20101101
RFI

Kampala — The battle lines have been drawn as candidates bidding to be the next President of Uganda hit the road on an all-out offensive to appeal to the electorate.

Beginning today, the eight nominated presidential candidates have exactly 109 days to comb every corner of the country in quest for that precious vote.

In that period, the candidates are expected to visit all of Uganda's 112 districts. Mr Museveni of the NRM will launch his re-election manifesto and campaign task force today at the Kampala Serena Hotel.

Bidding for an unprecedented fourth-elective term in office, Mr Museveni flags improved service delivery and more jobs as the centrepiece of the NRM political platform for the next five years. The President's manifesto is titled, "Poised for Take-off, enhancing service delivery and job creation."

The NRM flag-bearer proceeds to Luwero District on Tuesday for his first major rally, a historic place where his NRA rebel outfit waged a five-year guerrilla struggle that brought him to power in 1986.

Dr Kizza Besigye, the Inter-Party Cooperation presidential candidate, takes his campaign entourage to Masaka District, for the first of several rallies to comb the heart of Buganda region.

The Forum for Democratic Change leader unveiled a 24-member national campaign task force on Saturday led by Mr Sam Njuba and flagged "promoting the national good" as the bedrock of his administration, once elected.

Second shot

At his second shot at the presidency, Abed Bwanika of the Peoples Development Party hits the road to eastern Uganda with planned rallies today in the districts of Bugiri and Namayingo. Dr Bwanika is riding on a campaign promise of frugal spending, cutting costs on public administration and presiding over a lean government.

The only female candidate of the pack, Ms Beti Olive Kamya of the Uganda Federal Alliance, continues with her tours of Kampala promising a federal system of government in return for votes.

In preaching for federalism, Ms Kamya has argued that the root cause of Uganda's endemic political crisis since 1962 is in the very structure of the Ugandan state.

The Peoples Progressive Party flag-bearer, Mr Jaberi Bidandi Ssali will conduct his next rally today in Butambala before heading to Nakasongola and Nakaseke districts on Tuesday.

A former close ally to President Museveni, Mr Bidandi has pledged to reconcile the past and the future, to pave way for a smooth transition of power from the NRM leader.

Otunnu in Luweero

Former United Nations Ambassador Olara Otunnu, standing on the Uganda People Congress party ticket, heads to the epicenter of the 1981-86 bush war and will conduct a rally today in Nakaseke and Luweero.

Visiting this place only a day before President Museveni, the subject of alleged atrocities committed during the bush war returns yet again as a key campaign issue.

Democratic Party's Norbert Mao, takes his team to eastern Uganda and will conduct rallies today in Mayuge District. Mr Mao puts a promise to end corruption as a key election pledge.

The only independent candidate, Mr Sam Lubega, visits Rakai today. Mr Lubega is a member of a faction of the Democratic Party and comes into the race on the promise of change for clean leadership.