Dr. Abed Bwanika , a Ugandan presidential elections hopeful addreses Ugandans at the Best Western hotel in Waltham last Sunday as part of his meet the Ugandan Diaspora tour. H.Maina/Ajabu

WALTHAM,Mass. , JULY 24__ The president of the Uganda People's Development Party (PDP) Dr.Abed Bwanika, has declared an all out effort to win the presidency of Uganda in the 2011 general elections so as to bring change to the people.

“If the forthcoming general elections don’t change the political status quo that continues to drive down the country, I will become an expert in handling a gun to change the regime,” the politician said.

A former presidential candidate in the 2006 general elections, Dr. Bwanika was speaking at the Best Western Hotel in Waltham , Massachusetts on Sunday in a town hall conference organized by his party, to meet Ugandan in the Diaspora.

A veterinary doctor by profession, Bwanika, who is also a pastor, said the country’s current president Gen. Yoweri Museveni has too much power and has made Parliament and other organs of government irrelevant.

“Fifty two percent of Ugandans do not have access to a pit latrine, the external debt now stands at UG shillings 4 billion, up from shs 1.8 billion in 2007, Uganda is rated the sixth most corrupt nation on earth, and Jinja, the former industrial town, is in the reeds".

"As if that is not enough, there are only 7 dialysis machines in the whole country where one doctor attends to 4000 patients in just one hospital, and 80% of the population still engages in the archaic methods of subsistence survival,” said Dr. Bwanika, a presidential candidate for the upcoming general elections.

The politician told Ugandans living in Massachusetts and neighboring states
that there are only three ministers in government whose word Museveni listens to.

Bwanika revealed to the folks in the Diaspora that corruption is so bad that, for example, all the buildings on Parliamentary Avenue are owned by one man who always works as a commission agent of government transactions.

“At this pace, the country will be owned by 100 “powerful” people in government in the next 20 years.

The daughters of the “powerful” people give birth in Germany while the rest go without food. Everything is wrong in Uganda ,” said Bwanika to the astonished crowd.

A Ugandan woman poses a question to Dr. Abed Bwanika as a moderator and other Uganda citizens in USA look on

Bwanika implored Ugandans in the Diaspora to be concerned with the alarming situation back home because it will affect the future of everyone including their children.

He said Uganda is rated the sixth worst place to do business in the world, adding that many trade deals with other trading partners have collapsed.

Sounding bitter with the status quo in his own country, Dr. Bwanika said it is very clear that Ugandans do not own their country, adding that the economic situation there has left people in deep poverty while a handful of others are amassing wealth.

The outspoken politician urged Ugandans in the Diaspora to be on the fore-front in the fight of bad governance in their country and help the Ugandans at home to reclaim their country.

“You should be concerned about your country. You should use your skills, exposure and economic power to assert yourselves as agents of change to your nation,” he implored.

Dr. Bwanika noted that Ugandans in the Diaspora sends back about $ 1 billion to the Ugandan economy and therefore must be listened to and their ideas taken seriously.

He said that his party is spearheading a National conference which will bring together all key stake holders from all regions of the country including folks in the Diaspora to discuss crucial issues facing Uganda at the moment.

“Ugandans have the right and liberty to decide on the future of their country especially the issue of governance.
“The recommendations of the conference should be part of the proposed Constitution amendments of 2010. We should refrain from lamenting that constitution amendments will only take care of one man's (Museveni’s) ideas,” added the acclaimed veterinary doctor.

The meeting saw emotions flare when various speakers took to the floor to ask questions castigating the bad governance in Uganda and demanding to know what Dr. Bwanika will do to address specific issues.

The meeting ended with fundraising in support of the PDP party led by Pastor John Mutyaba and a prayer by Rev. John Baker Katende.

Dr. Bwanika headed to Kansas City in the mid west to continue with his campaign targeting Ugandans in the US .

ENDS

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