Mbale seat rivals defy Museveni
May 12, 2004
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni on Monday failed to reconcile two Movement candidates for the Mbale Municipality parliamentary by-election.
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni on Monday failed to reconcile two Movement candidates for the Mbale Municipality parliamentary by-election, reports Nathan Etengu in Mbale.
Candidates Wanjusi Wasieba and Hassan Wasswa Galiwango told Museveni that they were both strong on the ground and that the matter be left to them to tussle it out with the voters.
The decision was endorsed after a six-and-half hour meeting chaired by Museveni at the Mbale district council hall. Movement delegates and opinion leaders from the district, attended.
Museveni called the meeting to help the candidates agree who should step down so as not to divide Movement votes, which might promote a multiparty candidate.
State ministers Michael Werikhe, Dr. Beatrice Wobudeya, Geraldine Namirembe Bitamazire, Mbale Woman MP Oliver Wonekha, the Movement vice-chairperson, Hajji Moses Kigongo, and the Mufti, Sheikh Shaban Ramathan Mubajje, attended the meeting.
Museveni said he did not want multi-partyists like the former chief justice, George Japheth Masika, to win the elections.
He told the meeting that Masika disorganised the UPC after liberators had struggled to oust dictator Idi Amin from power.
“After we have now built a new front of politics, they have turned around to say we are bad. Make sure that this man does not surface again in Mbale politics,†Museveni told the over 300 delegates.
He said he did not want the four Movement candidates to scatter their votes to the advantage of the multi-party candidates.
Many delegates, however, spoke in support of their candidate. They warned that the Movement risked losing the election if one of the candidates was told, or forced, to step down. “It was eventually agreed by consensus that the candidates be left to tussle it out with the electorate,†said Mbale LC5 chairman, Bernard Mujasi.
However as the meeting was in progress, some unknown people went around Mbale town telling people that Galiwango had stepped down and that Sarah Wasagali Kanabi, another Movementist in the race, had been appointed resident district commissioner for Sironko.
Wanjusi Wasieba and Galiwango also told The New Vision in separate interviews that they resolved to settle their strength through the ballot.
“Each one of us said he was strong and we realised our supporters would not allow one of us to withdraw,†he said.
Waliwango agreed with him.
Sources said Museveni promised to give logistical support to all the Movement candidates after they assured him that that the Movement would not lose the election.
Some of the delegates who reported for the meeting as early as 10:00am walked out of the council yawning and complaining of hunger.
They were, however, treated to a sumptuous meal and each given sh5,000 return transport.
Sources said the meeting was characterised by heckling. At times Museveni had to bang a chair to restore calm.
Situma Munyanda told Museveni that Mbale Municipality was more of a sitting room to the Bagisu community while other constituencies in the sub-region were mere bedrooms.
“It is here that the Bagisu receive visitors. It is unfair for one to surrender his sitting room,†he said.
Wasieba told the meeting that he was a performer with experience gained from the time he was appointed state minister during the Constituent Assembly and when he was in the Sixth Parliament.
He said he had also remained a strong Movement mobiliser despite his disqualification during the 2001 parliamentary elections.
Wasieba said given a chance, he would easily win the favour of multiparty supporters.
He said he played a pivotal role in the 2001 presidential campaigns in Mbale Municipality but that a section of the Movement supporters were disgusted with the beatings meted on them by supporters allegedly linked to Galiwango.
Galiwango said he was instead tortured by the pro-Besigye supporters. Col Kizza Besigye lost the elections to Museveni.
“My blind father and my limping mothers were beaten by rogues. Some of them were arrested and taken to Police,†he said.
Museveni said he would not tolerate indiscipline in the Movement.
“I sacked Crispus Kiyonga as the minister for finance. However, he remained loyal until I re-appointed him,†Museveni said.
Kiyonga is now minsiter without portfolio and national political commissar.
Ends
Candidates Wanjusi Wasieba and Hassan Wasswa Galiwango told Museveni that they were both strong on the ground and that the matter be left to them to tussle it out with the voters.
The decision was endorsed after a six-and-half hour meeting chaired by Museveni at the Mbale district council hall. Movement delegates and opinion leaders from the district, attended.
Museveni called the meeting to help the candidates agree who should step down so as not to divide Movement votes, which might promote a multiparty candidate.
State ministers Michael Werikhe, Dr. Beatrice Wobudeya, Geraldine Namirembe Bitamazire, Mbale Woman MP Oliver Wonekha, the Movement vice-chairperson, Hajji Moses Kigongo, and the Mufti, Sheikh Shaban Ramathan Mubajje, attended the meeting.
Museveni said he did not want multi-partyists like the former chief justice, George Japheth Masika, to win the elections.
He told the meeting that Masika disorganised the UPC after liberators had struggled to oust dictator Idi Amin from power.
“After we have now built a new front of politics, they have turned around to say we are bad. Make sure that this man does not surface again in Mbale politics,†Museveni told the over 300 delegates.
He said he did not want the four Movement candidates to scatter their votes to the advantage of the multi-party candidates.
Many delegates, however, spoke in support of their candidate. They warned that the Movement risked losing the election if one of the candidates was told, or forced, to step down. “It was eventually agreed by consensus that the candidates be left to tussle it out with the electorate,†said Mbale LC5 chairman, Bernard Mujasi.
However as the meeting was in progress, some unknown people went around Mbale town telling people that Galiwango had stepped down and that Sarah Wasagali Kanabi, another Movementist in the race, had been appointed resident district commissioner for Sironko.
Wanjusi Wasieba and Galiwango also told The New Vision in separate interviews that they resolved to settle their strength through the ballot.
“Each one of us said he was strong and we realised our supporters would not allow one of us to withdraw,†he said.
Waliwango agreed with him.
Sources said Museveni promised to give logistical support to all the Movement candidates after they assured him that that the Movement would not lose the election.
Some of the delegates who reported for the meeting as early as 10:00am walked out of the council yawning and complaining of hunger.
They were, however, treated to a sumptuous meal and each given sh5,000 return transport.
Sources said the meeting was characterised by heckling. At times Museveni had to bang a chair to restore calm.
Situma Munyanda told Museveni that Mbale Municipality was more of a sitting room to the Bagisu community while other constituencies in the sub-region were mere bedrooms.
“It is here that the Bagisu receive visitors. It is unfair for one to surrender his sitting room,†he said.
Wasieba told the meeting that he was a performer with experience gained from the time he was appointed state minister during the Constituent Assembly and when he was in the Sixth Parliament.
He said he had also remained a strong Movement mobiliser despite his disqualification during the 2001 parliamentary elections.
Wasieba said given a chance, he would easily win the favour of multiparty supporters.
He said he played a pivotal role in the 2001 presidential campaigns in Mbale Municipality but that a section of the Movement supporters were disgusted with the beatings meted on them by supporters allegedly linked to Galiwango.
Galiwango said he was instead tortured by the pro-Besigye supporters. Col Kizza Besigye lost the elections to Museveni.
“My blind father and my limping mothers were beaten by rogues. Some of them were arrested and taken to Police,†he said.
Museveni said he would not tolerate indiscipline in the Movement.
“I sacked Crispus Kiyonga as the minister for finance. However, he remained loyal until I re-appointed him,†Museveni said.
Kiyonga is now minsiter without portfolio and national political commissar.
Ends