Independents threaten to split NRM vote, says Museveni
Dec 27, 2010
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has said the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party officials contesting as independents threaten to split the party’s votes and give the opposition victory.
By Raymond Baguma,
Goodluck Musinguzi and Patrick Murangira
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has said the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party officials contesting as independents threaten to split the party’s votes and give the opposition victory.
Museveni was on Thursday campaigning in Kigezi region and also addressed rallies in Rubanda county, Kabale district and at the Kabale Municipality stadium.
In Kabale district, a number of NRM party flag-bearers are facing NRM-leaning independents. The incumbent Woman MP, Hope Mwesigye, who is also the agriculture minister, faces Ronah Ninsiima, an NRM-leaning independent for the Woman MP seat.
In Rubanda county, the current MP, Henry Banyenzaki, will contest against Nelson Habasa, also an independent candidate.
In Rukiga county, MP Adison Kakuru is up against independent Meddard Gumisiriza while in Kabale Municipality, MP Serapio Rukundo is facing independent Andrew Baryayanga.
“We should be careful so that our votes are not split and we get leaders from other political parties who are not beneficial,†Museveni told supporters.
Later, the President held meetings with the NRM flag-bearers and the independents at the State Lodge in Kabale town.
“In NRM, we have those who are contesting as independents. I will sit with them because they are all mine and they will tell me how we shall ensure that our votes are not split,†Museveni said while addressing a rally at Kabale stadium.
During the rally, the President also received top Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party officials from Kabale district who defected to the ruling NRM party.
The defectors were Dr. Isaaya Biryabarema who had contested as an FDC flag-bearer for the Ndorwa east parliamentary seat and Isaiah Kanyamahane, the former FDC publicity secretary in Kabale.
Kanyamahane told New Vision that the FDC party lacked a tangible plan for the country and that was the reason he decided to return to the NRM party.
Dr. Biryabarema accused FDC leaders in Kabale of sectarianism based on religion and of intolerance. He said he was ready to use his expertise to help the Government solve the problems in the health sector.
In his address, Museveni said the Government would rehabilitate a number of schools and tertiary institutions in Kabale district. Some of the schools to be rehabilitated include Kabale SS, Kabale Uganda College of Commerce, Rubaya SS, St. Andrew’s Rubanda, Kahondo SS, Kamuganguzi, Nyaruhanga High School as well as building a laboratory at Bubaare SS.
Museveni also said the road network in Kabale town centre would be tarmacked and the Kabale-Mbarara highway would be worked on as well. He said the Kabale-Lake Bunyonyi road and the Kachwekano-Kyanamira road would be upgraded to tarmac.
Goodluck Musinguzi and Patrick Murangira
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has said the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party officials contesting as independents threaten to split the party’s votes and give the opposition victory.
Museveni was on Thursday campaigning in Kigezi region and also addressed rallies in Rubanda county, Kabale district and at the Kabale Municipality stadium.
In Kabale district, a number of NRM party flag-bearers are facing NRM-leaning independents. The incumbent Woman MP, Hope Mwesigye, who is also the agriculture minister, faces Ronah Ninsiima, an NRM-leaning independent for the Woman MP seat.
In Rubanda county, the current MP, Henry Banyenzaki, will contest against Nelson Habasa, also an independent candidate.
In Rukiga county, MP Adison Kakuru is up against independent Meddard Gumisiriza while in Kabale Municipality, MP Serapio Rukundo is facing independent Andrew Baryayanga.
“We should be careful so that our votes are not split and we get leaders from other political parties who are not beneficial,†Museveni told supporters.
Later, the President held meetings with the NRM flag-bearers and the independents at the State Lodge in Kabale town.
“In NRM, we have those who are contesting as independents. I will sit with them because they are all mine and they will tell me how we shall ensure that our votes are not split,†Museveni said while addressing a rally at Kabale stadium.
During the rally, the President also received top Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party officials from Kabale district who defected to the ruling NRM party.
The defectors were Dr. Isaaya Biryabarema who had contested as an FDC flag-bearer for the Ndorwa east parliamentary seat and Isaiah Kanyamahane, the former FDC publicity secretary in Kabale.
Kanyamahane told New Vision that the FDC party lacked a tangible plan for the country and that was the reason he decided to return to the NRM party.
Dr. Biryabarema accused FDC leaders in Kabale of sectarianism based on religion and of intolerance. He said he was ready to use his expertise to help the Government solve the problems in the health sector.
In his address, Museveni said the Government would rehabilitate a number of schools and tertiary institutions in Kabale district. Some of the schools to be rehabilitated include Kabale SS, Kabale Uganda College of Commerce, Rubaya SS, St. Andrew’s Rubanda, Kahondo SS, Kamuganguzi, Nyaruhanga High School as well as building a laboratory at Bubaare SS.
Museveni also said the road network in Kabale town centre would be tarmacked and the Kabale-Mbarara highway would be worked on as well. He said the Kabale-Lake Bunyonyi road and the Kachwekano-Kyanamira road would be upgraded to tarmac.