NRM: Todwong not acting Secretary General

Mar 05, 2014

The National Resistance Movement (NRM)caucus meeting has recommended changes in the party structure, with a proposal for Richard Todwong to take on some roles of the Secretary General.

By Cyprian Musoke, Joyce Namutebi and Henry Sekanjako.

THE Minister without Portfolio, Richard Todwong, has been appointed to manage the NRM’s secretariat, but working under the secretary general.

Evelyn Anite, the NRM caucus spokesperson, told the New Vision that the Todwong, had not been appointed as acting secretary general as earlier reported.

Todwong told New Vision; “I have been briefed to do the day-to-day work of mobilisation for the NRM until next year. We agreed on the principle because the current Secretary General is very busy and encumbered with overseeing all the over thirty government ministries and departments.”

Anite explained that Todwong will physically move to the NRM Secretariat at Plot 10, Kyaddondo Road to manage the affairs of the party. She said that Todwong’s appointment was in light of the busy schedule of the current secretary general, Amama Mbabazi, who is the Leader of Government Business.

“The Prime Minister is the Leader of Government Business. He therefore cannot handle the affairs of the two offices effectively. He will remain as secretary general, but Todwong will handle the political mobilisation,” Anite explained.

Reliable sources said the NRM is considering among other things amending the party constitution to have to provide for a secretary general who has not national elective constituency.

Details are still coming in but earlier, Todwong said on phone that "I have been tasked to coordinate the party as Secretary General until the next general elections."

It was earlier not very clear what role Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi will play in the party, as according to sources in NRM, he was to remain the party's Secretary General. Sources revealed that there will be disciplinary hearing for some of its members being accused for contravening party rules.

Sources in the party told New Vision that three senior party members whose voice recordings were played out to the members during yesterday’s caucus meeting in Entebbe will appear before the party's disciplinary committee next week.