'NRM retreat to resolve internal rifts'

Jan 11, 2012

The NRM retreat in Kyankwanzi will seek solutions to the on-going rifts and cliques within the party.

By Catherine Bekunda                                                   

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) retreat will focus on internal party wrangles, the acting party chief whip David Bahati has said.

Speaking to the New Vision by telephone, Bahati said the one-week retreat scheduled to start on Thursday at the National Leadership Institute in Kyankwanzi will seek solutions to the on-going rifts and cliques that have developed within the party. 

"Our focus shall be on party-building and managing internal party dynamics and strengthening political unity within the NRM party caucus," he said. 

Asked on whether they would deal with the issue of NRM rebel Members of Parliament, Bahati clarified that they want to “broaden it to the whole party and not MPs only."

There have been media reports that voters want to recall NRM MPs whose views in parliament defer with those agreed upon by the party caucus and who oppose government initiatives. Several NRM MPs have chosen to speak their mind than side with government positions while debating several issues in Parliament.

The motion to recall Parliament from recess last year (2010) to discuss matters in the oil sector was spearheaded by NRM MPs namely Theodore Sekikubo (Rwemiyaga), Wilfred Niwagaba (Ndorwa East), Mohammed Nsereko (Kampala Central) and some opposition MPs.

Educational retreat

Bahati also noted that all party MPs would be educated on both the party's code of conduct and its rules of procedure.

"We will debate both documents and try to appreciate them.

“The retreat targets all NRM MPs, Ex-officio members of Parliament and members of the East African Legislative Assembly. Independent but NRM-leaning MPs will not attend the meeting,” Bahati clarified.

At the retreat, the group will discuss and also be able to appreciate the dynamics of the global economy and its impact on the Ugandan economy. 

Among the presenters will be the party leader, President Yoweri Museveni, who will lecture on the NRM ideology – the history of the Movement. 

Several presentations will also be on the state and the law, colonialism and neo-colonialism, performance of the economy and regional integration. 

Former Prime Minister Kintu Musoke and the party's Secretary General who doubles as Uganda’s Premier Amama Mbabazi are among those who will make presentations before the MPs. 

According to Bahati, the retreat seeks to reorient and refocus the senior leadership of the party to its organizational tasks. It will be ran under the theme; ‘Deepening ideological consciousness for better service delivery.’

Another retreat was organized in late last year in October at a time the country was battling one of its highest inflation of more than 30%, soaring food and oil prices and a depreciating shilling. MPs then discussed the resolutions passed by parliament on the oil sector. 

After the October retreat, some MPs backtracked on the resolutions especially one that called for the stepping aside of ministers alleged to have received bribes from oil companies for favours.

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