NRM launches probe into fake party cards

Jul 13, 2017

The fake cards, which have the NRM party logo, are reportedly printed by Zaabu Technologies Ltd.

The party's secretary general Lumumba has called for the probe

PARTY POLITICS


KAMPALA - The secretary general of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), Justine Kasule Lumumba, has directed the party's legal committee to probe the distribution of thousands of party cards without knowledge of the secretariat.

According Rogers Mulindwa, a communication officer at the NRM secretariat, the fake party cards have been distributed to party members in the diaspora.

"The NRM Secretariat in Kampala has learnt of an illegal practice by a section of alleged members reportedly printing and selling party membership cards within the diaspora.

"The information reaching us indicates that the group engaged in this unlawful act claims [that], once you get these paid-for cards, you qualify for special loans in Uganda-based banks guaranteed by the NRM government," he said.

Mulindwa added that the fake cards, which have the NRM party logo, are printed by Zaabu Technologies Ltd, a company which he says has a branch in Uganda.

The task of the NRM legal committee headed by city lawyer Oscar Kihika is to investigate the allegations and possibly launch legal prosecution of the culprits.

"The responsibility of printing and issuing of membership cards is a mandate of the office of the Secretary General as laid down in Article 40 (9) k of the Party Constitution.

"No individual, group of people or an Organ/Commission of the party has been authorised with this responsibility," Mulindwa said, warning party members in the diaspora to desist from what he described as "self-seekers" who are supplying fake party cards.

"The office of the secretary general Lumumba has already notified the legal committee to pursue the matter with deserving interest. If proved to be true, this act does not only contradict the party constitution but may lead the concerned individuals to legal prosecution," he added.

In 2015, President Yoweri Museveni, who is also the NRM party chairperson, launched a fresh countrywide registration exercise for NRM members, and new party cards were issued before the 2016 general elections.

 

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