Movement did not nominate Museveni

Nov 19, 2002

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni was not nominated by the Movement National Conference to contest for the presidency last year, defence minister Amama Mbabazi told the Constitutional Court yesterday

By Hillary Nsambu

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni was not nominated by the Movement National Conference to contest for the presidency last year, defence minister Amama Mbabazi told the Constitutional Court yesterday.

Mbabazi was being cross-examined by Elias Lukwago on his affidavit in defence of the Political Parties and Organisations Act that is being challenged by multipartyists.

“The national conference only urged the President to stand for the presidency, but it did not nominate him. It is only political parties that nominate their candidates for the people,” Mbabazi said.

He said they did not urge any other candidate for the presidency because they recognised the enormous contribution Museveni had made towards the development of Uganda.

He denied attending any meeting where President Museveni was adopted as the sole candidate for the Movement.

On restricting political parties to national level, Mbabazi said, “by nature, political parties are antagonistic. If allowed to operate at village level, they would disrupt programmes put in place by a system chosen by the people.”

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