Losers want NRM electoral commission disbanded
Oct 20, 2010
Over 250 National Resistance Movement (NRM) party members, who contested in the primaries but lost, want the entire party electoral commission disbanded, accusing it of incompetence.
By Paul Watala
Over 250 National Resistance Movement (NRM) party members, who contested in the primaries but lost, want the entire party electoral commission disbanded, accusing it of incompetence.
In a charged emergency meeting held in Mbale town on Monday, it was resolved that if their demands are not met, they will contest as independent candidates. The members had turned up for a meeting convened by the NRM vice-chairperson, Alhajj Moses Kigongo, but was postponed without reason.
The members from 20 districts in the eastern region were then forced to convene the emergency meeting. The Mbale LC5 boss, Mbale Bernard Mujasi, who chaired the meeting, tried to calm them down in vain.
The members urged President Yoweri Museveni, the national party chairman, to intervene, saying the NRM could collapse. They blamed the electoral commission for the confusion.
Budada district LC5 chairman Wilson Watira expressed concern that the party had taken long to produce the investigation report. Watira warned that if the party leaders do not get serious, the NRM was likely to lose the capable members.
He said the party was being confused by a few people, who rigged the elections and claimed that they were popular on the ground.
Watira cited the district returning officers, saying they were not competent to hold such positions, and that most of them were bribed to announce results in favour of the ‘big wigs’.
“Some of these officials are bribed with sh100,000 to play around with the results, forgetting that it can cause bloodshed,†Watira clamed.
Dr. Jeremiah Twa-Twa from Iki-Iki county wondered why most of the candidates, who had been announced winners by returning officers, were missing on the list of the flag-bearers.
Over 250 National Resistance Movement (NRM) party members, who contested in the primaries but lost, want the entire party electoral commission disbanded, accusing it of incompetence.
In a charged emergency meeting held in Mbale town on Monday, it was resolved that if their demands are not met, they will contest as independent candidates. The members had turned up for a meeting convened by the NRM vice-chairperson, Alhajj Moses Kigongo, but was postponed without reason.
The members from 20 districts in the eastern region were then forced to convene the emergency meeting. The Mbale LC5 boss, Mbale Bernard Mujasi, who chaired the meeting, tried to calm them down in vain.
The members urged President Yoweri Museveni, the national party chairman, to intervene, saying the NRM could collapse. They blamed the electoral commission for the confusion.
Budada district LC5 chairman Wilson Watira expressed concern that the party had taken long to produce the investigation report. Watira warned that if the party leaders do not get serious, the NRM was likely to lose the capable members.
He said the party was being confused by a few people, who rigged the elections and claimed that they were popular on the ground.
Watira cited the district returning officers, saying they were not competent to hold such positions, and that most of them were bribed to announce results in favour of the ‘big wigs’.
“Some of these officials are bribed with sh100,000 to play around with the results, forgetting that it can cause bloodshed,†Watira clamed.
Dr. Jeremiah Twa-Twa from Iki-Iki county wondered why most of the candidates, who had been announced winners by returning officers, were missing on the list of the flag-bearers.