By Chris Mugasha
MITOOMA: The Deputy speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa has urged Ugandans to stop comparing their Country- Uganda with some of the developed countries like America.
According to Tayebwa, every Country has got its achievements, challenges and opportunities.
“Even America is still ‘grappling with some pockets’ of citizens who are poor. During winter season, people there (America) die while others struggle to live” Tayebwa said.
Tayebwa the Ruhinda North constituency Member of Parliament however said what Ugandans can currently compare their country with America is the issue of peace where he said, “both countries are enjoying peace.” He said Ugandans especially those born in the generation of NRM regime have enjoyed total peace which he attributed to President Yoweri Museveni who led the liberation struggle. “Unlike we who were not yet born at the time, the old generation knows what they went through during the past governments of late Idi Amin.”
“Unlike some of our neighboring countries, the reason you see refugees flocking into Uganda is because of the prevailing peaceful environment,” Tayebwa told residents of Rwempungu A village in Bitereko sub county in Mitooma district on Tuesday. The deputy speaker was in the area monitoring the NRM village elections which were concluded yesterday.
Tayebwa was responding to residents who complained of lack of some services especially roads, electricity and water which they said much as he (Tayebwa) has tried to extend them (electricity and water) in the constituency they (water and electricity) have benefited few villages and have remained alongside the road instead of trickling down-across all the villages.
Tayebwa urged the locals to be patient saying the NRM government’s focus now is poverty eradication. “After addressing the issues of peace, health, education…; the focus is now on poverty eradication starting from the village level,” Tayebwa assured the residents.
He said the introduction of Parish Development Model (PDM) by President Yoweri Museveni is meant to empower citizens starting from the grassroots and ensure that every Ugandan participates and contributes towards the money economy.
Tayebwa, who promised to address the residents’ concerns, challenged them not to wait for government to do each and everything but to mobilize themselves and do things which are within their means. “If water reaches your neighboring village, mobilize yourselves and do the trenching so that by the time we bring the pipes, you are ready,” he advised.
Tayebwa implored the locals not to let the elections divide them but instead reconcile and move on. End.
