{UAH} Fight Erupts Over 'Museveni 2016' Cash

Fight Erupts Over 'Museveni 2016' Cash

BY TREVOR S BALEKE, 17 APRIL 2014

Photo: RNW

National Resistance Movement supporters (file photo).

The NRM MPs' drive in Busoga to sell President Museveni as the party's sole candidate for 2016 got off to a chaotic start on Wednesday.

While Uganda's opposition is crippled by a chronic lack of money, the NRM campaign was dogged by near-fist fights over how to share money. Party MPs began their tours, having been given Shs 4m for each sub-county.

Each MP is essentially covering two sub-counties in his/her constituency. Usually flanked by the district LC-V chairperson or LC-III chairperson, the MPs are meeting LC-I executives, youth and women leaders, councillors, religious leaders and any other persons who may wish to attend. It has been established that the Wednesday meetings attracted between 200 and 250 people.

"In February, we [MPs in Kyankwanzi] unanimously agreed that in order to avoid waste of resources, and in appreciation and recognition of the fundamental change brought by our president, none of us [NRM cadres] shall stand against him in the party primaries.

"That is why we are meeting our people to popularize the resolute decision and have the views of the people as well," Iganga Woman MP, Olivia Kwagala Kabaale told The Observer yesterday.

During the meetings, participants in each sub- country decide how they want to share the Shs 4m.

"The groups we met yesterday [Wednesday] decided to have their money shared amongst themselves in cash... Others spent part of it on lunch and shared the balance," Kwagala said.

MP survives

In Nawandala sub-county in Kigulu North constituency, Iganga district, the meeting that began well turned rather rowdy. Area MP Edward Balidawa Kafufu survived being beaten over the Shs 4m. Kafufu was manhandled by his constituents after he paid only 86 participants out of the 250 who attended one meeting.

People familiar with the meeting said Kafufu wanted to give money to people who would support him in 2016. After paying 86 people, he sought to leave but the rest blocked him.

"There is no way for you [to leave] if you don't give us our money. We are very much aware that each one of us is supposed to have a share... ... by the way, that money was given to you by Mzee [Museveni] to deliver it to us; so, we shall use any kind means to get it from you," chorused the mob.

Kafufu's pleas were drowned out by the loud voices of his angry constituents. He was saved by MP Kwagala who intervened and persuaded him to pay everyone. The team later proceeded to Nabitende sub-county, where they met about 200 people.

Successor not born

Joseph Mudhola, the Nabitende sub-county youth councillor, got a thunderous applause when he said the person who can replace President Museveni was not yet born.

Mudhola, who referred to Museveni as the father of Uganda's current peace and democracy, mocked whoever wants to stand against Museveni.

"How can you say you are your father's heir before he dies? Mzee [Museveni] is still available and he is the only one we want," Mudhola said amid applause.

Karim Dheyongera, the leader of the elderly in the district, asked Parliament to scrap presidential elections until Museveni dies. He said it was a waste of public resources to organise presidential elections when 'everyone' clearly knows that Museveni is an automatic winner.

"He has won more votes each time we had an election and sincerely, even if we had one tomorrow, he would win massively," Dheyongera said.

With that, the meeting ended and those who attended shared their money.

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Gwokto La'Kitgum

"Even a small dog can piss on a tall Building", Jim Hightower