Mbabazi pleads for Awori
Dec 24, 2007
The secretary general of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), Amama Mbabazi, has asked the party’s cadres in Busia to accept Aggrey Awori as one of their own.
By Egessa Hajusu
THE secretary general of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), Amama Mbabazi, has asked the party’s cadres in Busia to accept Aggrey Awori as one of their own.
Awori, who crossed to the NRM after spending over three decades in the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) party, received a hostile reception when he attempted to contest for the Samia Bugwe North seat by-election.
The seat was declared vacant after Awori petitioned the courts, arguing that Wasike Mugeni did not resign from the public service as required by the law.
Mbabazi also denied claims that the NRM enticed Awori. He said the veteran politician crossed after studying the political climate.
The secretary general clarified that Awori’s brother, Moody Awori, who is the Kenyan vice-president, though unhappy with Awori’s stay in the UPC, did not influence his turn- around.
Mbabazi made the remarks last week while officially presenting Awori to the party members in Busia. He assured them that Awori would not sabotage the NRM.
According to Mbabazi, Awori had wanted to contest in the by-election but pulled out on the advice of Mbabazi and President Yoweri Museveni.
The President, Mbabazi said, told Awori that having dragged Mugeni to court, he would worsen rifts by taking part in the by-election.
“We agreed that he stays out of this exercise to allow the wounds heal,†Mbabazi told the supporters.
The NRM, Mbabazi revealed, would meet Mugeni’s court costs and fines.
Awori said he had stealthily joined the NRM, fearing that he would not be accepted. He compared himself to a bride who finds difficulty in a new marital home.
He said he heeded the President’s advice against contesting because he was a new member and had to respect party rules.
THE secretary general of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), Amama Mbabazi, has asked the party’s cadres in Busia to accept Aggrey Awori as one of their own.
Awori, who crossed to the NRM after spending over three decades in the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) party, received a hostile reception when he attempted to contest for the Samia Bugwe North seat by-election.
The seat was declared vacant after Awori petitioned the courts, arguing that Wasike Mugeni did not resign from the public service as required by the law.
Mbabazi also denied claims that the NRM enticed Awori. He said the veteran politician crossed after studying the political climate.
The secretary general clarified that Awori’s brother, Moody Awori, who is the Kenyan vice-president, though unhappy with Awori’s stay in the UPC, did not influence his turn- around.
Mbabazi made the remarks last week while officially presenting Awori to the party members in Busia. He assured them that Awori would not sabotage the NRM.
According to Mbabazi, Awori had wanted to contest in the by-election but pulled out on the advice of Mbabazi and President Yoweri Museveni.
The President, Mbabazi said, told Awori that having dragged Mugeni to court, he would worsen rifts by taking part in the by-election.
“We agreed that he stays out of this exercise to allow the wounds heal,†Mbabazi told the supporters.
The NRM, Mbabazi revealed, would meet Mugeni’s court costs and fines.
Awori said he had stealthily joined the NRM, fearing that he would not be accepted. He compared himself to a bride who finds difficulty in a new marital home.
He said he heeded the President’s advice against contesting because he was a new member and had to respect party rules.