Six MPs oppose Museveni's  sole presidential bid

President Yoweri Museveni. Photo/File

LEADERSHIP| DEMOCRACY             

KAMPALA - Rebel MPs have criticised the move by NRM party top organ, Central Executive Committee (CEC) to endorse President Yoweri Museveni as the party's flag bearer for the 2021 polls. 

Addressing the media on Thursday, MPs Theodore Ssekikubo (Lwemiyaga), Monica Amoding, John Baptist Nambeshye, Sam Lyomoki,  Gaffa Mbwatekamwa and Patrick Nsamba said the resolution was unfair and does not promote democracy.

The MPs said it was wrong for CEC to endorse a candidate without consulting the voters.

"Endorsing party candidates is not the responsibility of CEC. Their work is to vet the nominees after the candidates have applied. They are jumping the gun. They are supposed to vet nominees why are they endorsing a single candidate. We disassociate from that resolution and as people's representatives, we shall not support it," Ssekikubo said.

MP Nambeshye said CEC's decision to super-impose a candidate on party members is illegal and should not be supported.

"Superimposing a candidate on voters infringes our party constitution.  They cannot block others because many had expressed interest. This position should not be refinanced. Why didn't they first go down and consult the people if they knew it was a good idea?" he asked.

MP Nsamba said CEC retreat should have instead been more concerned with the people's incomes and transition.

The MPs were reacting to a resolution by CEC on Tuesday after a retreat at the Chobe Safari lodge in Murchison Falls National Park, recommending Museveni as the party's flag- bearer in 2021 presidential election.

The resolution adopted stated," to recommend to the membership of the movement and its organs that his Excellency Yoweri Museveni our leader and general of the African resistance, continues leading the movement and the state in 2021 and beyond as we eliminate the bottlenecks to transform."

Mbwatekamwa informed the journalists that he was disappointed that the meeting was chaired by the chairman whom the members endorsed.

"This contrary to what the party bosses say. How can the chairman preside over a meeting that declared him sole candidate? They are so many Ugandans who are well qualified and have a vision with a comprehensive plan to take this country far," he said.

Amoding said the MPs were actually considering taking this matter to court to get a constitutional interpretation.