Otafiire condemns NRM party primaries election malpractices

Minister of Justice and Constitutional affairs Maj Gen Kahinda Otafiire, has come out to criticize the poor organization and arrangement during the NRM party primaries elections.

Otafiire was yesterday reacting to statements and requests made by different speakers during the victory party cerebrations for Igara East MP elect Michael Mawanda Maranga held at Kyeizooba play grounds in Kyeizooba Sub County in Bushenyi.

Deo Atuhaire, one of the day's speakers criticized the manner in which the party holds its primary elections, sighting some cases where there is always discrimination of some of the ‘minor' members in favour of others.

"We are not happy with the way our party organizes the party primaries. Some members are fought out when they contest and end up losing in dubious ways. We therefore request you (Gen Kahinda) to take this grievance to the CEC and NEC and to president Museveni," Atuhaire said.

However, when he stood up to speak, Kahinda Otafiire, who also lost to Donozio Kahonda in the Ruhinda County NRM primaries before standing as an independent in the national general elections before losing to the same man, warned those who have been at the helm of disorganizing the party primaries elections.

"There are some people in different parts of the country who think they are bigger than the party and fight some other members in favour of the candidates of their choice. They should stand warned, we shall not allow this to continue," Kahinda warnded.

Kahinda further criticized the Bushenyi District NRM executive for dubbing Michael Mawanda Maranga a none NRM member, saying he is a known and strong member of the party. Mawanda is the Bushenyi District NRM treasurer.

Mawanda, who polled 16209 votes to win the by-election held on Thursday last week, contested as an independent, in the February 2016 general elections but lost to Andrew Martial of NRM, a result he contested in court where the court of appeal in Kampala nullified Martial's election.

However, throughout the by-election campaigns, Mawanda was publically denounced by Martial supporters including Bushenyi NRM chairman Hajji Hassan Basajjabalaba, as anon-NRM member, even when he had three of the five executive members on his campaign team.

In his speech, Mawanda thanked the Igara East populace for voting him, and called on all the other contestants that lost to him, to come together for the development of the area.

The thousands of voters from the five sub counties of Kyabugimbi, Ruhumuro, Ibaare, Bumbaire and Kyeizooba, who thronged Kyeizooba play grounds, were treated to lots of food and drinks and entertainment.

Mawanda is expected to be sworn in as the rightfully elected Member of Parliament for Igara East, later this week.

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