President adopts zero tolerance to investment saboteurs; urges NRM leaders to monitor Government programs

President Yoweri Museveni, who is also the Chairman of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), earlier today opened the 2nd meeting of the 2nd Conference of NRM at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole, with a call to members of the NRM structures in the districts to diligently monitor government’s programs that are in most cases frustrated by public officials.

“All those members who are under NRM structures but are not under government structures must monitor government programs in their areas. I have instructed the Prime Minister and the Minister of the Presidency to use the money earmarked for monitoring in departments to use that money for monitoring governments’ programs,” he told the cheering NRM delegates.

The one day National NRM Conference has attracted over 10,000 delegates from all districts in the country. One minute silence was observed in remembrance of the late Eria Kategaya and the husband of the Acting Secretary General Ms. Dorothy Hyuha.

The NRM National Chairman highlighted problems that are hindering government’s efforts to realize accelerated development in the country. He pointed out the frustration by government officials in implementing programs like opening up of projects by investors and setting up of industries.

The President cited the Kalangala Palm Project that was delayed for 10 years because government officials denied the investors from Malaysia and Indonesia land for the project. These Malaysian investors are being frustrated by some Government officials who have denied them access to 30,000 hectares of land for palm oil production. The President said that those investors had been availed only 7,000 hectares contrary to the agreed figure in the investment program.

Mr. Museveni warned that henceforth those frustrating development programmes will be answerable for their actions. “I have now reached zero tolerance to those groups that obstruct investments. I will sack anybody who delays investments,” he declared.

The NRM leader further singled out lack of implementing the 4-acre modern farming plan in rural areas, corruption which was fueled by accounting officers, commercialization of politics, strengthening of the Party at the headquarters up to lower levels and providing the population with the necessary livelihood skills.

The National NRM Chairman told delegates that having diagnosed and identified the category on needs by wanainchi since 1960s, NRM zeroed in on prosperity and security. He noted for the first time in the history of Uganda there is now total peace in the whole country.

On the issue of household income, Mr. Museveni told delegates that a lot of funds were wasted on programmes that never had any impact on the ground. He added that all hopes were not lost because the involvement of the Army in the distribution of planting and breeding materials has turned round the otherwise hopeless situation.

Commenting on the infrastructure, especially roads, the President said a lot of money was injected into the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) for the maintenance of rural roads but the group claims that the funds are inadequate. The President said the only solution to that hindrance is to enhance the capacity of all districts by providing them with more road equipment to be bought from Japan. He added that big districts like Arua, Mubende, Wakiso and others, will get more that one unit of road equipment. He further disclosed that the 18 zones in the country will be provided with a caterpillar with its loader.

The President also pledged more enhanced remuneration for councilors and professors next financial year 2014/2015.  The NRM National Chairman also appealed to members who have not paid their contribution for the construction of the Movement House to do so.

One of the visiting guests at the function, the Secretary General of Chama Cha Mapinduzi Party of Tanzania, Duggu Kinana, on behalf of their Party and the people of Tanzania, extended warm greetings and best wishes from his government to President Museveni, NRM Party and to the people of Uganda.

He lauded the cordial relationship existing between Tanzania and Uganda adding that it is deeply rooted in the struggle for freedom right from the time of Mwalimu Julius Nyerere.

He praised the NRM government under the leadership of President Museveni for making tremendous strides in the development of the country within a short time. He pointed out that under NRM, Uganda is peaceful stable and democratic. The CCM Secretary General reminded NRM delegates of the Kiswahili saying of ‘Umoja ni Nguvu’ literally meaning Unity is strength.

The former Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), Mr. Abdulrahman Kinana, was also glad to learn that the conference that he described as an historical event is to dedicate its deliberations on the cohesion in NRM and the development and prosperity of the country. He observed that nothing could be achieved without cohesion and discipline within the Party.

Mr. Kinana further praised President Museveni for his tremendous courage which is not only recognized in Uganda but also in the whole continent of Africa.

The NRM Chairman Mr. Museveni thanked Mr. Kinana for his kind words and told the delegates the contribution Tanzania made in the liberation struggle where the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere together with the late Samora Machel of Mozambique received 28 officers to train in Mozambique between 1976/1978 to later form the nucleus of the then Nation Resistance Army (NRA) freedom fighters.

He introduced one of the 4 surviving Officers to the gathering, Mr. Omule. Others include Generals Salim Saleh, Ivan Koreta and one civilian.

Later as the Conference came to an end, a number of resolutions were adopted based on the key note address by the Chairman of the Party President Yoweri Museveni as a working document of NRM.

The conference also adopted the report by the Acting Secretary General of the NRM Ms. Dorothy Hyuha. Members of NRM were commended for the Constitution amendments.

In the amendments it was agreed, among other issues, that the Electoral Commission of NRM be manned by full time person assisted by  2 deputies who will all be appointed by the Chairman of NRM

The National Secretariat will delegate the registration of NRM members to lower levels and the structure of the Secretary General, National Treasurer, Deputy Secretary General, Deputy National Treasurer, including all the staff of the Secretariat, will all be appointed subject to approval by the National Executive Council (NEC).

The conference was closed with a prayer by Mrs. Janet Museveni, who thanked God for the successful deliberations. She also prayed to God to give leaders in the country the grace to work together for the good of Uganda and Africa as well as to continue to preach love unity and for all people to protect each other as brothers and sisters.