reported to have said: âTime for pleading is now over.â
He told the Rwakitura groups that any leader who does not agree with the system is free to quit the Movement.
âI donât care wherever they go. It would be better if only a few of us remained so long as we agree with the system because it would save us the indiscipline,â Museveni is quoted as saying.
 2003 The Monitor Publications
