NRM opts for secret polls
Nov 08, 2005
THE National Resistance Movement (NRM) interim National Executive Committee (NEC) yesterday passed a resolution to vote by secret ballot during the delegates’ conference.
By Henry Mukasa
THE National Resistance Movement (NRM) interim National Executive Committee (NEC) yesterday passed a resolution to vote by secret ballot during the delegates’ conference.
The meeting also agreed to extend the deadline for the party’s presidential aspirants, which was expiring on Friday, to November 15.
NRM is expected to hold its delegates’ conference between November 15 and 20, 2005.
NEC, most of whose members voted for scrapping the secret ballot from the rules of procedure during the constitutional amendments in Parliament, this time opted for secrecy to shield members from “undue pressures.â€
“We agreed that all elec
tions in NRM will be by secret ballot to avoid undue pressures,†the NRM spokesman, Ofwono Opondo, said.
The resolution was passed during a NEC meeting chaired by president Yoweri Museveni at the party headquarters on Plot 10, Kyaddondo Road in Kampala.
The meeting, which started at 10:00am and took almost the rest of the day, follows the NRM party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC), which met for seven hours on Monday.
NEC also passed a resolution amending the party constitution to provide for positions of four regional vice-chairpersons.
Sources said health state minister Mike Mukula presented the proposal to the party’s legal committee that comprises Sam Kuteesa, Adolf Mwesige and Zam-Zam Nagujja.
The vice-chairpersons will represent the northern, eastern, western and central regions.
The 1st vice-chairman, Alhaj Moses Kigongo, comes from the central, while the second vice-chairperson, Dr. Speciosa Wandira, is from the east.
Sources said Mukula was interested in vying for the vice-chairperson for the east but the constitution provides that one of the deputies must be a woman.
Mukula said, “If it’s the wish of the people, I am ready to serve because I represent a new generation ready to drive the Movement to greater heights. I am going to mobilise and victory is assured.â€
Sources said Nagujja read out the resolutions, which included having 40 percent of the NRM leadership posts at all levels for women and all heads of national leagues becoming CEC members.
Museveni warned NRM members, who were defeated during elections for party branches at grassroots and district levels and were threatening to defect and stand as independents.
He told the losers to burry the hatchets and join hands to build the party because “there are many other posts that will come up.†He said they risk further loss as “voters will be mobilised to reject such people.â€
Museveni also warned aspiring MPs against pledging personal resources to win voters.
THE National Resistance Movement (NRM) interim National Executive Committee (NEC) yesterday passed a resolution to vote by secret ballot during the delegates’ conference.
The meeting also agreed to extend the deadline for the party’s presidential aspirants, which was expiring on Friday, to November 15.
NRM is expected to hold its delegates’ conference between November 15 and 20, 2005.
NEC, most of whose members voted for scrapping the secret ballot from the rules of procedure during the constitutional amendments in Parliament, this time opted for secrecy to shield members from “undue pressures.â€
“We agreed that all elec
tions in NRM will be by secret ballot to avoid undue pressures,†the NRM spokesman, Ofwono Opondo, said.
The resolution was passed during a NEC meeting chaired by president Yoweri Museveni at the party headquarters on Plot 10, Kyaddondo Road in Kampala.
The meeting, which started at 10:00am and took almost the rest of the day, follows the NRM party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC), which met for seven hours on Monday.
NEC also passed a resolution amending the party constitution to provide for positions of four regional vice-chairpersons.
Sources said health state minister Mike Mukula presented the proposal to the party’s legal committee that comprises Sam Kuteesa, Adolf Mwesige and Zam-Zam Nagujja.
The vice-chairpersons will represent the northern, eastern, western and central regions.
The 1st vice-chairman, Alhaj Moses Kigongo, comes from the central, while the second vice-chairperson, Dr. Speciosa Wandira, is from the east.
Sources said Mukula was interested in vying for the vice-chairperson for the east but the constitution provides that one of the deputies must be a woman.
Mukula said, “If it’s the wish of the people, I am ready to serve because I represent a new generation ready to drive the Movement to greater heights. I am going to mobilise and victory is assured.â€
Sources said Nagujja read out the resolutions, which included having 40 percent of the NRM leadership posts at all levels for women and all heads of national leagues becoming CEC members.
Museveni warned NRM members, who were defeated during elections for party branches at grassroots and district levels and were threatening to defect and stand as independents.
He told the losers to burry the hatchets and join hands to build the party because “there are many other posts that will come up.†He said they risk further loss as “voters will be mobilised to reject such people.â€
Museveni also warned aspiring MPs against pledging personal resources to win voters.