Ruremera resignation clarified

By Anne MugisaThe President’s office has clarified that the Kibaale LC5 chairman-elect, Fred Ruremera, did not resign after being sworn in, but “agreed to step down in due course to allow nomination and election of a compromise person to replace him.”A statement signed by the Press Secretary to the President, Mary Okurut, said press reports yesterday gave a wrong impression that Ruremera resigned just after swearing in.She said President Yoweri Museveni went to Kibaale to mediate in the political crisis over the issue of the LC5 chairman-elect.She said after thorough discussions with the concerned groups, a communiqué on the situation was issued and several points were agreed on.One of the issues was that Ruremera swears in immediately to conform to the Constitutional provisions, then he announces his intention to stand down. This was to allow a compromise candidate to take over the chairmanship so as to end tension in the district.Okurut said the nomination and election of the new chairman would coincide with the election of the youth and disabled councillors. Another point was that compensatory arrangements would be put in place for Ruremera’s side.Okurut said the President reiterated his commitment to guarantee the legitimate interests of the immigrants (abafuruki) as he has always done.The statement said the President also pledged to quickly deal with the issue of Mailo land in Kibaale.