UFA okays Kamya's candidature on NRM ticket

POLITICS   2021 ELECTIONS

KAMPALA - The Uganda Federal Alliance (UFA) top management have disowned the Lands minister, Betty Kamya, as their party president.

Led by the National Party Chairperson, Peter Mayeku Malesi, the UFA said, the minister ceased to be part of them after she joined the National Resistance Movement (NRM).

This followed a petition that was filed by a purported group of the UFA, led by Baker Byayi, to the NRM electoral Commission, demanding for the cancellation of the minister's NRM flag for Lubaga North Member of Parliament, on grounds that she never resigned in her political party.

"We urge the petitioners to be guided by this communication and to the public by withdrawing the petition because it is seen that their move is driven by malice, envy, and ill-will or else we are available to give this position in court," Mayeku said.

He added that when President Yoweri Museveni, invited Kamya, to join his government, she convened a meeting of the top party leadership and explained the situation.

"She even convinced us to ally with NRM, a position we adopted although it is not yet formalized," said UFA.

During a press conference held by the UFA top leadership at Namirembe guest house on Thursday, the party officials claimed that being their President by then, Kamya, could not serve two masters at ago so, on 20th June 2018, they convened at Mamerito hotel, Kira and asked her to step down from her position to concentrate on her new assignment as Minister for Kampala Capital City Authority and Metropolitan Affairs.

"In December 2018, she informed us she would officially join NRM and vigorously campaign for the constitutional amendment to lift the presidential age limit and in February 2020, she took an oath and swore allegiance to the party. Since then, Kamya has been a member of the NRM," said Maleku.

 "She even invited many of us, including myself and the petitioner Baker Byayi Senyonga to witness the occasion where she formally left Uganda Federal Alliance and joined NRM," Mayeku revealed.

He added that although she is a great leader, UFA recognizes and respect her constitutional right to freedom of association under article 29 of the constitution of Uganda.

However, Baker Byayi, insists that Kamya is still the serving UFA President and therefore, not eligible to represent NRM as flag bearer.