President Yoweri Museveni has warned opposition leaders in Uganda to stop intimidating the country that next year's elections will be interrupted.
Delivering the state of the nation address, the tough talking president also repeated his recent words to foreign donors that he will not take any of their lectures on elections.
He thanked the donors for their contribution towards development projects on road and energy but said they should keep off issues to do with Uganda's elections since he knows more about the subject.
His warning against violence in next year's February general elections is a veil reference to mainly two opposition leaders, Kiiza Besigye of FDC and Olara Otuunu of UPC who have said that they will not participate in an election organized by the current electoral commission headed by Badru Kiggundu. But Besigye says the opposition will not boycott the election except make sure that Kiggundu does not organize it it himself.
Throughout his over three hours address, Museveni wore a smiling face and sometimes threw jokes at the opposition until he reached the comments on elections.
He said that "as sure as night follows day elections will take place come February next year". He said that an avenue for dialogue on democracy exists between his ruling NRM and the opposition through the Inter Party Forum that was created in 2006.
He appealed to all Ugandans to work hard towards consolidating achievements made within the last four years of multi party rule in Uganda. He made an appeal to young voters as well as those who have not yet updated their names on the national voters' register to do so in time.
The president briefly touched on the subject of corruption by saying patience is needed to resolve the cancer. The opposition bench murmured at him when he blamed the weak legal system for failing to fight corruption.
He suggested hard measures such as the court martial to try corruption cases.
On social services, Museveni directed the Ministry of Education to establish at least a secondary school in each sub-county. He said if there is no budget in the new budget the ministry must show him a plan for the implementation.
On health, the president directed the Ministry of Health to recentralize the procurement and distribution of drugs to the districts through the National Medical Stores. He said this would stop the theft of drugs meant for district health centers.
