Kasese district FDC leaders reject Bayiira state, to cooperate with government
The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) leadership in Kasese has rejected the idea of the demand and talk of the formation of a so-called Yiira Republic.
The LC V Chairman-elect Kasese district Sibendire Bigogo Geoffrey vowed never to be part of what was described as a mischievous scheme at a meeting last evening between the FDC leadership of the district and President Yoweri Museveni at Mweya Safari Lodge in Kasese district.
Reports indicate that some Bayiira leaders of Uganda and those in the Democratic Republic of Congo were discussing a break away from their nations to form their own state.
Bigogo denied the allegations adding that they are ready to work together with the NRM government to bring about peace and development.
MUSEVENI FIRM
Reacting to the Yiira Republic allegations, Museveni said it is not only impossible to annex any part of Uganda but it is also false and not practical.
“I want to state categorically, that Uganda will not lose even a piece of her land to the creation of the so-called Yiira republic and whoever wants that republic should create it outside Uganda’s territory.”
Museveni warned that “even Besigye who promised it, if he became President and made that mistake, he would not sleep in State House that day. This country has some people who fought for it to be what it is and no one should even dream about taking part of its territory to form a new republic.”
Museveni is is currently on a 4-day working visit to the Rwenzori Region to assess the security situation and yesterday held two meetings, with the district FDC officials, and with Kasese district National Resistance Movement leaders at Mweya Safari Lodge in Kasese district.
Rwenzori Region comprises the districts of Kasese, Bundibugyo, Kabarole, Kyenjojo, Kamwenge, Ntoroko and Kyegegwa.
KIYONGA IS ILL
Museveni clarified on the absence of the Minister of Defense Dr. Cryspus 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.
Museveni rubbished allegations that NRM is marginalizing the Bayiira in Uganda.
“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 4 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.