Government Spokesperson Ofwono Opondo has laughed at former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi’s social-media-driven campaign for the 2016 presidential elections.
Amama Mbabazi declared his bid in a Youtube video (click here to see the video) that was uploaded at 4.30am.
“I will be seeking your vote, first within my party the NRM as its flag bearer; and later on in the whole country for President in the 2016 Presidential elections,” Amama declared.
Amama also has strong presence on Twitter and Facebook and he has also unveiled a website www.amamambabazi.com.
However, Ofwono says the real voters are in the villages not online. “70 per cent of Ugandans are not on Twitter and Facebook. He is targeting a few urbanites,” Ofwono Opondo said.
Ofwono added that Amama falling out with Museveni is not a plus and it will not do any harm to the incumbent president because many before Amama have fallen out with President Museveni.
“This fallacy that you have lived in the system long, so you know your way around it, cannot work. There are others before Mbabazi who have broken ranks with the NRM but they have never gone away with a sizeable chunk. Look at Muntu, Kategaya, Besigye and Amama Mushega,” Ofwono said.
He also criticised Amama Mbabazi for launching his campaign bid before the time is ripe for the NRM primaries, but he said it doesn’t matter because the former NRM secretary general has no clout in the party.
“How many NRM MPs or LC 5 chairmen will step on Amama’s side in the primaries? I don’t see many,” Ofwono Opondo said.
He termed Amama’s bid for the presidency as sour-grapping because he only took action after he was thrown out of the ruling government.
“The man shared an ideology with President Museveni for 47 years and he was part of government for 30 years, why now?” Ofwono said.