By Our Reporters
There is growing despondency towards Hajji Abdul Nadduli’s continued leadership of the NRM party in Buganda region where he serves as party chairman and representative in Central Executive Committee (CEC). He has sat in CEC now for more than 10 years having replaced former VP Gilbert Bukenya. But the cadres who risked campaigning for him, shunning huge cash from Hajji Muyanja Mbabali and other competitors, are now regretting saying the man hasn’t remembered them even after becoming a Minister which brings him some good income unlike before when he was grassing like any other ordinary party supporter. There is anger that Nadduli, who used to blame his poor performance on former SG Amama Mbabazi, hasn’t been able to register much achievements long after the JPAM departure. “He used to tell us it was Mbabazi frustrating his programs and that he was financially crippled and powerless in the party. He now has a well-paying job of Minister without a constituency and Mbabazi is long gone yet Hajji Nadduli is now serving only his interests and we who risked to get him there can’t even meet him,” ranted an NRM cadre. “He has surrounded himself with cronies and one of the people who have benefited from the groceries at his new ministerial office is his own son yet this is someone who used to accuse Mbabazi of nepotism. How different is he?” The NRM cadres now say they are going to back either Mbabali or energetic high-performing Minister Godfrey Kiwanda at the next party elections conference because “Nadduli has eaten enough.” That is what critics are saying but cadres who are sympathetic say, Nadduli is still kind-hearted like before but the office has simply overwhelmed him in very strange ways. “It’s true he used to say Mbabazi was obstructing people from seeing the President and as CEC member and minister he too hasn’t taken anyone to see Mzee but there must be context. First of all age has taken serious toll on Hajji Nadduli and secondly he himself is disappointed there isn’t much in being a Minister the way he originally expected. He is there very powerless and without the mobilizational financial resources he thought he would access in the Ministry,” says an angry cadre but who insists Nadduli’s circumstances of powerlessness ought to be correctly understood as well. In 2015/16, Museveni weighed in and shielded Nadduli against competition at Namboole for him to remain CEC member but this time round it isn’t going to be a walk in the park as disgruntled cadres have vowed to ensure Nadduli is replaced by a more vibrant and generous cadre-either Hajji Mbabali or youthful Godfrey Kiwanda who has lately been very active using the CBS radio to exhibit his loyalty to the President and his family. For comments, call, text or whatsapp us on 0703164755.
