Kigongo to handle NRM independents

Dec 11, 2005

President Yoweri Museveni, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) chief, has appointed a task force to stop losers in the primaries from running as independent candidates against official NRM flag bearers in the 2006 elections.

By Alfred Wasike
President Yoweri Museveni, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) chief, has appointed a task force to stop losers in the primaries from running as independent candidates against official NRM flag bearers in the 2006 elections.
The reconciliation committee is chaired by the NRM central executive committee chair, Moses Kigongo, the NRM spokesperson, Ofwono Opondo, said yesterday.
Members are former Uganda Prisons Commissioner Joseph Etima, internal affairs minister/NRM electoral commission chief Ruhakana Rugunda, defence minister/NRM Secretary General Amama Mbabazi, the NRM deputy secretary general, Dorothy Hyuha, Mulindwa Birimumaso and Hajji Assad Sadiq Odwori.
“Their main task is to talk to the losers who are in hundreds. We need a culture where people lose honourably. The committee is mandated to stop independent candidature by the disgruntled members of the NRM. Al Hajji Kigongo’s committee is supposed to let them know that we are one family. The campaigns were antagonistic in many areas but we need to heal from that situation so that we can prepare for the general elections next yea,” Opondo said.
The NRM constitution forbids a member from standing against an official party candidate, sponsor a candidate against an official NRM candidate, campaign against or offer material support against an official NRM candidate.
“For example, it is not proper for people like Simon Mayende to stand against Gabriel Opio who is the official NRM candidate for Samia Bugwe South after the NRM supporters decided that they prefer Opio to him,” Opondo said.
He said whoever insisted on standing independently, risked becoming a by-stander. He cited former local government minister Bidandi Ssali who he said walked out of the NRM only to become a by-stander.
“People like Mayende who did not bring support to the NRM, he did not capture that seat (Samia Bugwe South) from the opposition but only took advantage of the existing voting blocks, should respect the will of the people...he can’t claim more support in that constituency...we shall unleash our political machinery against such uncompromising politicians, we shall de-campaign them thoroughly in the coming election,” Ofwono warned.
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