NRM warns party members over 2016 polls

Apr 14, 2015

DR. Tanga Odoi, the NRM Electoral Commission chairman said that evidence of a written resignation for civil servants and a solid academic record would be some of the requirements

By David Lumu

 

AS various political parties embark on preparations for the 2016 general elections, Dr. Tanga Odoi, the chairperson of the Electoral Commission of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) has warned party members wishing to vie for positions.

 

Odoi in a lecture on Tuesday morning said that evidence of a written resignation for civil servants and a solid academic record would be some of the requirements that must be met before contesting for any position within the party structures and national level.

 

Odoi also said that the party will disqualify members who campaign before guidelines are issued.

 

"NRM cannot afford to have MPs disqualified on academic grounds. The NRM EC won't tolerate cheats and frauds. Under my leadership in NRM, don't waste your time if you don't qualify academically for each office," he said.

 

Odoi was addressing resident district commissioners (RDCs) and district internal security officers (DISOs), who are camped at the National Leadership Institute at Kyankwanzi for a retreat.

 

"We shall not allow a party which has lifted Uganda from political oblivion to be represented by people who don't qualify academically," he said.

 

This week, NRM just like other political parties, released its 2016 election road map with the highlight being the mass registration of members starting April 24. The other is the party and the party primaries scheduled for October.

 

"We shall demand written evidence that RDCs and DISOs have properly and effectively resigned and handed over before NRM nominations. RDCs who want to stand for elections must resign by August, handover all government property under their care," he said.

 

According to the Uganda Media Centre, Odoi and Richard Todwong, the NRM deputy secretary general were invited at Kyankwanzi to talk to the RDCs and DISOs on a number of topics.

 

Arguing that he didn't come to the leadership of the NRM electoral commission by accident, Odoi said that he is not a liability to President Yoweri Museveni.

 

"Nobody can say I am going to threaten the President's percentage of winning," he said.

 

Odoi was responding to concerns from some RDCs and DISOs that he is unqualified and will affect the votes for the President.

 

The other people who addressed the RDCs and DISOs, include; Maj. Gen. Jim Muhwezi, the minister of information and national guidance and David Bahati, the state minister for planning.

 

Gen. Muhwezi is addressing RDCs on creating functional linkages for effective communication of government programs, Muhwezi the office of the RDC must be connected with other government offices for effective communication.

 

"Communication is about delivering the 'right information. As monitors of Govt programs RDCs are key actors at district level. To be effective, the message should be received, understood", he said

 

The Rujumbura County MP also urged the officers to interface with media to give the public information about government programs.

 

Bahati urged the RDCs and DISOs to understand that there is a need for mind change and accountability if government services are to be implemented.

 

"As a country we plan every five (5) years; we have statistics and related budgets to support our activities, what we lack is translating the plans within our voluminous documents into actual deliverables," he said.

 

The retreat will be closed on Saturday by President Museveni.

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