M7 free to campaign
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has told the National Resistance Movement NRM leaders to stop meddling in local politics.
By Vision Reporters
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has told the National Resistance Movement NRM leaders to stop meddling in local politics.
Museveni said the rivalry among the Kamuli NRM politicians nearly cost the party the district leadership in the just concluded by-election.
Speaking at the NRM Parliamentary Caucus meeting yesterday, Museveni reportedly defended his role during the campaigns, when he pitched camp in the district and said he was happy with the polls outcome.
The NRM candidate Stephen Mubiru, who was sworn-in as the district chairperson yesterday, narrowly beat FDC’s Salaamu Musumba.
FDC has questioned the elections and has threatened to go to court.
According to sources, during the caucus meeting held at Parliament, Museveni said NRM was ready to face Musumba in court if she decides to petition against results.
He called for cohesion in the NRM, saying “the top leaders should not get involved in the local politics. We had problems in Kamuli because of internal conflicts.â€
In related a development, the election observers, the Democracy Monitoring Group (DEMGROUP), have said it was proper for Museveni to participate in the Kamuli campaigns.
The group national coordinator, Rev. Canon Grace Kaiso, told journalists that under the multiparty system, the president has a right to canvass for votes for the party’s candidate.
The group criticised the arrest of Musumba’s supporters.
“Under multipartyism, supporters are free to travel to any part of the country to oversee the electoral process as long as they do not interfere with it. As observers, we did not see them interrupt the electoral process as alleged by the Police,†Kaiso said.
DEMGROUP noted that the by-election was generally peaceful despite some anomalies that happened.
It however, argued that the President’s security could have scared some voters not to turn up.
A total of 202,447 people are registered to vote in Kamuli but only 99,848 voted.
The group conceded that there were some anomalies which made the integrity of the results to be questioned.
Meanwhile, at a press conference yesterday, FDC insisted that it would challenge Kamuli elections results in court.
“The President (Museveni) camped in the district for almost 10 days, dishing out money and promising Budiope county a district status,†Maj. Rubaramira Ruranga lamented.
FDC officials claimed that the Electoral Commission set up non-gazetted polling stations and that FDC supporters were beaten and chased away from the election centres.
During the swearing-in ceremony of Mubiru in Kamuli district yesterday, the fisheries state minister, Fred Mukisa, said many NRM supporters voted for Musumba due to internal party disagreements.
“The votes obtained by Musumba were part of the NRM votes, but they were lost due to internal wrangles within the party in Kamuli,†Mukisa said.
Mukisa was the chief guest at the event held at the district headquarters in Kamuli town.
Mubiru arrived at the venue in a convoy which was led by a brass band.
In Namwenda trading centre, the home area of both Mubiru and Musumba, three Police patrol vehicles with armed policemen were on standby.
Mubiru’s supporters carrying his effigy moved from Namwenda on a truck attracting the attention of some people as they moved into town.
Complied by Milton Olupot, Mary Karugaba, A. Geresom. Musamali, George Bita and Moses Nampala
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has told the National Resistance Movement NRM leaders to stop meddling in local politics.
Museveni said the rivalry among the Kamuli NRM politicians nearly cost the party the district leadership in the just concluded by-election.
Speaking at the NRM Parliamentary Caucus meeting yesterday, Museveni reportedly defended his role during the campaigns, when he pitched camp in the district and said he was happy with the polls outcome.
The NRM candidate Stephen Mubiru, who was sworn-in as the district chairperson yesterday, narrowly beat FDC’s Salaamu Musumba.
FDC has questioned the elections and has threatened to go to court.
According to sources, during the caucus meeting held at Parliament, Museveni said NRM was ready to face Musumba in court if she decides to petition against results.
He called for cohesion in the NRM, saying “the top leaders should not get involved in the local politics. We had problems in Kamuli because of internal conflicts.â€
In related a development, the election observers, the Democracy Monitoring Group (DEMGROUP), have said it was proper for Museveni to participate in the Kamuli campaigns.
The group national coordinator, Rev. Canon Grace Kaiso, told journalists that under the multiparty system, the president has a right to canvass for votes for the party’s candidate.
The group criticised the arrest of Musumba’s supporters.
“Under multipartyism, supporters are free to travel to any part of the country to oversee the electoral process as long as they do not interfere with it. As observers, we did not see them interrupt the electoral process as alleged by the Police,†Kaiso said.
DEMGROUP noted that the by-election was generally peaceful despite some anomalies that happened.
It however, argued that the President’s security could have scared some voters not to turn up.
A total of 202,447 people are registered to vote in Kamuli but only 99,848 voted.
The group conceded that there were some anomalies which made the integrity of the results to be questioned.
Meanwhile, at a press conference yesterday, FDC insisted that it would challenge Kamuli elections results in court.
“The President (Museveni) camped in the district for almost 10 days, dishing out money and promising Budiope county a district status,†Maj. Rubaramira Ruranga lamented.
FDC officials claimed that the Electoral Commission set up non-gazetted polling stations and that FDC supporters were beaten and chased away from the election centres.
During the swearing-in ceremony of Mubiru in Kamuli district yesterday, the fisheries state minister, Fred Mukisa, said many NRM supporters voted for Musumba due to internal party disagreements.
“The votes obtained by Musumba were part of the NRM votes, but they were lost due to internal wrangles within the party in Kamuli,†Mukisa said.
Mukisa was the chief guest at the event held at the district headquarters in Kamuli town.
Mubiru arrived at the venue in a convoy which was led by a brass band.
In Namwenda trading centre, the home area of both Mubiru and Musumba, three Police patrol vehicles with armed policemen were on standby.
Mubiru’s supporters carrying his effigy moved from Namwenda on a truck attracting the attention of some people as they moved into town.
Complied by Milton Olupot, Mary Karugaba, A. Geresom. Musamali, George Bita and Moses Nampala