By Nathan Etengu

HEALTH state minister Mike Mukula has blamed a church in the Teso region for the humiliating defeat the NRM party suffered in last week’s presidential and parliamentary elections.

Mukula, the NRM vice-chairman for the eastern region and a loser in the Soroti municipality seat, said the church used its development arm and network of the clergy and laity to de-campaign the NRM in the sub-region.

“Money was withdrawn from the development arm of the church and used to de-campaign the Movement. The church, through one of its priests, also assisted FDC presidential candidate Dr. Kizza Besigye to meet the bishop and the priests, where plans were hatched to de-campaign the NRM,” Mukula said.

He said it was for the same reason that the pattern of voting was the same in the entire Teso sub-region.

“The pattern was the same from Swagere in Kaberamaido district to Kachumbala in Kumi district. It was also the same from Kasilo in Soroti district to Kapelebyong in Amuria district. We were dismembered by that church,” Mukula said.

All but three of the NRM candidates including three ministers in the Teso sub-region lost in the parliamentary elections.