By Our Reporters
The NRM Poor Youth group members are famously remembered for the political headache they occasioned onto President Museveni in the runner up to 2016 general elections. Their candidate was John Patrick Amama Mbabazi (JPAM) whom they marketed as the candidate of the poor within NRM and Uganda. Led by their Supreme Leader Adam Luzindana, they tackled Museveni like no one else had done before within the NRM. In the end, using both the carrot and stick approach, Museveni annihilated the group. Somewhere arrested, others cut deals with State House and a few others went underground. In the end, their candidate JPAM didn’t perform as expected but the political hysteria they created with their JPAM within the NRM was simply unprecedented. The latest info we have gathered indicates the group remnants are reorganizing and trying to attack again with 2021 not being very far. Adam Luzindana remains their Supreme Leader and Issa Kato the National Coordinator. Apparently the Luzindana efforts in 2016 weren’t totally in vain though their mission to oust Museveni fell flat. Richard Kirekyankuba, who used to command the Bwaise Squad, used the resultant fame to get elected KCCA councilor. Aidah Nakuya works with KCCA as an assistant to Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago. Thomas Kategere, former group coordinator, is now Kamuli LC5 chairman. Janet Anyine, a group founder member, is now the liaison officer between the President and ESO. Hassan Mukiibi, who Kategere replaced as coordinator, is now an influential investments operative directly reporting to Museveni. It’s only Issa Kato, Adam Luzindana, Ben Sebuguzi and a few others that stayed course and are still valued by JPAM who sources say is on his way to bounce back as Vice President. These are now the core members of the group that is plotting the political come back for the Poor Youth group and the overall objective is to coalesce with Bobi Wine’s People Power at some point in time. As part of the comeback strategy, a number of Poor Youth officials are destined to run for MP positions including Issa Kato who recently returned from a working trip in the US. He is being fronted by the NRM Poor Youth Movement to run for Mohammad Nsereko’s Kampala Woman MP Seat. Kato says he is coming to stand because he is convinced the NRM has sufficient support in the Central Division which a reformist candidate can harness into an electoral victory. Kato says he wants to retire Nsereko in public interest. Kato, who used to sell stuff on city streets, says it’s time for leadership rejuvenation for the NRM party starting with Central division. He says he wants to be a model MP whose standards will be used by the rest of the country to measure the performance of their own legislators. He hails from Kayunga Nakaliro village near where Ivan Semwanga was buried. Kato’s father Chief Wadada is a pillar in the NRM and founded UTODA along with Hajji Musa Katongole. For comments, call, text or whatsapp us on 0703164755.
