Postcard from Mbale

Kariuki Mureithi writes from Mbale in the first of his reports from around the country in the run-up to Uganda's presidential election on 12 March

Mbale was once the most beautiful town in east Africa. But today the town is in tatters.

Nobody can remember the day that most of the buildings last had a new coat of paint.

The industries that used to employ a huge labour force are no more.

Newspapers are keeping the voters up to date

Even the waterfalls that were a major tourist attraction on the slopes of Mount Elgon have disappeared.

But despite all this, Mbale town remains a beehive of activity with hawkers jamming the sidewalks, and the beer shops teeming with customers.

Friendly

Most people on the streets are extremely hospitable - I arrived here at night and with most road signs covered with campaign posters of the six presidential candidates, it was not difficult to find volunteers to direct me to the Mount Elgon Hotel.

The mood in Mbale is pregnant with campaign fever.

The majority are in favour of Dr Kizza Besigye, who looks like he will give the incumbent President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, a real run for his money.

The supporters of Dr Besigye say they do not hate Museveni's style of government per se.

People are discussing politics in Mbale's town centre

They admit it has helped enhance economic development following years of neglect, but they also hasten to add that Museveni no longer has the ability to contain widespread corruption among his lieutenants.

According to the Besigye supporters in Mbale their decision stems from his pledge to rid the Movement of corruption and favouritism, which have bedevilled the Museveni administration for most of the second half of his 15-year rule.

Museveni's backers

But the president's supporters in Mbale are not taking this lying down.

They have mobilised and worked out a strategy to ensure that their candidate puts up a brave fight. They are combing every nook and cranny in Mbale to try and dissuade the people from ditching their boss.

The Museveni camp's main weapon is what they describe as a successful universal primary education programme, UPE, which has ensured that most children have been enrolled in primary schools.

The Museveni government, they claim, has also provided extra classrooms to accommodate the rising number of school children.

But whether this will swing the voters on 12 March is anybody's guess.