400 Mbabazi district coordinators cross to NRM

So far a total of 400 Go Forward district verified coordinators (DVCs) across the country have defected to NRM after their independent presidential candidate, Amama Mbabazi failed to fulfil his promise of availing them funds for campaign mobilization.

The 400 defectors are from eastern, northern, western and central regions.

This was revealed by Seyyid Odida, the Go Forward regional coordinator after receiving 110 defectors from central region at Centre Inn in Kamwokya, a Kampala suburb yesterday.

Odida explained that the major reason for defection was failure by Mbabazi to give them funds after a promise to set up Go Forward structures countrywide.

Go Forward regional coordinator for northern Uganda, Seyyid Odida thumbs up the NRM symbol before his colleagues after receiving 110 Go Forward defectors from central region

He said some of them ended up using their own money to set up the structures after realizing that the money from Go Forward headquarters was not forthcoming.

"We are tired of being lied to, that's why we have surrendered to NRM," Odida said.

The defectors were received by Lamek Mwiine, the NRM mobiliser.

Mwiine told New Vision that the youth were hoodwinked by Mbabazi making promises that he would not be able to fulfil.

He said the NRM has made some significant strides in rebuilding the economy despite some failures.

He advised the youthful defectors not to get angry with Museveni for unfilled pledges but should embrace the youth livelihood fund and the women fund.

 Go Forward district verified coordinator for central region addresses fellow defectors  at Kamwokya Centre in Kampala on Friday February 12, 2016.

Wilson Sendegeya, the leader of defectors for central region explained that the youth were dissuaded from not getting involved in riots during and after elections.

"We didn't want the youth to be used to execute violence during and after elections and that's why we have defected," Sendegeya said.

He said the defectors had complained of unemployment, poor housing, high taxes, high school fees and poor health care among others.

They pledged to mobilize people to vote Museveni for his fifth term.