Lango NRM leaders meet Oulanyah over independents

2021 ELECTIONS   POLITICS

Flag-bearers of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party in Lango sub-region expressed discontent over reports that some UPC leaders are supporting independents against them, yet they had met the President and pledged to support him and the NRM party.

The allegations are that President Yoweri Museveni met UPC leaders in the area, in a meeting arranged by the NRM vice-president for eastern Uganda, Mike Mukula.

However, one of the leaders Caesar Alaju said he met the President to discuss a different issue, not elections.

The NRM vice-chairman for Northern Uganda, Jacob Oulanyah, called a meeting to discuss the matter the flag-bearers, independent leaning NRM candidates at Uganda Technical College Lira on Saturday.

During the meeting, Sam Engola, the NRM flag-bearer for Erute South, who is facing off with UPC's Jonathan Odur, said those who met the President should step down for NRM candidates.

Talib Okabo, the NRM chairperson for Apac, said some UPC leaders are fighting the NRM candidates in the district, adding that the NRM candidates may not fare well in the elections.

Andrew Awany from Kole said some of them have sold their land and houses to campaign for the NRM and President Museveni.

Anthony Okello of Kyoga County said the independents are giving him a headache in his constituency.

Bodygard Odongo, the NRM chairman of Lira city raised concern that the issue of cattle compensation may be used as a weapon against NRM.

He asked Oulanyah to inform the people if the Government is compensating them for the animals lost as thousands of claimants are converging at banks to reactivate their accounts, with some sleeping on verandah when banks close.

Jacob Oulanyah said President Museveni on his own would rally anybody for support.

"The motivation is to get everybody to vote for him, NRM, independents and even the opposition, to vote for him," Oulanyah said.

"You would want to do everything with everybody to get the majority votes," he added.

Oulanyah called on the NRM leaders to desist from what can cause unease to the people and affect their mobilisation, their door-to-door, person-to-person campaign and impact negatively on their results.

"Let's protect ourselves, the processes of integrity within our own party so that we get 67% or more."

Linda Agnes Auma, Lira Woman parliamentary candidate on independent ticket, said a lot of issues were raised in regard to infighting that is crippling NRM unity in the Lango sub-region.

She said Oulanyah explained to them that the NRM has spent billions of shillings, including procuring bicycles, motorcycles for grassroots leaders and sub-county leaders, saying these should be used instead of bickering about who got what.