Iganga by-election: Roadmap for NRM primaries

PIC: NRM electoral commission chairperson Tanga Odoi and commissioner Jane Alisemera addressing reporters at the NRM headquarters. (Credit: Mary Kansiime)

BY-ELECTION | IGANGA

KAMPALA - Following the death of Iganga woman MP Grace Hailat Kaudha last month, the National Resistance Movement electoral commission has issued a roadmap for the election of a new flagbearer.

"In July, we lost our member. May her soul rest in eternal peace. Since we are a democratic party, we are going to have primaries," said Tanga Odoi, the NRM electoral commission chairperson.

"On Monday, we had a consultative meeting with key stakeholders and we came up with a roadmap," he added.

Addressing reporters at the party electoral commission headquarters in Kyadondo, Kampala on Tuesday, Odoi issued minimum requirements for the aspirants.

He said all candidates must be female Ugandans aged above 18, must be members of NRM with valid identity cards, pay sh2m as nomination fee and must be born or be resident in the electoral area.

Other qualifications include presenting minimum education requirement of A'level certificate or its equivalent verified by Ugandan National Examinations Board (UNEB) and Uganda National Council for Higher Education (UNCHE) and a registered voter with the national Electoral Commission.

"Any person who wishes to contest must not be employed in an organization wholly owned by government, must not be a member of the armed forces such as the army, police and prisons, and must not be a cultural leader," said Odoi.

The roadmap

August 3: Interested people will pick forms from the NRM Electoral Commission headquarters

August 5: There will be joint campaigns at the NRM headquarters

August 16: There will be an update of the register in Iganga

August 18: Polling day at NRM EC at district

August 19-21: Members will be resolving conflicts, if any, at the NRM EC secretariat.

The party also warned aspiring candidates and other interested stakeholders to refrain from engaging in any form of campaigns until the gazetted time as laid out in the roadmap.

"Iganga is a hotspot district when it comes to elections. There are fears being expressed by some of the aspiring candidates that the situation is going to remain the same," said NRM EC commissioner Jane Alisemera.

"We would like to allay those fears that together with other commissioners, we will ensure a smooth, peaceful, free and fair election for the people of Iganga."