NRM party losers form pressure group

Nov 11, 2010

OVER 120 NRM losers in the recent party primary elections in Mbarara district have formed a political pressure group to support and campaign for independent candidates in the 2011 general elections.

By Fred Turyahika

OVER 120 NRM losers in the recent party primary elections in Mbarara district have formed a political pressure group to support and campaign for independent candidates in the 2011 general elections.

The group formed the Mbarara district NRM aggrieved members forum last week, claiming the district party tribunal did not effectively handle their election petitions.

They held their second meeting at Midland Comfort Corner in Kamukuzi near the district NRM offices on Tuesday.

The interim chairperson, Jolly Mugisha, who lost the Mbarara district Woman MP seat to Emma Boona, the incumbent, accused the party tribunal of endorsing flag-bearers without resolving their complaints.

She said the forum subscribes to the NRM and vowed to solicit votes for President Yoweri Museveni.

“Our intention is not to divide the party, but to promote unity. Independent candidates need the party’s support during elections,” Mugisha said.

The district has registered a big number of independent candidates contesting for various positions.

The group also accused the district party chairman, Jomo Mugabe, of threatening to expel them for defying the party chairman (Museveni’s) directive barring independents.

“Mugabe calls us names like endeme (meaning “rebel”) in the press, yet he is aware of our unresolved complaints,” Mugisha said.

She said the national Constitution allows a person to stand as an independent if he is not satisfied with the party’s actions.

“Standing as an independent does not make one a ‘rebel’. In 2006, lands minister Daniel Omara Atubo contested as an independent and won the Otuke County parliamentary seat after disagreeing with the Uganda People’s Congress leadership.”

Former Mbarara town clerk David Bashakara, who lost to Mbarara municipality mayor Wilson Tumwine in the primaries, accused Mugabe and the party electoral commission of favouring certain candidates.

However, Mugabe slammed the allegations, saying the group is looking for a platform to get a sympathy vote and to cause divisions.

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});