There is excitement in Gulu City ahead of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential candidate’s “scientific” campaign meetings in Acholi sub-region.
This is the second week of Museveni’s campaigns which kicks off in Acholi sub-region today and he will be meeting NRM party leaders in Gulu and conduct a media address translated in Luo.
Several NRM supporters have started celebrations in Gulu city blowing the whistle out of excitement while Museveni posters were also seen merrymaking throughout the city, which also acts as the capital for Acholi region.
On several occasions, Museveni has been emphasizing safe but effective campaigns to avoid the spread of the deadly virus.
“There are these jokers who are playing around with the virus. In these campaigns, some people want to kill people by holding gatherings. Which kind of leaders are those?” he queried.
“I have specialized masks like ones used by surgeons but I don’t hold gatherings,” Museveni told NRM leaders from Nebbi, Pakwach, Madi Okollo and Zombo districts at Nebbi Secondary School last week.
“Whenever I am moving, I find groups of people but I just wave to them. I don’t move out to speak to them. I have surgical masks and shields but I don’t get out mixing with the people. The specialized masks I have can’t allow the virus go through. I can put it on and mix with people but those people will transmit the virus to themselves. I can’t do that because I am a leader.”
Museveni cited an example of the US where over 250,000 people have died in the past few months due to the pandemic.
He noted in the US elections, whereas one candidate was advocating for people to stay safe while canvassing votes, the other was urging them to come in large numbers and in the end, the latter has lost.
Museveni asked NRM leaders to advise the public not to take risks with their lives by joining mass campaign rallies to avoid the spread of Coronavirus.
In the previous general election, Museveni got 40% of the total votes in Acholi but a recent opinion poll by the Research World International indicated that he would increase his support in the forthcoming 2021 election to at least 58 percent.