NRM sets up electoral commission
Jun 24, 2009
The National Resistance Movement (NRM) has approved a new party electoral commission following the appointment of members of the previous one to public service offices.
By Milton Olupot
The National Resistance Movement (NRM) has approved a new party electoral commission following the appointment of members of the previous one to public service offices.
The former chairman, who was also internal affairs minister, Ruhakana Rugunda, was appointed Uganda’s Permanent Representative to the UN.
His deputy, Gertrude Njuba, and ZamZam Nagujja were also given public service jobs.
The new electoral commission comprises Felicity Magomu as vice-chairperson and Frank Katusime and East African Legislative Assembly MP Lydia Wanyoto as members. The chairperson is yet to be appointed.
The party top leaders, in a meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) at State House Entebbe on Friday, also approved the appointment of energy minister Hillary Onek, John Karazarwe and former Police chief John Cossy Odomel as members of the party disciplinary committee.
The meeting chaired by President Yoweri Museveni also recommended abolishing the use of electoral colleges in the primary elections for MPs and local council candidates.
Electoral colleges were, however, maintained for primaries in the elections of MPs for workers, the youth and people with disabilities. The presidential candidate will be elected by the national conference.
The amendments were presented by the NRM Central Executive Committee.
This is intended to eliminate the problem of disgruntled members who stand as independent candidates.
Party spokesperson Mary Karooro Okurut and deputy Ofwono Opondo yesterday told journalists at the party headquarters in Kampala that the proposed amendments were unanimously supported.
The colleges were said to be unreliable and easy to manipulate.
“We are moving cautiously on the issue of independent candidates. We are not banning them, but trying to eliminate its causes,†she said.
The meeting also appointed a committee to study the President’s key note address presented at the May 26 NEC meeting.
The committee will also discuss the proposed party roadmap presented by the secretary general, Amama Mbabazi.
The President’s address covered the performance of government since February 2007 when the NEC last sat.
It also talked about the economy, democracy and security.
Asked about the bickering and intrigue within the party reported by Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire, Ofwono said he was surprised that a senior party member like Otafiire could complain in the corridors and not raise the matter in the meeting.
“We don’t encourage subterranean grumbling.â€
Explaining why the election of the party presidential candidate was not treated like any other positions, Ofwono said: “Some candidates would not be able to gather resources to traverse the country looking for votes.â€
He added that 451 members voted for the national conference to elect the presidential candidate, 18 voted against it and nine abstained.
The National Resistance Movement (NRM) has approved a new party electoral commission following the appointment of members of the previous one to public service offices.
The former chairman, who was also internal affairs minister, Ruhakana Rugunda, was appointed Uganda’s Permanent Representative to the UN.
His deputy, Gertrude Njuba, and ZamZam Nagujja were also given public service jobs.
The new electoral commission comprises Felicity Magomu as vice-chairperson and Frank Katusime and East African Legislative Assembly MP Lydia Wanyoto as members. The chairperson is yet to be appointed.
The party top leaders, in a meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) at State House Entebbe on Friday, also approved the appointment of energy minister Hillary Onek, John Karazarwe and former Police chief John Cossy Odomel as members of the party disciplinary committee.
The meeting chaired by President Yoweri Museveni also recommended abolishing the use of electoral colleges in the primary elections for MPs and local council candidates.
Electoral colleges were, however, maintained for primaries in the elections of MPs for workers, the youth and people with disabilities. The presidential candidate will be elected by the national conference.
The amendments were presented by the NRM Central Executive Committee.
This is intended to eliminate the problem of disgruntled members who stand as independent candidates.
Party spokesperson Mary Karooro Okurut and deputy Ofwono Opondo yesterday told journalists at the party headquarters in Kampala that the proposed amendments were unanimously supported.
The colleges were said to be unreliable and easy to manipulate.
“We are moving cautiously on the issue of independent candidates. We are not banning them, but trying to eliminate its causes,†she said.
The meeting also appointed a committee to study the President’s key note address presented at the May 26 NEC meeting.
The committee will also discuss the proposed party roadmap presented by the secretary general, Amama Mbabazi.
The President’s address covered the performance of government since February 2007 when the NEC last sat.
It also talked about the economy, democracy and security.
Asked about the bickering and intrigue within the party reported by Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire, Ofwono said he was surprised that a senior party member like Otafiire could complain in the corridors and not raise the matter in the meeting.
“We don’t encourage subterranean grumbling.â€
Explaining why the election of the party presidential candidate was not treated like any other positions, Ofwono said: “Some candidates would not be able to gather resources to traverse the country looking for votes.â€
He added that 451 members voted for the national conference to elect the presidential candidate, 18 voted against it and nine abstained.