By Mulengera Reporters
Kawempe South MP candidate Madina Nsereko is facing strong criticism from NRM mobilizers, accusing the NRM flagbearer of mishandling money meant to mobilize supporters for President YK Museveni’s recent campaign rally in Kawempe.
According to voice notes obtained from NRM mobilizers’ WhatsApp groups in Kawempe, the youth leaders allege that Nsereko withheld funds meant to ensure a strong turnout, instead using part of the money for her personal political gain.
The controversy erupted after the Owambogo playground rally, where the number of attendees reportedly fell far below expectations, leaving party leaders visibly concerned.
Sources indicate that while the party secretariat had allocated millions of shillings to the two Kawempe MP flag bearers, who were the senior mobilizers on the ground, coordinators say Nsereko deliberately refused to release cash to the grass root leaders, making it difficult to rally residents, given the fact that Kawempe has for decades been an opposition stronghold.
The WhatsApp audios, which Nsereko hasn’t yet responded to, reveal harsh criticisms from disgruntled youth mobilizers, some accusing Nsereko of attempting to buy support from opposition sympathizers rather than focusing on mobilizing NRM supporters, saying she wanted to control everything. “The money was meant to reach all mobilizers. Instead, she gave portions to her own contacts and used some to try to win over opposition supporters. Many of us were left without anything to motivate people,” said one coordinator in a voice note.
The yellow foot soldiers also expressed frustration at what they perceive as Nsereko’s political overreach, as heard in another voice note where one youth sarcastically said, “If this is all she wants, let her be MP for both constituencies, LC5 chairperson, LC3, even Mayor,” a statement highlighting the depth of resentment among grassroots operatives.
The mobilizers say that originally, each of them was to handle a designated portion of money to mobilize their respective communities, but Nsereko’s centralization disrupted the plan, leading to a thin turnout on the day of Museveni’s visit.
The backlash exposes a larger challenge for the NRM in constituencies (like Kawempe South, and North) where opposition support is entrenched. Kawempe has long been considered a stronghold of the opposition, with Kawempe South being currently represented in parliament by NUP’s Bashir Kazibwe, and the seat for Kawempe North being held by city lawyer Erias Nalukoola, who defeated NRM’s Farida Nambi in last year’s by-election, after the death of the late Mohammed Ssegirinya.
Any perceived mismanagement and impropriety on the part of the yellow camp’s candidates could easily provide a tactical advantage to the National Unity Platform’s (NUP) Fred Nyanzi, who’s the closest competitor in the Kawempe South MP race.
While the speaker of parliament, Rt. Hon. Anita Among had briefly intervened to inject additional funds when the turnout initially appeared low, mobilizers say Nsereko’s failure to promptly distribute the money in a satisfactory manner prevented proper mobilization. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
