NJERU – President Museveni has come under fire from members of the opposition for donating an ambulance to Njeru Municipality in Buikwe District ahead of parliamentary elections on Friday, July 27.
While campaigning for the NRM candidate, Mr Yasin Kyazze, on Monday, Mr Museveni received complaints from residents at the rally, including Mr Kyazze, that the newly created municipality has no ambulance, which he promised to deliver.
He came good on his promise when the ambulance, registration number UG 4648 M, was handed over to Mr Kyazze by the Commissioner in charge of Emergency Medical services in the Ministry of Health, Dr John Baptist Nambohe Waniaye, on Wednesday, two days to the election.
“This ambulance is donated by his Excellency Museveni following a request raised to him when he visited here a few days ago. In particular Mr Kyazze raised this matter to his Excellency, the President,’’ the speech by Minister for Health Jane Ruth Achieng read by Dr Waniaye read in part during the handover ceremony at Njeru Municipality headquarters.
However, the move has attracted condemnation and protests from the other contestants who termed it as outright bribery and against the rules set by the Electoral Commission.
“Why should Mr Museveni donate an ambulance before the elections? We are going to sue Kyazze basing on that donation,” said Mr Amos Kivumbi, the FDC candidate.
Mr Ceaser Kalema, an independent candidate, also vowed to challenge the President’s move should Kyazze win the election.
“What he has done is inducing voters. He has already diverted them, if it was not politically motivated, Mr Museveni would have directed the ministry to send it after the polls. But why is it done hurriedly. He promised on Monday and delivered on Wednesday with an intention of bribing people to vote in favour of NRM candidate.
However, Mr Kyazze brushed the claims from his opponents, accusing them of sour-graping.
“I requested president to accept and donate for us an ambulance because we have been finding a big problem when people fall sick and they are referred to other big hospitals. Accidents are many but providing emergency care services has been also a problem. I have now handed it over to the administrators of Njeru to serve the public,” he said.
Six candidates are tussling out for the seat. They are FDC’s Kivumbi, NRM’s Kyazze and four independents Diana Mutasingwa, Caesar Kalema, Azizi Junju and Joseph Opondo Opondo.
