The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) leadership in Kasese district led by the LC V Chairman-elect Kasese district Geoffrey Sibendire Bigogo has rejected the idea of the demand and formation of the ‘Yiira Republic’.
Speaking at a meeting between the FDC leadership of the district and President Yoweri Museveni at Mweya Safari Lodge in Kasese district, Mr Bigogo said that they are ready to work together with the NRM government to bring about peace and development in Kasese district in particular and Uganda in general.
This follows allegations that there is a scheme by the Bayiira of Uganda and those in the Democratic Republic of Congo to break away from their nations and form their own State called Bayiira.
President Museveni blamed some of the so-called prophets who instead of positively guiding the youth, mislead them by using witchcraft to fight for the so-called Yiira Republic.
“The earlier it is clear to everybody the better,” he cautioned.
He warned of dangerous repercussions from the Congo side in-case they press ahead to demand for the Yiira state adding that it will also cause unnecessary friction between the two governments of Uganda and that of the DRC.
Museveni advised them to instead work positively to create unity among the people at home as well as those living across the borders who have similar linkages and advise them to rout-out the ADF’s and the Interhamwe’s for everlasting peace to prevail in the area.
President Museveni rubbished allegations that NRM is marginalizing the Bayiira in Uganda adding that under the NRM government the population in Kasese has increased from 190,000 in 1994 to 700,000 now, something he attributed to a successful immunization programme in the country.
“Socio-economic problems are now cropping up including in Kasese. Now some false prophets come in to take advantage of peoples’ problems they have not bothered to solve. They say the Bayiira are suffering, those in DRC are being killed and Mugurusi Museveni does not care for the ones in Uganda because he is part of the Hima-Tutsi Empire. But I am the one who has increased the Bayiira for the first time in four million years. The population of Kasese was 190,000 in the CA elections of 1994.The population now is 700,000.Who has increased the population? Museveni. The Bayiira you are talking about are my Bayiira and they have increased because of my work,” he pointed out.
President Museveni earlier reminded the FDC leadership of the role of leaders at all levels of getting people out of poverty through adopting modern commercial farming especially in the rural areas.
He emphasized the issue of enterprise selection coupled with thorough calculation for better results.
Responding to some of their concerns President Museveni defended what some FDC leaders called unnecessary arrests adding that there is incriminating evidence against some of the culprits arrested.
President Museveni also clarified on the absence of the Minister of Defense Dr Crispus Kiyonga, who is undergoing treatment after being operated three times in South Africa. Dr Kiyonga hails from the region.
“I didn’t know that Dr Kiyonga was sick, because I was looking for him. I only talked to his wife because he had just been brought out of the operation theatre,” he said.
Later the FDC leadership reiterated their stand of working together with NRM government for peace and development, and also denounced ‘some people who want to use the cultural institution to cause problems within the region and in the DRC’.
