NRM adopts new voting system
Jun 27, 2010
THE National Resistance Movement (NRM) national conference has adopted the universal adult suffrage system for its primary elections.
By Cyprian Musoke
and Joyce Namutebi
THE National Resistance Movement (NRM) national conference has adopted the universal adult suffrage system for its primary elections.
This means that every party member will be involved in electing the flag-bearer to stand for any position in the upcoming elections, as opposed to electoral colleges.
Presenting the amendments at the closure of the conference at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole yesterday, party legal adviser Adolf Mwesige said this is intended to reduce people standing as independents. The two-day conference was presided over by the national chairman, President Yoweri Museveni.
Candidates for district councils shall be elected by all members in the sub-county, while those for sub-county positions shall be elected by all members in a parish.
The delegates, who adopted several amendments to the party constitution, also voted in favour of a secret ballot in primaries.
The conference created two extra NRM regions, Kampala and Karamoja, for better mobilisation and management of elections. The regions are said to have unique characteristics.
Delegates agreed to have independent disciplinary committees, but referred back to districts an amendment to abolish the position of national secretaries. It was also agreed that party leaders who are elected to higher offices should relinquish lower offices.
The delegates agreed that candidates for village chairperson be elected by all party members in the village, while those for the position of mayor in every municipality be elected by all members in the municipality. Municipal councillorship candidates shall be elected by all members in their division.
It was also agreed that candidates for municipal councillor be elected by all members in the parish.
One of the contentious issues was whether to convene the national conference once or twice in five years. Members argued that convening only once puts them out of touch with party activities. When the matter was put to vote, those in favour of two conferences took the day.
It was agreed that the composition of the national conference be expanded to include district youth chairpersons in order to increase its participation.
The conference rejected a motion by MPs Jane Alisemera and Jalia Bintu to have women MPs considered in the leadership of the women league at the district.
The majority of women delegates opposed the proposal, arguing that women MPs were too busy, they do not associate with the rural women and that if the amendment is upheld, the women at the lower levels would not be heard. They also argued that the women had not been consulted on the matter. Alisemera later withdrew her motion.
During the meeting, President Museveni responded to several issues raised by the members. On raising funds locally for the party, he said in the upcoming central executive committee meeting, an account would be opened for anyone to make deposits. He said the account shall be publicised.
“We shall distribute that money to the constituencies. But raising money from members is something I do not like. I am always very careful about money. That is why we have never bothered to raise money from you,†he said.
Museveni said he was aware that there were people formenting religious differences and warned that they would be defeated.
“I am handling many of those situations.â€
He said unlike other groups, the NRM has supporters in all religions.
The President warned that anybody who tries to promote sectarianism shall be isolated.
Responding to a question on taxes, he criticised some ministers whom he said do not explain the issues to the wananchi.
“The mistake is that these NRM leaders do not talk. They are always busy with themselves, but the tax regime here is the best.â€
Museveni directed the education minister to go on radio to explain why universal primary education (UPE) funds do not get to schools on time, leading to expulsion of pupils.
Responding to reports that some civil servants are disloyal to the Government, the President blamed supervisors for the weakness. He said disloyal civil servants should be sacked.
He also directed the party leaders to expose public servants who sabotage government programmes.
“Public servants fighting the Government should be expelled. But they must be first exposed by NRM leaders like RDCs, LC5 chairmen and NRM Members of Parliament,†he said.
The party secretary general, Amama Mbabazi, said the national chairman had agreed to award certificates of service to all the national conference members. He apologised for all shortcomings at the conference.
However, there was drama at the conference when delegates, whom the President chose to speak, complained of delays in processing their facilitation.
“I travelled from Busia expecting to get my allowances, but I have to walk back because I have got no money,†said Ssekandi Musana, a councillor from Namayingo in Busia.
Robinah Namukose, from Mpungu in Kanungu district, proposed that mobilisers receive more money since they traverse many sub-counties.
Kidomoole, a popular NRM supporter, advised the President not to give more money to NAADS officials at districts, saying the money does not benefit people in villages.
“They (officials) use the money to decorate their homes. They betray us. You gave me money for a car, a house and clothes but it has never reached me,†he said.
Another delegate from Nasingwe said children were chased from UPE schools due to extra charges. He also cited corruption in the lands registry.
Kalimi Kyeswa from Ssembabule urged the delegates to forgive Mbabazi for any shortcomings of the conference.
There was also drama as Naalongo Lugudde from Buwenge town council sobbed as she narrated how the Presidential Guard Brigade officers mistreated her while stopping her from accessing restricted areas at the stadium.
Other members complained of teachers who criticise government programmes.
