Bukenya, Mwesigye face expulsion from NRM

Jul 25, 2015

Ex-VP Gilbert Bukenya and ex-minister Hope Mwesigye risk being expelled from the NRM after snubbing a committee meeting.


By Charles Etukuri

KAMPALA - Former Vice President Gilbert Bukenya and ex-minister Hope Mwesigye risk being expelled from the NRM party after they declined to appear before a committee set up by the Central Executive Committee (CEC).

Mwesigye is the NRM chairperson in Kabaale district.

The two also face the possibility of being suspended and banned from engaging in any other party activities.

They were part of a group of four who were supposed to appear before the CEC committee set up last week to meet and interact with leaders who have been voicing divergent views from party positions.

The other two called for the meeting were former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi and his wife Jackline Mbabazi.

The meetings were supposed to be chaired by the Party chairman Gen. (Rtd) Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.

Other members of the committee included Vice Chairpersons Abdul Nadduli (Central), Mike Mukula (Eastern) and Matayo Kyaligonza (western).

Mbabazi met the team on Friday evening; Bukenya did not show up on Thursday while Mwesigye said she had not been given enough time to set herself for the meeting.

‘Turned down offer’
 

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Hope Mwesigye, pictured here last month at the signing ceremony of the opposition parties' Protocol of Demoratic Alliance. (Credit: Roderick Ahimbazwe)


In her letter addressed to NRM’s Secretary General Justine Lumumba, Mwesigye says: “I have just received the letter at 4.30pm today (Friday), exactly an hour before the planned interaction. This is very short notice. Furthermore you do not indicate the nature as well as the substance of the interaction so that I can make adequate preparations”.

NRM deputy Secretary Richard Todwong said Friday that the fate of the two (Bukenya and Mwesigye) now lies in the hands of CEC who were waiting for the decision of the disciplinary committee.

“They were given an opportunity to present their case before the party and also listen to the evidence the party had against them but they turned down the offer.  A decision will surely have to be made very soon,” said Todwong.

Todwong quoted sections 4 of the NRM Act which stipulates the punishment they would face, adding that they would either be reprimanded or stopped from participating in the party activities, suspended or even dismissed from the party.

“That decision on whether they stay or not stay in the party now rests with CEC and they will take the decision after advice from the party’s disciplinary committee.”
 

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