Uganda's re-elected president pledges devoted service to nation

President Yoweri Museveni has hailed Ugandans for re-electing him into office in the February 23 general elections and pledged his devoted service to the nation, state-owned The New Vision reported on Monday.

Museveni has collected 59.28 percent of the ballots cast in Thursday's national elections, while his main rival Kizza Besigye of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party has received 37.36 percent of the voters.

In his national address from his country home in Rwakitura in southern Uganda on Sunday, Museveni said the electorate had made the right choice.

Museveni, who will form his new government in May, said his team will in the next five years launch new programs with energy as first priority.

He said his government had in the last 20 years achieved minimum recovery and caused some growth.

"In the coming five years, we are going actually to take off and jump and fly because the basics are there," he said, adding that "I will make a broadcast detailing to you all the measures we are going to take regarding the problem of energy."

The president said the improvement of the road network was also top on the agenda.

"Roads like the one of Mukono-Kyetume-Kisoga, Fort Portal- Bundibugyo, Mpigi-Kabasanda-Kibibi-Mpenja, Ruhama up to the ( Rwandan) border, the one from Mbale-Bubulo, Magale-Bumbo-Ruhaha and so on...have been causing arguments whenever we have elections. I have already talked to the Ministry of Works and Ministry of Finance to ensure that we find a solution," he said.

Museveni assured Ugandans of security, saying that "the conflict in the north has been finished. We have defeated (Lord's Resistance Army rebel leader Joseph) Kony. Recently, I was in Karamoja and I will go back after some few days to complete the disarmament of the Karimojong."

"Uganda, therefore, will be totally peaceful and concentrate on development," he stressed.

The results of Thursday's polls show that Ugandans are aware and cannot be easily confused, Museveni said, adding that through the poll, Ugandans had also rejected "external meddling in our internal affairs."

Museveni also asked the opposition groups to accept the constitutional process.

"Accept the constitutional process, continue organizing your party because now you are allowed and then submit yourself again in five years' time. Don's try to waste our time because you will not go far," he advised.

Source: Xinhua