Opposition tells NRM to concede defeat

By Moses Mulondo

THE opposition Forum for Democratic Change has scoffed at the NRM for failing to concede defeat in the recent Bugweri county by-elections. Addressing journalists at the party offices in Kampala yesterday, Augustine Ruzindana, the secretary-general, asked NRM to accept defeat.

“It is amusing that the NRM party is saying FDC rigged the election. But we pray that they go ahead and file their petition. We want the likes of Kakooza Mutale and the Inspector General of Police, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura, to explain whether the deployment made in the area was under the control of FDC,” Ruzindana said.

The Electoral Commission declared Abdu Katuntu (FDC candidate) the winner but the NRM secretary-general, Amama Mbabazi, said they might petition the court over the results. Katuntu got 14,704 votes, whereas his closet rival, Kirunda Kivejinja (NRM), polled 12,829.

According to Ruzindana, Kivejinja’s defeat indicated that President Yoweri Museveni’s popularity in Busoga region had declined.

“To us, this was a defeat against Museveni because he went there and told people to vote for Kivejinja.”

The party deputy president, Salaamu Musumba, said: “Defeating NRM in Bugweri amidst terror, intimidation, bribery and manipulation, is a turning point in the politics of Busoga. It means political maturity for the people of Busoga. The stereotype about the Basoga that omwami kyakoba zeena kyenkoba (What my husband says is what I say) has been demystified.”

She added: “Despite his fruitless camping in the area, the people of Bugweri said mbee (no) and they will continue saying that to President Museveni.”