POLITICAL BATTLE: I WILL NOT ALLOW GEN. JIM MUHWEZI TO REPRESENT RUJUMBURA AGAIN—MUHURIZI

By Ronald Kabanza

www.mknewslink.com

In Rukungiri

The Rujumbura parliamentary aspirant Julius Muhurizi has disclosed that he rose up to uproot, take over from old generation and push a constructive and developmental agenda for Rujumbura, Rukungiri and Uganda as a whole.

Muhurizi who is an acclaimed advocate of the high court of Uganda revealed that he believes he can develop his mother Constituency than all the previous Members of Parliament including Gen. Jim Muhwezi.

When asked about his political experience, Muhurizi confidently said that experience is not a prerequisite for someone to contest for any political seat.

“In any case, I think experience is an exaggerated concept because nobody was born with it, it got with time as one does a given job, one gains experience with time so experience is not born with but gained”. Muhurizi said.

www.mknewslink.com reporter caught up with him at his home in Bugangari parish, Bugangari sub- county Rukungiri district shortly after picking nomination forms and below are the excerpts of the exclusive interview;

Who is Muhurizi?

Muhurizi Julius is my name, born and raised from Bugangari parish, Bugangari sub- county Rujumbura county Rukungiri district Uganda. I am an advocate at the high court of Uganda and currently working with Tibaijuka and co. advocates as an advocate.

Why are you contesting?

Am contesting for Rujumbura seat because I know I have a lot to offer to my constituents. I have good programs that will benefit my Rujumbura people both directly and indirectly.

Rujumbura people are badly in need of someone who will articulate and lobby for government programs and that person is me.

You see for a good number of years, Rujumbura people have been left behind in terms of development take an example of vocational institutes, Rujumbura has none yet other counties have more than one like Rubabo which has about 3, So ask you self why Rujumbura.

Besides that I have an obligation to fill the income and generation gaps that are existing in the constituency at the moment where some have a lot of money that would have cared for the dying Ugandans for a good number of years.

Rujumbura constituency is gifted with the name and personality of Maj. Gen. Jim Muhwezi. Are saying that he was not good enough for Rujumbura?

Mr. Jim Muhwezi did his best but he was not good in his last days as the Member of Parliament. In fact, if he was good enough, he wouldn’t have lost the seat to the opposition candidate who defeated him in his home sub- county of Nyakagyeme.

“This only tells that the man was not good enough to transform Rujumbura county into a developed county because how can one defeat you from your home area. This also means that the man did not perform to the people’s expectation.

I want to tell you that I have to liberate Rujumbura from the out cries and orphanage they have faced due to the weakness of Mr. Jim muhwezi which helped FDC to take the seat.

There is a very big problem ahead if Jim Muhwezi appears on the ballot paper, the opposition side may again take advantage of him to retain the seat. So, my coming is not only good for the people of Rujumbura but also for my NRM party.

What strong mistakes do you think Gen. Jim did that made him lose the seat?

He made many mistakes during his long term of office as the Member of Parliament for Rujumbura and as a cabinet minister. The whole country knows the scandals that he was involved in  to the extent of being censured by parliament in 1997. I can tell you that he no longer wields the power and integrity required for him to represent Rujumbura again.

On this issue I and Patrick Kiggundu the late, filled a constitutional case no. 6 of 1997 against the attorney general in which we challenged the parliamentary resolution made on march 3^rd 1998 under article 118 of the constitution of Uganda 1995 to censure Hon. Jim Muhwezi the Member of Parliament and minister in charge- of primary education.

I also helped Hon. Muhwezi to file a petition in the constitutional court no 4 of 1998 challenging the parliamentary resolution.

Jim did not return back to ask his people, he just remained in Kampala forgetting that they are people who voted him for services thus they needed him on the ground.

What makes you better than the current and previous Members of Parliament of Rujumbura County?

I have done a lot of things for my people like helping them in filing their cases, contributed towards the construction of churches and schools among others when am not in parliament. This tells that when am entrusted and supported by the people of Rujumbura I will do wonders.

Basing on my experience I strongly believe that am the redeemer of Rujumbura County. Well I also have my mistakes but a good writer said that a mistake is not a disease but once repeated it becomes a disease.

People of Rujumbura supported the former and the current MPs with their mistakes instead they have done nothing to have their mistakes corrected. I will learn from their mistakes and mine to redeem the people of Rujumbura to the Promised Land that will be full of honey and milk once am supported.

What programs do you have for the people of Rujumbura that clearly tell if you can lead them to the Promised Land?

Once supported I will advocate for the creation of new counties because Rukungiri is a big district that needs to have four counties.

Mitooma district currently has 3 counties yet the Rujumbura, a county is bigger than Mitooma district.

Once new counties are created, employment opportunities emerge thus saving the youth from unemployment problem which is affecting the country. Service delivery is also streamlined since I will be having people to share with my resources thus improved standards of living.

I have good programs that are very developmental and constructive for all categories of people, am sure once I step in the parliament I am rest assured that the people of Rujumbura will start walking on the roads of the promised land and be served instead of them serving the big stomached leaders who can’t be satisfied by what they have.

You said that you will work, are you going to implement your programs using your own funds?

No. I will use the government’s money to have my programs implemented of course you know that am unable to construct roads, build schools, hospital but I know the legal obligations of a Member of Parliament which include legislation, oversight and lobbying for services for his or her people, an area that I cannot fail to perform better.

Who are your political mentors?

I was mentored by Gen. Jim Muhwezi because I assisted him in 2011 general elections and I used to see how he was respected. This greatly inspired me that at one time I would also become one.

What went wrong between you and him?

He betrayed me because we had agreed that he would also support me in 2016 NRM party elections but instead of supporting me, we fought for the same seat.

This greatly killed our relationship because we were great friends but because of this we went at loggerheads.

What came out of the 2016 party elections?

I lost the seat in unfair way because Gen. Jim stole my votes this forced me to stand as an independent candidate thus, we lost the seat to FDC.

Coming as independent candidate don’t you think it affected your relationship with the president?

Yes, we lost the seat which was not good for the party but with the president we are at good terms to the extent that I was even invited to attend the national executive meeting under the invitation of the president himself. This tells that my relationship the president is still available.

Do you support the president or NRM?

AM a strong supporter of NRM,it’s ideologies that are very developmental and poverty eradicating like NAADS, UPE AND UCE free education among others. This greatly makes me a strong supporter of NRM and president Museveni.

In case you lose the flag, what will you do?

I f lose on fair grounds I will back the Party flag bearer but  if I lose unfairly I will support any person and work hand in hand with him to see that Gen Jim doesn’t go back to parliament.

You said that they stole your votes what are you going to employ such that the thing doesn’t happen again?

I won’t reveal my plans but this time it is do or die vote no jokes because am tired. I will die with a person but I have to protect my votes whether raining or shinning.

What are you last words?

I want to ask to Ugandans mostly the people of Rujumbura to humbly support me with their votes and see a transformed leader who will take them safely and enjoy the promised land that will be full of honey and milk.

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