By-election campaigns: NRM PWDs feel left out

PIC: NRM national chairman for PWDs Dr. Gabriel Katto addressed a press conference at the secretariat on Saturday. (Credit: Agnes Nantambi)

ELECTIONS

KAMPALA - NRM persons with disabilities (PWDs) want party leader President Yoweri Museveni to attend the last campaign for the parliamentary by-elections for northen and western regions.

Through their national chairman Dr. Gabriel Katto, they complained that their party leader has not campaigned for the NRM flagbearers like he has been doing in other by-elections.

Katto told reporters at the NRM Secretariat on Saturday it is a sign of discrimination and neglect to the PWDs fraternity.

"In all other NRM by-elections, President Museveni has always physically campaigned for the flagbearers but it is unfortunate that he has decided to delegate Al Hajji Moses Kigongo to preside over the campaign."

The group was also critical of the "unfair system" of the party where some are allegedly given more money to campaign than others.

"Whereas we expected the flagbearers to receive over sh100m or sh200m, our disappointment is that they received less than sh30m, which is an indication of the unfair system," said Katto.

He said the PWDs flagbearers have faced a number of challenges, including transportation and food, as they traversed the country to solicit for votes.

Katto also complained of the party officials at the secretariat whom he claimed supported the independents yet the party has its flagbearers.

Tne NRM flagbearers are Joyce Achan for northern region and Dr. Bernard Mayanja for western region.

Others in the race are independent candidates William Nokrach (northern), Hudu Katuramu (western) and Martin Babu.

The decision to hold the by-elections followed the nullification by court of Nokrach and Katuramu's election on grounds of election malpractice and lack of academic papers respectively.