Jinja independents fault NRM leaders for treating them as 'enemies'

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Independent candidates who lost in the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party primaries in Jinja city have accused senior party leaders of treating them as political enemies.

The contenders, who have since formed a coalition comprising parliamentary, city and division mayoral aspirants as well as council candidates, said they have been disrespected by both national and local party leadership.

Led by their chairperson, Daniel Kanu, who is vying for Jinja South West, the candidates accused the NRM national vice chairperson, Moses Kigongo, of pressuring them to withdraw from their respective races despite being aware of the irregularities that marred the primaries.

Kanu said that because Kigongo has never participated in elective politics, he does not understand the challenges they endured, yet he has been quick to instruct them to step aside.

Ronald Kakooza, the Jinja city independent coalition co-ordinator, flanked by his opponent Ivan Isiko, during a press conference at Grandpa's gardens in Jinja northern division on Saturday.

Kanu was defeated in the primaries by former area legislator Moses Balyeku. Balyeku is attempting a comeback after losing the 2021 general election to the Forum for Democratic Change’s Dr Timothy Lusala Batuwa, who has since defected to the National Unity Platform.

Speaking during a press conference at Grandpa’s Gardens in Bugembe, Jinja City Northern Division, Kanu said they lost the party cards due to rampant commercialisation of the process in which aspirants with money bribed registrars to be declared winners.

He said they expected Kigongo to conduct a fact-finding mission to verify their support instead of simply issuing orders for their withdrawal.

Kanu insisted that the independents are the genuine card bearers who were denied the party flag due to irregularities and betrayal by local party leaders.

Altogether, the parliamentary seat has attracted nine candidates.

Meanwhile, Ronald Kakooza, who lost to Edwin Lufafa for the Jinja Northern Division parliamentary seat, argued that none of the NRM candidates was certain of the votes they polled. He said that even though he is the Jinja city NRM chairperson, Lufafa and other flag bearers were weak candidates with little support on the ground.

He asked President Yoweri Museveni to prepare to receive independent candidates in the 12th Parliament and at the local government level.

Sirina Kyakuwaire, the Jinja city deputy speaker who lost the Mafubira ward flag speaking to journalists.

Despite criticism and what they described as neglect, Kakooza, who is the coalition coordinator, insisted that they all still belong to the NRM and vowed to fight hard to win the elections.

Flanked by Ivan Isiko, who also contested in the primaries for the same seat, Kakooza said the flag bearers were acting as if they were more powerful instead of attempting to persuade the independents to step aside.

A total of sixteen candidates were nominated for the seat in the forthcoming election, one fewer than in 2021. Opposition parties have fronted Hassan Muyonjo (NUP), Swaibu Zirabamuzaale (FDC), Moses Hanington Nabeta (DP), Peter Mwesigwa Nabwana (UPC), Geofrey Kabugo (PFF), Fred Ssegawa (EPU) and Mubasharu Gwaivu (JEEMA).

Daid Isabrye Musenze, who lost in the Jinja city mayoral race, said it was obvious that party flag bearers cheated.

He blamed the party’s Electoral Commission chairperson, Dr Tanga Odoi, for ignoring the use of registers during the primaries.

Joshua Kawanguzi, the vice chairperson of Jinja City Northern Division, who lost the Buwagi ward councillorship flag, accused the deputy resident city commissioner for Northern Division, Hamis Kiganira Nagayi, of fuelling insecurity. Kawanguzi said Nagayi showed partiality because his brother, Hafiz Nagayi, contested for the city mayoral seat.

Nagayi won the race and now joins twelve others vying for the mayoral position.

Musenze observed that obtaining justice from the party tribunal was difficult, as petitioners were given only two minutes to present evidence, including video recordings.

He dismissed Kigongo’s demands for independents to withdraw, reminding him that President Museveni works with opposition figures, such as justice minister Nobert Mao, and therefore had no justification for branding independents as enemies.

He argued that treating independents as enemies without understanding why they chose to run alone was comparable to self-medication rather than seeking proper treatment.

He said the party was issuing directives without verifying the cause of discontent.

Musenze added that President Museveni’s real enemies were those who claimed to understand the NRM more than long-standing members like himself.

He recalled being tasked by Museveni to lead efforts against former Kagoma MP Dr Frank Nabwiso of the FDC until he was defeated by NRM’s Fredrick Mbagadhi Nkayi.

“I am surprised that a mere division NRM chairperson wants to suppress and submerge me, thinking he knows NRM better than me, who has been around and fought battles for years,” Musenze said.

Sirina Kyakuwaire, the Jinja city deputy speaker contesting for Jinja North Central (Mafubira), questioned why the party was imposing candidates on voters despite the widespread malpractice.

She said many of their colleagues had been silenced by top party officials, who were unwilling to listen to them.

Kyakuwaire said such tendencies had partly contributed to the decline in President Museveni’s support.

The independents reiterated that their decision to contest did not mean they had left the NRM. They said they would support Museveni but maintain their independent agenda.