Mbabazi sticks to secretary general post

Aug 25, 2010

SECURITY minister John Patrick Amama Mbabazi yesterday picked nomination forms to retain his seat as the secretary general of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).

By Henry Mukasa

SECURITY minister John Patrick Amama Mbabazi yesterday picked nomination forms to retain his seat as the secretary general of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).

Mbabazi, the incumbent secretary general, was among the other NRM bigwigs who picked forms yesterday as the nomination exercise entered day-three.

He faces four other contestants; the Vice-President, Prof. Gilbert Bukenya, trade minister Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire, Lwemiyaga MP Theodore Ssekikubo and Bishop Stuart University professor Elijah Mushemeza, in a race that promises to be the hottest in the NRM executive positions.

The post of secretary general is ideally the most influential in a political party under the multi-party dispensation.

President Yoweri Museveni’s brother, Shedrack Nzeire, picked forms for NRM vice-chairman for the western region, while Movement historicals; Mulindwa Birimumaaso and Alhajji Abdul Nadduli, will tussle it out with State House legal counsel Joy Kabatsi for the central region.

Energy minister Eng. Hillary Onek wants to be vice-chairperson for the northern region, while former minister Francis Babu eyes a similar slot in the newly-created Kampala.

The deputy Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, picked forms to retain her post of second deputy national vice-chairperson. Kadaga is also the Woman MP for Kamuli district.

Eng. Ndawula Kaweesi, the incumbent national treasurer also picked forms seeking to retain his portfolio.

Amelia Kyambadde, the former principal private secretary to the President; businessman Arvind Patel, former Kitgum MP Jane Akwero Odwong and Kampala Central division councilor Salim Uhuru, all want the juicy post.

Outspoken Rubanda East MP Henry Banyenzaki picked forms for nomination as deputy national treasurer. He will contest with incumbent Singh Katongole, Stephen Masinde and Davidson Sserunjogi.

Uganda’s East Africa Legislative Assembly representative, Nusura Tiperu, picked forms for chairperson of the women’s league. Tiperu, the former Yumbe MP, has been a youth mobiliser for the NRM party.

She will face water minister Maria Mutagamba and Bugiri MP Justine Lumumba for the top women seat in the party.

Microfinance minister Ruth Nankabirwa said she will not contest for the post, but will concentrate on her post of Kiboga district NRM chairperson.

Godfrey Sseguya a.k.a Kayibanda, the former CBS Radio comedian, picked forms to contest for the chairperson of the NRM youth league.

Former security minister Betty Akech and former Kampala mayoral contestant Wilson Kyambadde also picked forms, but it was not clear which posts they will vie for.

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