Byaruhanga is right on the north but...
Nov 19, 2009
MOSES Byaruhanga’s article “Northern Uganda has embraced the Movement†that appeared in <i>The New Vision</i> on November 16, deserves critical observation.
By Christopher Omara
MOSES Byaruhanga’s article “Northern Uganda has embraced the Movement†that appeared in The New Vision on November 16, deserves critical observation.
His analysis of the political dynamics in northern Uganda was absolutely correct and his guidance to the National Resistance Movement (NRM) leaders should be taken seriously, if anything meaningful should be realised by the NRM in northern Uganda. His wisdom should not be ignored by the so-called ‘untouchables’ in Gulu.
One particular point he raised was that we do not have an incubation period in the NRM and neither do we categorise members. From the time one joins the NRM, that person is equal in the NRM with all those he found in the party. Also, that new person is free to contest for any position in the party structure or in any post in the local government or national office.
I challenge Byaruhanga to come to Gulu and educate the senior cadres on that principle and other revolutionary methods of work. Many potential NRM recruits have abandoned the party because of fear of being discriminated or even blackmailed and destroyed by those who claim to be original members of the party.
Recruitment of as many members as possible has never been a priority for the NRM in Acholi sub-region. Every attempt is made to discourage potential and competent new members to join the party, because old members are afraid to lose their positions.
As much as the war contributed to the NRM failure to mobilise in the region, even with all the achievements of the UPDF and millions of shillings injected into development programmes, a lot more needs to be done to entrench the NRM in the Acholi sub-region.
One of the key issues to be resolved should be centred on personalities who have engaged in intrigue and blackmail without recourse to the basic principles of the NRM revolution.
In Gulu, you must belong to a particular family, be a friend to a some individual or accept to be a sycophant to prove your faith in the NRM.
Many would-be supporters have found it unethical to join in the confusion and shameless behaviour of those who claim to be NRM diehards. Byaruhanga should come to Gulu or conduct his independent survey for a better strategy in the 2011 elections.
There is every opportunity for the NRM to win significant posts in the forthcoming elections, but this may again be squandered by those who have vested interests in the district.
The opposition have always won key elective offices in Gulu simply because the NRM continue to mobilise old members other than recruit new members and work for success.
I, therefore, invite top NRM cadres to come to Gulu and interact with the NRM supporters in a free atmosphere and find out the difficulties new members face. Most of the reports from some of the senior NRM cadres in the district are actually adulterated to satisfy their interests.
In any case, for the NRM to win elections in northern Uganda, the party has to engage in a number of activities there. One of them is to come up with appropriate remedies to ensure that the obstacles that are failing the party to be entrenched are removed.
The other activity the party has to engage in is confidence-building in the new NRM members and caution old members to accept new members.
The writer works in Aswa county, Gulu district
MOSES Byaruhanga’s article “Northern Uganda has embraced the Movement†that appeared in The New Vision on November 16, deserves critical observation.
His analysis of the political dynamics in northern Uganda was absolutely correct and his guidance to the National Resistance Movement (NRM) leaders should be taken seriously, if anything meaningful should be realised by the NRM in northern Uganda. His wisdom should not be ignored by the so-called ‘untouchables’ in Gulu.
One particular point he raised was that we do not have an incubation period in the NRM and neither do we categorise members. From the time one joins the NRM, that person is equal in the NRM with all those he found in the party. Also, that new person is free to contest for any position in the party structure or in any post in the local government or national office.
I challenge Byaruhanga to come to Gulu and educate the senior cadres on that principle and other revolutionary methods of work. Many potential NRM recruits have abandoned the party because of fear of being discriminated or even blackmailed and destroyed by those who claim to be original members of the party.
Recruitment of as many members as possible has never been a priority for the NRM in Acholi sub-region. Every attempt is made to discourage potential and competent new members to join the party, because old members are afraid to lose their positions.
As much as the war contributed to the NRM failure to mobilise in the region, even with all the achievements of the UPDF and millions of shillings injected into development programmes, a lot more needs to be done to entrench the NRM in the Acholi sub-region.
One of the key issues to be resolved should be centred on personalities who have engaged in intrigue and blackmail without recourse to the basic principles of the NRM revolution.
In Gulu, you must belong to a particular family, be a friend to a some individual or accept to be a sycophant to prove your faith in the NRM.
Many would-be supporters have found it unethical to join in the confusion and shameless behaviour of those who claim to be NRM diehards. Byaruhanga should come to Gulu or conduct his independent survey for a better strategy in the 2011 elections.
There is every opportunity for the NRM to win significant posts in the forthcoming elections, but this may again be squandered by those who have vested interests in the district.
The opposition have always won key elective offices in Gulu simply because the NRM continue to mobilise old members other than recruit new members and work for success.
I, therefore, invite top NRM cadres to come to Gulu and interact with the NRM supporters in a free atmosphere and find out the difficulties new members face. Most of the reports from some of the senior NRM cadres in the district are actually adulterated to satisfy their interests.
In any case, for the NRM to win elections in northern Uganda, the party has to engage in a number of activities there. One of them is to come up with appropriate remedies to ensure that the obstacles that are failing the party to be entrenched are removed.
The other activity the party has to engage in is confidence-building in the new NRM members and caution old members to accept new members.
The writer works in Aswa county, Gulu district