NRM politics is purely based on consensus
Nov 03, 2005
TODAY, the NRM is set to witness the outcome of a protracted political battle in Wakiso between Vice- President Gilbert Bukenya and the district LC chairman Eng. Ian Kyeyune for the NRM top seat.
SAYING IT WITHOUT FEAR OR FAVOUR - Ofwono Opondo
TODAY, the NRM is set to witness the outcome of a protracted political battle in Wakiso between Vice- President Gilbert Bukenya and the district LC chairman Eng. Ian Kyeyune for the NRM top seat.
Down south in Bushenyi a political veteran Yowasi Makaru, is also facing down a military veteran, and an equally good and tasted cadre, Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Kahinda Otafiire for the district seat. In 12 other districts across the country, NRM electoral processes that had been held back by disputes will hopefully also be concluded harmoniously.
Some people hold and are worried that these tensions are not healthy for an organisation like the NRM, which is just emerging from 25 years of the “individual merit,†arrangement because they think everything should be settled through consensus, or at least, “small,†people should not confront the “bigwigs.â€
These electoral contentions, among other things, for now at least, help disprove accusations and allegations by Bidandi Ssali, who has now declared that he no longer belongs to the NRM that the NRM is one man’s project, and he should be wished well at the “junction,†where he has said he is now stuck.
There have also been unfounded suggestions that interventions aimed at reaching consensus during these elections, particularly by the NRM national chairperson, Yoweri Museveni, is tantamount to interference and dictating the choice to the voters.
It is my considered opinion, which is backed by historical evidence that NRM politics has largely been successful because of consensus, with voting only taken when all else fails.
Secondly, it is important for NRM supporters to know that the NRM headquarters does not have “preferred,†choices during internal election process, and therefore, even in the case of Prof. Bukenya and Eng. Kyeyune, or Otafiire and Makaru, may the best candidate win! As Kyeyune has said in all the consultation meetings convened by among others, President Yoweri Museveni, since each individual believes to have popular grassroot support, the most logical step is to let voters decide.
Indeed, this has been demonstrated in Kiboga where LCV chairman Siraje Nkugwa defeated Ruth Nankabirwa 94 to 77 votes, to take the NRM seat, and she immediately conceded defeat, and accepted to work to build and consolidate the NRM.
The Kiboga example is important because the elections there were hotly contested, occasionally turning rowdy and forced suspensions just like in Moyo and Tororo, from which all need to take some lessons.
People seeking NRM leadership at various levels through intransigence, violence and alleged bribery of members of the respective electoral colleges should be shunned, rejected and exposed, and in fact reported to the police, in order for NRM to be a truly people’s organisation.
Too, any draconian attempts by either the NRM headquarters or leaders to insist that particular people be unopposed within the NRM organs will run into trouble, and should be politely resisted.
Similarly, sections of leaders like in Tororo who purported to have held elections contrary to the Electoral Commission guidelines or those who are intransigent for political bargaining ought to rethink their steps because they must know that they have to submit themselves to the NRM constitution and rules if they are to remain members.
Unfortunately, as we build popular participatory democracy, sections of the media believe that NRM “bigwigs,†who lost in recent internal elections are a “disgrace†and their ‘loss’ a “humiliation.â€
The media has cited ministers, MPs, Movement directors, district Local Council chairpersons, who have lost elections as proof of that humiliation and disgrace.
While it is true that Kirunda Kivejinja, Wanjuzi Wasieba, defence state minister Ruth Nankabirwa, Bernard Mujasi (Mbale), Patrick Bageya (Iganga), Anthony Kanyike (Mukono), Obiga Kania (Arua), Zedekia Karokora (Rukungiri), Shem Bagaine (Kabale), and MP Amon Muzoora (Mbarara), among others lost recent elections, it should not be seen as a humiliation.
Rather, their participation and victory by those deemed to be of ‘lower’ political calibre ought to be seen as a consolidation of a working democracy where local NRM members have a strong say in their political choices.
Also, a sustained attempt to vilify leaders who lose elections may be counter-productive as it implies that participating and losing in a democratic process is an offence.
To the contrary, leaders who dare stand in these elections should be encouraged to do so as it is the only sure way to support and consolidate the democratic process in which winning and losing are seen as noble contributions.
Similarly, leaders like Emmanuel Dombo (Bunyole) and health state minister, Capt. Mike Mukula who had nursed ambitions for district seats but later pulled out, should be appreciated because they help build consensus in their localities.
