{UAH} Nathan Byanyima’s supporters walk out on Museveni

President Museveni (R) rallies support for Mr Rwakanuma during the rally at Ngarama Girls Secondary School in Bukanga Sub-county. Photo by Rajab Mukombozi 

By Rajab Mukombozi

Posted  Tuesday, November 26  2013 at  02:00

Supporters of Mr Nathan Byanyima, an Independent candidate in the Bukanga parliamentary by-election, on Sunday walked out on President Museveni, after he appeared to drum support for Mr Steven Kangwagye Rwakanuma, the party's flag bearer.

This happened at Ngarama, Isingiro District where Mr Museveni had pitched camp to rally support for Mr Rwakanuma.

Police and members of the elite Special Forces Command (SFC) battled hundreds of retreating supporters of Mr Byanyima at Ngarama Girls Secondary School trying to prevent them from leaving before the President could address them. Severally Mr Museveni's address was interrupted by the standoff prompting him to order security personnel to let those who wished to go leave. "Police muwache watu (police leave people)," the President ordered.

The audience had been calm until Mr Museveni took to the podium at about 4pm to campaign for Mr Kangwagye. "Ninyi police muwache watu watumiye wametaka (you police leave people to go where they want," a furious Museveni echoed multiple times.
Mr Byanyima, who has represented Bukanga three times, was at first declared the flag bearer by the NRM electoral commission Vice Chairman, Prof Elaija Mushemeza, after winning the October 25 party primary election.

The endorsement was, however, withdrawn after the exercise was repeated in Ngarama Sub-county where Mr Kangwangye, who at first had emerged second, registered a landslide victory.

Mr Byanyima boycotted the second election on November 8 supervised by a team from the NRM headquarters led by Dr Ruhakana Rugunda. Nine people competed in the NRM primary, but Mr Byanyima did not concede defeat and was nominated as an independent on November 11.

Even when other NRM leaning independents; Ms Jackline Matovu Asiimwe and Mr Jeremiah Kamurari pulled out of the race on Sunday after meeting the President Mr Byanyima remained put. President Museveni said on Sunday that his efforts to talk Mr Byanyima out of the race failed after several calls.

Mr Byanyima who attended the President's rally said: "As the party chairman he (Mr Museveni) has made his statement and declared a flag bearer who is his son. I think it's him he wanted for this slot, it's what I expected. I am a gentleman I have to fight to the end of the race," Mr Byanyima told the Daily Monitor. 

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