In the New Vision today

06/11/2010 15:50 

The New Vision Online : Army generals trust me - Bidandi 

http://www.newvision.co.ug/PA/8/13/737204 

Army generals trust me - Bidandi 

Publication date: Friday, 5th November, 2010 

By Henry Mukasa 

PEOPLE’s Progressive Party (PPP) leader Jaberi Bidandi Ssali has said UPDF generals respect him and would not cause mayhem incase he won the presidency in february. 

“My son Aronda Nyakairima (the Chief of Defense Forces) and my younger brother Katumba Wamala (commander of lands forces) address me as Mzee (elder),” Bidandi said, adding that even when he meets President Museveni, the President addresses him as Mzee. 

“That shows I have respect from the top to the bottom. They prefer me to other candidates. I don’t think the generals can salute other candidates in the race for President,” Bidandi said. 

He made the remarks at Nyendo Market in Masaka as he commenced his tour of the district on Thursday. He disclosed that he had built the confidence of the generals in security agencies by not attacking them and that he was still in touch with former colleagues in government. 

“Have you ever heard me attack Museveni, the army generals or those in government? You need them because when you become president you will not recruit the army and Police afresh.” 

The PPP leader credited the army for having transformed from a liberation force to a professional army. He elaborated that 70% of the UPDF were not in the NRA bush war while 90% are trained professionals and not guerillas. 

Bidandi also disclosed that he supported Museveni in 2001 to save the country from a military coup and the resultant bloodshed that would happen if Kizza Besigye’s Reform Agenda had won the polls. “The political high command had agreed it was Museveni’s last term and put it in the 2001 manifesto. When he started the kisanja (third term debate) I disagreed with him,” he explained. 

Bidandi criticized Museveni for being tolerant of corrupt cabinet ministers. He said all ministers implicated in the swindling of CHOGM money and the Temangalo-NSSF land purchase scam should have been told to step aside for a probe. “They are robbing the national coffers to amass wealth and grabbing large chuncks of land. That is not what politics was meant to be. You are there to serve.” 

He said as president he will not be preoccupied with getting rich because he has a house, property and all his children are grown up. “I am not looking for school fees. Trust me. At 72, I will lead for one term like Mandela and re-align national leadership. I cannot change the Constitution to remove the age limit because at 78 I would be using a walking stick to move.” 

Bidandi travelled to Nyendo, Kyannamukaka, Lukunda, Bukoto, Kaswa, Kyanjale and Masaka town. 

This article can be found on-line at: http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/13/737204 

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