By KT Reporter
The Conservative Party (CP) has unveiled a manifesto that places peaceful political transition at the heart of its agenda, pledging to guarantee safety and protection for outgoing presidents as a way to stabilise Uganda’s leadership and end the country’s history of violent successions.
During the launch of the manifesto at Patel Shamuj Gardens in Masaka City on Tuesday, the party’s presidential candidate, Elton John Mabirizi, said his government would offer a “safe landing” for the incumbent President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, to assure leaders that they can peacefully hand over power without fear of persecution.
Flanked by the party’s President General and former Lubaga South MP John Ken Lukyamuzi, Mabirizi noted that Uganda’s past presidents have endured exile and humiliation after leaving office, a situation he said fuels leaders’ reluctance to step down even when democratically defeated.
“From 1962, Uganda’s past presidents have suffered persecution or exile after leaving office. Such circumstances create fear among leaders and prevent them from planning their exit and willfully handing over power even after being defeated democratically,” Mabirizi said.
He assured Ugandans that the Conservative Party is committed to changing the country’s political narrative by protecting former presidents and allowing them to live safely within Uganda. He added that if trusted with power, he would appoint President Museveni as an advisor on governance rather than subjecting him to retribution for the excesses of his administration.
In his address, Mabirizi reaffirmed the CP’s long-standing belief in the Federalism system of governance, describing it as a fair and sustainable model that promotes shared power and equitable resource distribution between the central government and regional administrations.
He also pledged to provide free education for teachers and health workers, describing them as a critical workforce that deserves direct government support. Mabirizi said his administration would cut unnecessary public expenditure by reducing the size of the cabinet to 17 ministers and a few presidential advisors.
Other commitments in the CP manifesto include strengthening agro-processing and value addition to tackle unemployment and improve markets for farmers’ produce, reviewing defence spending to channel more funds into livelihoods, enacting a new constitution, promoting political participation, enforcing zero tolerance for corruption, protecting the environment, and ensuring responsible use of natural resources.
John Ken Lukyamuzi, the CP President General, acknowledged some of President Museveni’s early achievements but urged Ugandans to elect trustworthy leaders capable of advancing constructive debate and accountability at all levels of leadership.
Elton Joseph Mabirizi is the first presidential candidate to contest on the Conservative Party ticket since its establishment in 1966. He previously contested as an independent candidate in the 2016 general elections, polling 24,498 votes.
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