By George Murumba

21^st May 2012:

Museveni at Mugarra's home, PPU courtesy photo

President Yoweri Museveni has warned the Allied Democratic Forces [ADF] rebels, saying they would “pay very dearly if they dared attack Uganda” and urged them to abandon banditry.

Museveni said he was aware of the presence of Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).  He however said Uganda had got assurances from the DRC government that it would flash ADF out of its territory.

The president made the remarks at the memorial service for the late Francis Mugarra who represented Ntoroko County in the 8th Parliament.  In paying tribute to the deceased, Museveni said the late Francis Mugarra was a “honest, focused and development oriented politician who always objected to cheap and populist politics”.

The memorial service also coincided with victory celebrations for the late Mugarra’s son, Hon. Martin Bahinduka Mugarra, who now represents Ntoroko County. The function took place at the deceased’s family home in Rwebisengo, Ntoroko County in the Western district of Ntoroko.

Museveni said the late Mugarra was a pioneer of development in Ntoroko, having introduced modern farming practices and individual land ownership in the area as opposed to communal land ownership that was preferred by the Batuku of Ntoroko district.

The Batuku however opposed the new land tenure system and consequently voted Mugarra out in the 2001 general elections.  Even after losing the elections, Museveni said, the late Mugarra did not relent from sensitizing the Batuku on the importance of individual land ownership and modern agricultural practices.

He added that the late Mugarra’s conviction on land ownership eventually earned him enough popularity to win back his parliamentary seat in 2006.  The President challenged Mugarra’s son to take over from where his father left and work to transform Ntoroko out of household poverty, especially by promoting modern farming methods.

Museveni’s also expressed unhappiness that Ntoroko district had voted for independent MPs in the 2011 general elections.  This, he said, was caused by the failure of the NRM Electoral Commission to handle the Primaries to the satisfaction of all Movement supporters.  END.  Please login to www.ugandacorrespondent.com every Monday to read our top stories and anytime mid-week for our news updates.