By Simon Turibamwe
NRM’s recent resolution making President Museveni sole candidate for 2021 and beyond may hit a dead end following a decision by a group of independent-minded NRM MPs (led by workers’ MP Sam Lyomoki) to challenge it in court. Lyomoki told the media Wednesday morning that he is challenging the Kyankwanzi resolution which he says was undemocratically passed. He says the resolution was even an act of discrimination as it has the effect of locking him out and others who might be interested in the top job. “The CEC thought of that option after I declared my interest and the resolution was passed hurriedly at Kyankwanzi in my absence where they excluded me and my agents because they knew we would argue against it,” said Lyomoki. He added that another reason for him to go to court is that the caucus made the resolution without adequately consulting all the stakeholders many of whom are interested in seeing internal democracy in their political party. Lyomoki further stated that the Caucus did not stop at excluding him but also violated the party Constitution which provides for elections of the party candidates. “Such resolutions are violating our Constitution which stipulates that all candidates shall go through elections,” Lyomoki said. Lyomoki who expressed disappointment with the party where he is a founder member, said that the party is now being hijacked by a few individuals who wants to dominate in everything and end up in violating the Constitution to abuse democracy. He said that the four NRM pillars of democracy, nationalism, pan Africanism and patriotism have been put aside by self- seekers whose aim is to hijack the party. Lyomoki also explained that the circumstances of his exclusion to this day remain very unclear and intriguing because unlike the six colleagues who got letters expressly prohibiting them from attending, in his case he got nothing. There was neither a letter inviting him nor one asking him to stay away. Like the opposition has been saying, Lyomoki also emphasized that Museveni has taken the advantage of his incumbency to use money, handouts, offers and roasted meat to influence his loyalty and suffocated democracy. However, the Kitagwenda MP Abas Agaba has fired back ta Lyomoki saying that whatever happened at Kyankwanzi was mandated by the constitution. Agaba said that the party never discriminated anyone since there was consensus by the majority to make a sole candidate to save the party from expenses that would be incurred in organizing elections. He added that Lyomoki has just started to talk about his intended candidature but never declared it before so that people campaigns for him during the retreat. He also said that even if Lyomoki declared his intentions, he would not get supporters because all the MPs believed only in Museveni who can only gunner victory for the party and would not waste time in voting for the candidate. “Lyomoki you are my friend but not even me would support you for the Presidency because you can’t gunner victory for NRM party,” said Agaba. Earlier on Tuesday the opposition JEEMA party President General Hon Asuman Basalirwa had stated that the NRM endorsed Museveni’s candidature without considering the pending cases in court disputing his age which puts his candidature in balance. Basalirwa added that if the court rules in favor of petitioners, Museveni is likely not to appear on the ballot in 2021.
