COMMENT: Museveni on Bobi Wine

What is amazing is the opposition, to which Bobi Wine apparently belongs, always opposing new industries (e.g. the sugar factory in Amuru, they delayed Bujagali dam in the 6th Parliament (1999) etc.)

Recently, they have been opposing the Land Amendment Bill which aims at, on the one hand, quickening the process of getting land on which to build the very infrastructure (especially the roads, the railway and the electricity) that is crucial for attracting industries, services companies etc. that are necessary for solving the unemployment problem and, on the other hand, stop the squandering of Government money in fictitious compensations.  How can you undermine the base of the industries and service companies that helps you to create jobs and then you claim to talk about jobs?  Opposing the Land Amendment Bill also means that the opposition, to which Bobi Wine belongs, is in cahoots with the corrupt government officials or the greedy private citizens who use land compensation to Kwaaya (loot) the government.  In my radio talk shows recently, I quoted two examples.  An example in Ntungamo, where the market price of land is between Shs13 million to Shs20 million per hectare, but where one of the people demanded Shs1.5 billion per acre!  The East African electricity line project was delayed for 5 years!  In Kamwengye, the very important Nyakahita-Kazo-Ibanda-Kamwengye-Fort Portal Road (209.2 kms long), at a total cost of Shs425 billion, had to be diverted because one greedy claimant demanded Shs1.2 billion for a quarter of an acre when the fair compensation was only Shs89 million.  This means that the government will stop tarmacking roads, building power lines because of this kwaaya (looting) by the collusion of government officials.

The opposition do not only oppose the infrastructure projects.  They also oppose factories like the one of Amuru etc.   How will they create jobs?

Then Bobie Wine talks of the public bebt that has made “us slaves”.  False, Mr. Bobi Wine. True, some of the debts are contracted carelessly by civil servants.  However, two things: First, much of the debt has helped us to build roads – that is why Bobi Wine is able to zoom around the country in his vehicle with ease.  Secondly, we are careful with the level of borrowing. When you include the borrowing for the Standard Gauge Railway and all the other projects, the debt level will not exceed 41.7% of nominal debt to GDP ratio.  The danger level is 50% of GDP and we are far away from that.

Then Bobi Wine goes on to talk about the “Sale of Public Assets” – probably referring to privatisation.  Hon. Bobi Wine, this was good for the economy.  It injected a lot of efficiency in the economy.  Look at transport, for instance.  There were two government-owned transport companies: Uganda Transport Company (UTC) and Peoples Transport Company. They were dissolved.  What has happened in the transport Sector?  A lot of private bus companies have come up, a lot of taxis, boda boda etc.  Privatisation created economic space for the private sector in the transport sector.  The same for the hotels, education (allowing private schools), health (allowing private hospitals).

What is amazing is that Bobi Wine does not refer to East Africa, does not refer to the Great Lakes, and does not refer to Africa.  He seems not to be aware of the crucially vital regional integration.  We cannot sustainably create jobs if we do not create more market space for our entrepreneurs.  To see young people who are oblivious of this issue but in positions of leadership is not good for the country.  We had a Pan-Africanist stand when we were in our early twenties.  That is how we were able to push Uganda so far and for so long.

The Age Limit Debate is starting.  I will give my views at the right time.  What is not acceptable, however, is intimidation and violence.  Those are fascist methods.  Let everybody speak his mind freely and without threats.  We shall confront and defeat anybody who intimidates or threatens our peace.

****

Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is President of the Republic of Uganda, Omugurusi/Jajja/Kwaro/A’bi/Papa Kus