By Simon K. Turibamwe
The vice chairperson for Lubaga National Resistance Movement (NRM) Justine Namakula has barked at opposition politicians to leave the NRM party alone with its sole candidate and stay away with own confusion. While on Bukedde FM Embutukizi’s Tabamiruka program on Feb.22nd 2019 Namakula who spoke in Luganda and Runyarwanda on air said that the opposition politicians and their supporters are hurling insults on the NRM’s CEC for choosing an old and tired man as a sole candidate. Namakula fired at the opposition that: “First sort out your own confusion which are helping Museveni to achieve his dream of having no opposition by 2020 before you direct us on what to do. We did it and it will always be,” Namakula said that whether they chose a tired or aged candidate it doesn’t concern opposition parties but a game well understood by the NRM party. Namakula noted that: “If the CEC retreat chose a tired or aged person as candidate, how does it concern the opposition? This means you are scared of the game.” Her remarks were prompted by DP’s Kato Kawesa who kept on insisting that the CEC wasted time on retreat because they knew Museveni is final.
PARTY ELECTIONS
The outspoken Namakula went on to say that there is a need to re-organize the party’s electoral commission if the party is to achieve supper candidates who will defeat the opposition thoroughly in 2021 elections. She noted that because the NRM party register has been infiltrated by the opposition members, they participate in party elections and vote for weaker candidates in primary elections that would be defeated easily in general elections. “Both members and leaders in the opposition bare NRM cards and when the party is going into primary elections they participate in big numbers to make sure they fail our strong candidates to favour those they can defeat in general elections. “This is the reason we need to re-organize our electoral process and do the opposite of what have been the practice,” said Namakula.
OPPOSITION FIRES BACK
Democratic party’s Kato Kawesa lashed at Namakula’s remarks as being childish to attribute the massive party loss on members of the opposition forgetting that even a few that go through cheat their way. FDC’s Habib Buwembo said that the CEC retreat became a disgrace to the party and Ugandans who expected it to discuss general issues but instead got dictation from one person to be awarded with sole candidature.
He said that even before the retreat was called, Ugandans new that Yoweri Museveni was the candidate for the NRM which was not necessary to be discussed in a CEC retreat. Buwembo noted that: “The retreat wasted time and resources because Mr. Museveni is always the candidate and I believe no one had time to oppose this even if you announced it on radio. You are here talking of Sam Lyomoki having shown interest but he is aware of what happened to Capt. Maguru, Mike Mukula and Amama Mbabazi when they declared intentions to compete for presidency,” Recently the ruling NRM party’s Central Executive Committee during a retreat resolved to have the incumbent president Museveni as the party’s sole presidential candidate. This decision by CEC locks out other NRM potential candidates from competing for the country’s top seat according to the critics of the party. In 2016 general elections Dr. Kizza Besigye the FDC presidential candidate said that president Museveni fears competition and that’s the reason he is unfair to other potential leaders. For comments, call or text 0752510225.