NEW NRM AMENDMENTS
Aspirants for district councils to be elected by all members at sub-county level
Candidates for sub-county positions to be elected by all members at parish level
Village chairperson to be elected by all party members in the village
Mayor for every municipality to be elected by all party members in the municipality
Municipal councillorship candidates to be elected by all party members in their division
Municipal councillors to be elected by all party members in the parish
Delegates vote in favour of secret ballot in primaries
Expanded national conference to include district youth chairpersons
Creation of two extra NRM regions, Kampala and Karamoja, for better mobilisation
Creation of independent disciplinary committees
Party leaders elected to higher offices should relinquish lower offices
Deferred
Amendment to abolish the position of national party secretaries referred to districts
Rejected
Amendment to include women MPs in the leadership of the women league at the district
and Joyce Namutebi
THE National Resistance Movement (NRM) national conference has adopted the universal adult suffrage system for its primary elections.
This means that every party member will be involved in electing the flag-bearer to stand for any position in the upcoming elections, as opposed to electoral colleges.
Presenting the amendments at the closure of the conference at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole yesterday, party legal adviser Adolf Mwesige said this is intended to reduce people standing as independents. The two-day conference was presided over by the national chairman, President Yoweri Museveni.
Candidates for district councils shall be elected by all members in the sub-county, while those for sub-county positions shall be elected by all members in a parish.
The delegates, who adopted several amendments to the party constitution, also voted in favour of a secret ballot in primaries.
The conference created two extra NRM regions, Kampala and Karamoja, for better mobilisation and management of elections. The regions are said to have unique characteristics.
Delegates agreed to have independent disciplinary committees, but referred back to districts an amendment to abolish the position of national secretaries. It was also agreed that party leaders who are elected to higher offices should relinquish lower offices.
The delegates agreed that candidates for village chairperson be elected by all party members in the village, while those for the position of mayor in every municipality be elected by all members in the municipality. Municipal councillorship candidates shall be elected by all members in their division.
It was also agreed that candidates for municipal councillor be elected by all members in the parish.
One of the contentious issues was whether to convene the national conference once or twice in five years. Members argued that convening only once puts them out of touch with party activities. When the matter was put to vote, those in favour of two conferences took the day.
It was agreed that the composition of the national conference be expanded to include district youth chairpersons in order to increase its participation.
The conference rejected a motion by MPs Jane Alisemera and Jalia Bintu to have women MPs considered in the leadership of the women league at the district.
The majority of women delegates opposed the proposal, arguing that women MPs were too busy, they do not associate with the rural women and that if the amendment is upheld, the women at the lower levels would not be heard. They also argued that the women had not been consulted on the matter. Alisemera later withdrew her motion.
During the meeting, President Museveni responded to several issues raised by the members. On raising funds locally for the party, he said in the upcoming central executive committee meeting, an account would be opened for anyone to make deposits. He said the account shall be publicised.
“We shall distribute that money to the constituencies. But raising money from members is something I do not like. I am always very careful about money. That is why we have never bothered to raise money from you,†he said.
Museveni said he was aware that there were people formenting religious differences and warned that they would be defeated.
“I am handling many of those situations.â€
He said unlike other groups, the NRM has supporters in all religions.
The President warned that anybody who tries to promote sectarianism shall be isolated.
Responding to a question on taxes, he criticised some ministers whom he said do not explain the issues to the wananchi.
“The mistake is that these NRM leaders do not talk. They are always busy with themselves, but the tax regime here is the best.â€
Museveni directed the education minister to go on radio to explain why universal primary education (UPE) funds do not get to schools on time, leading to expulsion of pupils.
Responding to reports that some civil servants are disloyal to the Government, the President blamed supervisors for the weakness. He said disloyal civil servants should be sacked.
He also directed the party leaders to expose public servants who sabotage government programmes.
“Public servants fighting the Government should be expelled. But they must be first exposed by NRM leaders like RDCs, LC5 chairmen and NRM Members of Parliament,†he said.
The party secretary general, Amama Mbabazi, said the national chairman had agreed to award certificates of service to all the national conference members. He apologised for all shortcomings at the conference.
However, there was drama at the conference when delegates, whom the President chose to speak, complained of delays in processing their facilitation.
“I travelled from Busia expecting to get my allowances, but I have to walk back because I have got no money,†said Ssekandi Musana, a councillor from Namayingo in Busia.
Robinah Namukose, from Mpungu in Kanungu district, proposed that mobilisers receive more money since they traverse many sub-counties.
Kidomoole, a popular NRM supporter, advised the President not to give more money to NAADS officials at districts, saying the money does not benefit people in villages.
“They (officials) use the money to decorate their homes. They betray us. You gave me money for a car, a house and clothes but it has never reached me,†he said.
Another delegate from Nasingwe said children were chased from UPE schools due to extra charges. He also cited corruption in the lands registry.
Kalimi Kyeswa from Ssembabule urged the delegates to forgive Mbabazi for any shortcomings of the conference.
There was also drama as Naalongo Lugudde from Buwenge town council sobbed as she narrated how the Presidential Guard Brigade officers mistreated her while stopping her from accessing restricted areas at the stadium.
Other members complained of teachers who criticise government programmes.
NEW NRM AMENDMENTS
Deferred
Rejected