Minister's daughter withdraws from Bukoto East race

JUSTINE Namere the daughter of the state minister for agriculture Vincent Ssempijja has pulled out of the Bukoto East Parliamentary race where she was contesting as an independent candidate.

Namere pulled out of the race at Luvulu village in Bukakata sub-county, Masaka district where the NRM party presidential flag bearer, President Yoweri Museveni held a rally.

"I have decided to pull out of the race in the interest of the NRM party, I will throw my support behind the NRM flag bearer for Bukoto East, Dr Abdallah Nkoyoyo," she said.

Flanked by President Museveni, Namere who holds a degree in mass communication and student of law, said she discovered that her presence in the race would put the NRM party flag bearer, Dr Nkoyoyo at risk of losing.

"Dr Nkoyoyo had a slightly bigger support in the constituency, we had divided the NRM strength and support which gives the DP sponsored incumbent MP, Florence Namayanja an upper hand," she said.  

Namere noted that she thought she had the capacity to dislodge Namayanja from the Bukoto East seat.

"I came with a purpose of ejecting Namayanja from parliament, I have decided to rally behind Dr Nkoyoyo to give the NRM party victory, I will continue to serve the NRM party in other capacities," she said.  

"Namayanja has not done anything to change the constituency, the only thing she has done is to bring Presidential candidate, Amama Mbabazi," she said adding that Mbabazi is a stranger to the people of Bukoto East.

"Bringing Mbabazi to Bukoto East constituency does not have any relevance to the voters, imagine it's the first time that the people saw Mbabazi here, the people are closer to President Museveni," she said.

Namere blamed Namayanja for using the Catholic Church for her own political selfish reasons.

"We are all the same, the Catholics, Muslims and Anglicans, it does not matter a lot which church or mosque one prays from," she said.

President Museveni said the people should vote wisely. "It's time for you to think about yourselves instead of voting for useless politicians," he said.

"You are just helping Namayanja to become rich and satisfy her own interests, you committed suicide by voting Namayanja, she cannot do anything for you when she is on the opposition, this time round do the right thing and vote for NRM party candidate."

He said the government will fulfill its pledges to tarmac the Nyendo-Bukakata Road that connects Masaka to Kalangala district.

The NRM party vice chairman, Moses Kigongo advised the people to vote for Dr Nkoyoyo saying he is more intelligent and supportive.