'NRM will not accept independents again'
THE era of tolerating independent candidates in the National Resistance Movement (NRM) is over. President Museveni, the party chief said he would not allow the district to turn into a battle ground.
By Dismus Buregyeya
and Ali Mambule
THE era of tolerating independent candidates in the National Resistance Movement (NRM) is over.
Addressing a rally for the official NRM candidate, Anifa Kawooya, in Ssembabule district on Tuesday, Museveni said he would not allow the district to turn into a battle ground.
He urged the people at Ntusi trading centre in Lwemiyaga sub-county to support the party to fight independent candidates.
Kawooya’s main rival, Joy Kabatsi, is standing as an independent while insisting that she is still part of the NRM. The other candidate is Irene Nantongo, who is standing on a DP ticket.
Museveni said he had given a chance to the party supporters to stand as independents when the multiparty system had just started two-and-a-half years ago as a transitional measure.
“But it seems that some people have not coped with what we want. I used to be soft on such people in the beginning but I have come out to tell them what they ought to do,†Museveni said.
He asked Kabatsi to wait until 2011 and contest in the primaries to get the party’s backing, arguing that she may be considered then.
In 2006, Kabatsi lost the NRM primaries to Kawooya, whom she later petitoned against in court. The election was nullified due to malpractices.
Kabatsi and her main backers, Sembaule district chairman Herman Ssentongo and Lwemiyaga MP Theodore Ssekikubo, have vowed to continue with the campaign, assuring their supporters of a decisive win.
“If Kabatsi pulls out of the race now, DP will take the seat because the people of Sembabule are fed up with Anifa Kawooya, not as an NRM, but as an individual,†Sentongo said.
He said it would be better to send an independent candidate who supports the NRM than to give an open chance to DP.
But Museveni said Kawooya was a performer in Parliament. “Kawooya is among the performers in Parliament that I know. Besides, she has never let down the party. We should avoid NRM leaders who turn against the party decisions.â€
He, however, disclosed that he did not know how Kawooya behaved in the district. “I don’t know how she behaves when she comes back to you but you should not vote her as Kawooya but as the NRM flag-bearer. I know she might not be the best but I am sure she cannot let NRM down.â€
He emphasized the need to strengthen the NRM party rather than individuals who cannot on their own volition liberate the country outside the aegis of the party.
He advised members of NRM to always cherish discipline, understand each other and consult the party before taking any political actions.
He asked the people of Ssembabule to be loyal to the party and to be disciplined. “I also consult and obey the party decisions and I wonder where other NRM people get the guts to defy the party. I do not want this habit of every one making individual decisions within the party,†he said.
Museveni added that he had received a report from the Internal Security Organisation (ISO) that the political wrangles had crippled development in the district.
He said he was shocked to learn that Sembabule had failed to set up a district service commission because of political intrigue.
“How can you operate a district for over two years without a district service commission? This problem must be sorted out immediately,†he said.
The resident district commissioner, Sserwano Kabogorwa, said boards and commissions in Ssembabule were paralysed by political conflicts and corruption. He said the Public Service Commission was handling the matter.
Museveni was accompanied by the byelection national party campaign coordinator, Sam Kutesa, his deputy Hope Mwesigye, the minister in charge of economic monitoring, Maurice Kagimu, state minister for the youth, James Kinobe and NRM chief whip Kabakumba Matsiko.
Before ending his mobilisation tour, Museveni commissioned a water supply for Sembabule town council that currently serves about 200 consumers.
He assured the people of Ntuusi and Lwemiyaga that they would get electricity, water and the Villa Maria-Sembabule road would be tarmacked.
and Ali Mambule
THE era of tolerating independent candidates in the National Resistance Movement (NRM) is over.
Addressing a rally for the official NRM candidate, Anifa Kawooya, in Ssembabule district on Tuesday, Museveni said he would not allow the district to turn into a battle ground.
He urged the people at Ntusi trading centre in Lwemiyaga sub-county to support the party to fight independent candidates.
Kawooya’s main rival, Joy Kabatsi, is standing as an independent while insisting that she is still part of the NRM. The other candidate is Irene Nantongo, who is standing on a DP ticket.
Museveni said he had given a chance to the party supporters to stand as independents when the multiparty system had just started two-and-a-half years ago as a transitional measure.
“But it seems that some people have not coped with what we want. I used to be soft on such people in the beginning but I have come out to tell them what they ought to do,†Museveni said.
He asked Kabatsi to wait until 2011 and contest in the primaries to get the party’s backing, arguing that she may be considered then.
In 2006, Kabatsi lost the NRM primaries to Kawooya, whom she later petitoned against in court. The election was nullified due to malpractices.
Kabatsi and her main backers, Sembaule district chairman Herman Ssentongo and Lwemiyaga MP Theodore Ssekikubo, have vowed to continue with the campaign, assuring their supporters of a decisive win.
“If Kabatsi pulls out of the race now, DP will take the seat because the people of Sembabule are fed up with Anifa Kawooya, not as an NRM, but as an individual,†Sentongo said.
He said it would be better to send an independent candidate who supports the NRM than to give an open chance to DP.
But Museveni said Kawooya was a performer in Parliament. “Kawooya is among the performers in Parliament that I know. Besides, she has never let down the party. We should avoid NRM leaders who turn against the party decisions.â€
He, however, disclosed that he did not know how Kawooya behaved in the district. “I don’t know how she behaves when she comes back to you but you should not vote her as Kawooya but as the NRM flag-bearer. I know she might not be the best but I am sure she cannot let NRM down.â€
He emphasized the need to strengthen the NRM party rather than individuals who cannot on their own volition liberate the country outside the aegis of the party.
He advised members of NRM to always cherish discipline, understand each other and consult the party before taking any political actions.
He asked the people of Ssembabule to be loyal to the party and to be disciplined. “I also consult and obey the party decisions and I wonder where other NRM people get the guts to defy the party. I do not want this habit of every one making individual decisions within the party,†he said.
Museveni added that he had received a report from the Internal Security Organisation (ISO) that the political wrangles had crippled development in the district.
He said he was shocked to learn that Sembabule had failed to set up a district service commission because of political intrigue.
“How can you operate a district for over two years without a district service commission? This problem must be sorted out immediately,†he said.
The resident district commissioner, Sserwano Kabogorwa, said boards and commissions in Ssembabule were paralysed by political conflicts and corruption. He said the Public Service Commission was handling the matter.
Museveni was accompanied by the byelection national party campaign coordinator, Sam Kutesa, his deputy Hope Mwesigye, the minister in charge of economic monitoring, Maurice Kagimu, state minister for the youth, James Kinobe and NRM chief whip Kabakumba Matsiko.
Before ending his mobilisation tour, Museveni commissioned a water supply for Sembabule town council that currently serves about 200 consumers.
He assured the people of Ntuusi and Lwemiyaga that they would get electricity, water and the Villa Maria-Sembabule road would be tarmacked.