In fact, the NRM structures, which consists of 30 elected leaders at every level was designed to ensure that every section can fit in to feel represented, reduce political friction, and have a sense of contributing. That is the way forward.
TODAY, the NRM is set to witness the outcome of a protracted political battle in Wakiso between Vice- President Gilbert Bukenya and the district LC chairman Eng. Ian Kyeyune for the NRM top seat.
Down south in Bushenyi a political veteran Yowasi Makaru, is also facing down a military veteran, and an equally good and tasted cadre, Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Kahinda Otafiire for the district seat. In 12 other districts across the country, NRM electoral processes that had been held back by disputes will hopefully also be concluded harmoniously.
Some people hold and are worried that these tensions are not healthy for an organisation like the NRM, which is just emerging from 25 years of the “individual merit,†arrangement because they think everything should be settled through consensus, or at least, “small,†people should not confront the “bigwigs.â€
These electoral contentions, among other things, for now at least, help disprove accusations and allegations by Bidandi Ssali, who has now declared that he no longer belongs to the NRM that the NRM is one man’s project, and he should be wished well at the “junction,†where he has said he is now stuck.
There have also been unfounded suggestions that interventions aimed at reaching consensus during these elections, particularly by the NRM national chairperson, Yoweri Museveni, is tantamount to interference and dictating the choice to the voters.
It is my considered opinion, which is backed by historical evidence that NRM politics has largely been successful because of consensus, with voting only taken when all else fails.
Secondly, it is important for NRM supporters to know that the NRM headquarters does not have “preferred,†choices during internal election process, and therefore, even in the case of Prof. Bukenya and Eng. Kyeyune, or Otafiire and Makaru, may the best candidate win! As Kyeyune has said in all the consultation meetings convened by among others, President Yoweri Museveni, since each individual believes to have popular grassroot support, the most logical step is to let voters decide.
Indeed, this has been demonstrated in Kiboga where LCV chairman Siraje Nkugwa defeated Ruth Nankabirwa 94 to 77 votes, to take the NRM seat, and she immediately conceded defeat, and accepted to work to build and consolidate the NRM.
The Kiboga example is important because the elections there were hotly contested, occasionally turning rowdy and forced suspensions just like in Moyo and Tororo, from which all need to take some lessons.
People seeking NRM leadership at various levels through intransigence, violence and alleged bribery of members of the respective electoral colleges should be shunned, rejected and exposed, and in fact reported to the police, in order for NRM to be a truly people’s organisation.
Too, any draconian attempts by either the NRM headquarters or leaders to insist that particular people be unopposed within the NRM organs will run into trouble, and should be politely resisted.
Similarly, sections of leaders like in Tororo who purported to have held elections contrary to the Electoral Commission guidelines or those who are intransigent for political bargaining ought to rethink their steps because they must know that they have to submit themselves to the NRM constitution and rules if they are to remain members.
Unfortunately, as we build popular participatory democracy, sections of the media believe that NRM “bigwigs,†who lost in recent internal elections are a “disgrace†and their ‘loss’ a “humiliation.â€
The media has cited ministers, MPs, Movement directors, district Local Council chairpersons, who have lost elections as proof of that humiliation and disgrace.
While it is true that Kirunda Kivejinja, Wanjuzi Wasieba, defence state minister Ruth Nankabirwa, Bernard Mujasi (Mbale), Patrick Bageya (Iganga), Anthony Kanyike (Mukono), Obiga Kania (Arua), Zedekia Karokora (Rukungiri), Shem Bagaine (Kabale), and MP Amon Muzoora (Mbarara), among others lost recent elections, it should not be seen as a humiliation.
Rather, their participation and victory by those deemed to be of ‘lower’ political calibre ought to be seen as a consolidation of a working democracy where local NRM members have a strong say in their political choices.
Also, a sustained attempt to vilify leaders who lose elections may be counter-productive as it implies that participating and losing in a democratic process is an offence.
To the contrary, leaders who dare stand in these elections should be encouraged to do so as it is the only sure way to support and consolidate the democratic process in which winning and losing are seen as noble contributions.
Similarly, leaders like Emmanuel Dombo (Bunyole) and health state minister, Capt. Mike Mukula who had nursed ambitions for district seats but later pulled out, should be appreciated because they help build consensus in their localities.
In fact, the NRM structures, which consists of 30 elected leaders at every level was designed to ensure that every section can fit in to feel represented, reduce political friction, and have a sense of contributing. That is the way forward.