Oulanyah, Engola in tough race for NRM northern seat

POLITICS|ELECTIONS

There is a tough competition for the position of NRM Vice Chairperson for the northern region which has attracted the incumbent Sam Engola, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oulanyah, Dr. Samuel Odongo Oledo, and Timothy Okee Jokkene.

During the presentations before CEC recently, Oulanyah gave a very impressive speech which reportedly endeared him to many as the right man for the job.

"What I have been able to do shows that am tried, tested and I remain a trusted member of the NRM Party for all the things have been brought to my attention and to my desk, I have executed with such dexterity sometimes I have even suffered insults from people but I have remained steadfast on upholding what belongs to the party or ideology," Oulanyah stated.

Oulanyah promised he would make all the necessary interventions to mobilize NRM members to be fully committed to their party and to attract more others to join the party.

"Mr. President, 12 Million Voters have been registered under NRM, Isn't it surprising that we get less than those votes in the final elections? The reason is simply there is a disconnect between the highest organ of the party (CEC) and the lower cadres of the party. We need to find a way to re-energize these party structures to rebuild their confidence and respect them for what they are because the engine of grass roots is not CEC," Oulanyah explained.

He says he also wants to join CEC to influence discussions on the best policies for turning around the country's economic fortunes.

Engola has been emphasizing the need for NRM members to maintain the CEC leadership which has been leading the party to victory after victory.

Talking to New Vision yesterday on why he wants to retain his position, Engola said, "I supported NRM in the northern region at a time when no one wanted to support the party in that area. Oulanyah has just come from UPC. For me, I have never been a member of any other party and therefore more committed to NRM. Oulanya wants to be MP, Speaker of Parliament, and Vice Chairperson for NRM party. He cannot have time to do all that work."

Engola said, "They say I have been there for so long, why don't they tell the president that he has also served for so long? We have kept the engine of the bus intact, if another person comes like the one who has just crossed from UPC he can spoil the engine of the bus."

Dr. Samuel Odongo says he wants to get into the CEC and influence NRM party policies to focus more on industrialization and solving unemployment among the youth.

"70 percent of Uganda's population is youth. And in Northern Uganda, 60% of the youth are unemployed, we can do skills training in Northern Uganda, for example in Zombo west Nile, we have one factory for tobacco. We need to industrialize the region so that we create employment for our people in northern Uganda especially the youth," Odongo explains.

For businessman Timothy Jokkene Okee who owns fuel stations and schools in Gulu, his focus will be on ensuring NRM fights for the interests of ordinary Ugandans including the need to eradicate poverty, unemployment and ensure that the northern region gets more development programmes from government to attract more support from the region.

Eric Massiga, NRM Chairperson Busia district, said, "Our choice is Oulanyah; most of the incumbents in CEC have not pushed for recognition of the NRM structures especially at the village and district level. They don't take into account the plight of district party leaders, but with Oulanyah, we are assured of our concerns being catered for."

Lower Madi MP, Ismail Ogama said, "In the last elections, Jacob Oulanyah stepped down for Sam Engola, so this time round, they should allow Oulanyah to take over. He has strategies for the region and has exhibited mobilization skills for the party in the region."