{UAH} The Observer - Museveni: disqualify Nabukenya
|
9:06 PM |
No comments |
The Observer - Museveni: disqualify Nabukenya
Tuesday, 20 May 2014 22:28
Firm support: Museveni campaigning for NRM's Rebecca Nalwanga
On Tuesday, the last day of the Luweero by-election campaigns, President Museveni and his former Vice President Gilbert Bukenya were busy men mobilizing political support for different candidates.
Speaking on his last stop at Zirobwe at 5:30pm, an angry Museveni urged the Electoral Commission to disqualify the Democratic Party candidate Brenda Nabukenya for campaigning against NRM programmes.
He said Nabukenya had been outspoken against education, health and roads projects in the area. He said the electoral law did not allow deceit or abusive people. The president said Nabukenya was still in the race only because the EC was dogged by management problems. He added that he had evidence to prove that the opposition and some elements in the NRM were fighting government projects.
At the opposition rally at Kasana grounds, the most conspicuous presence was that of Prof Gilbert Bukenya who broke ranks with the ruling NRM to campaign for Nabukenya.
In his speech, Bukenya said: "I was touched by the manner in which police treated Nabukenya on her nomination day and I felt that was injustice and I decided to come and canvass support for her."
Hinting at the possibility of rigging, Bukenya said the opposition could only win the election if they remained vigilant. This rally ended in disarray late in the evening, after the police used tear gas to disperse the crowd. Earlier at the same rally, the opposition announced they would deploy 80 vehicles on patrol in the night.
Determined to recapture the Luweero Woman parliamentary seat from the opposition, President Museveni spent Monday and Tuesday in the area, drumming up support for NRM's Rebecca Balwana Nalwanga ahead of Thursday's poll. Official campaigns kicked off on May 8, and on the trail, Nalwanga has enjoyed the support of ministers Richard Todwong (Political mobilization), Rosemary Namayanja (Information and National Guidance), Abraham Byandala (Works and Transport), Sarah Kataike Ndoboli (Luweero Traingle) and John Chrysostom Muyingo (Higher Education).
On the other hand, Nabukenya has drawn support from the bigwigs in the opposition such as former FDC president Dr Kizza Besigye, DP President Norbert Mao, former DP leaders Paul Ssemogerere and Ssebaana Kizito, and MPs Betty Nambooze Bakireke (Mukono municipality), Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganda (Kyadondo East), Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi (Butambala), Paul Mwiru (Jinja municipality East) and Florence Namayanja (Bukoto East). Museveni held at least a rally in each of the three constituencies in the district.
He spent most of his time responding to issues raised by the joint opposition candidate Brenda Nabukenya (DP). Before his first rally at Wobulenzi playground, the president stopped in Wobulenzi town to greet the crowd. Police was immediately deployed when the crowd booed the president as he urged people to vote for the NRM candidate.
People complained about the poor state of roads in the district, particularly the Zirobwe – Kikyusa-Wobulenzi road, and the government's failure to pay army veterans.
"NRM can't perform miracles. It cannot attend to all those issues in one day," Museveni said, before attacking Nabukenya whom he accused of playing childish politics, and for accepting to be used.
Promising: Nalwanga's admirers show Museveni their support
"I was in DP between 1960 and 70, apart from being used, what does Nabukenya know about DP that I don't? Or what does she know about the veterans? I understand their issues, and it is not because we don't have the money to pay them, but there are other priorities that we have to consider first," Museveni said.
Apology
This is the third election for the same seat in as many years, and a loss for NRM on Thursday would help the opposition to make inroads into NRM's political Mecca. To atone for Nalwanga's failures while she represented the district from 2006, Byandala led fellow ministers in making a public apology, before Museveni called her to the podium to make a personal apology.
"I will accept responsibility for even the party's shortcomings that have been blamed on me, and I want to apologise and make a commitment that once voted, I will work against a repeat of the shortfalls," Nalwanga said.
Some NRM leaders in the district that spoke to The Observer believe an NRM victory will be hard-fought.
"It will require us to put in an extra effort to win this election, going by the general feeling," said an NRM leader at district level. "I think we picked a wrong candidate, who had her own issues with the electorate."
Some local NRM leaders had rejected Nalwanga's candidature until President Museveni intervened and persuaded other NRM aspirants to drop their bids.
Those persuaded out of the race included Lugudde Nabatanzi, Lillian Nakate, Ritah Mugalu, Patricia Magara and Jamiah Ssenkanja. They joined Museveni on the two-day trail but their efforts were undermined by the Luweero Town Council LC-III chairman, Charles Ssebyala, who broke ranks with the party to campaign for Nabukenya.
Voice of change
Ssebyala and Western Youth MP Gerald Karuhanga were the latest additions to Nabukenya's team. They campaigned in Kikyusa sub-county.
"Christianity does not permit me to defend falsehoods; that is why I have left the president who is also my party chairman in my area [Luweero town] to join Nabukenya. I have resolved that I will not be party to the falsehoods being traded by NRM, and I am here to support the voice of change," Ssebyala told a cheering crowd at Kikyusa town.
Picking from his speech, Norbert Mao, embattled Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) representative Fred Mukasa Mbidde used the Kikyusa rally to appeal to voters to ignore Museveni.
"Museveni's campaign messages are satanic. He is here to hoodwink you but none of the promises he is making now will be fulfilled. He bruised you, he forgot you, he is not the right person to show you a candidate to vote for," Mao said.
NRM's Gilbert Bukenya campaigning for DP's Brenda Nabukenya
On Tuesday, President Museveni ordered the police to rein-in opposition supporters. He said he had an intelligence report that suggests that between May 16-19, opposition supporters beat up Emmanuel Wasswa, a resident of Wobulenzi town council, and destroyed two houses in the same area belonging to former Fufa spokesman Rogers Mulindwa and another man only identified as Rujengwa.
"I am wondering whether we have police here. I don't want to hear any more of this again. We want civilized conduct and you don't have to inconvenience anyone because of politics; that is why we had to give Besigye enough tear gas in Kampala until he got satisfied and he is now a bit quiet," Museveni said.
The president also ordered police to ensure that the opposition rebuilds the houses that were destroyed. He said his order was given under the recently-passed Public Order Management Act. Speaking at a news conference yesterday, the Electoral Commission announced it had dispatched polling materials to Luweero district, to ensure that voting begins on time.
Addressing journalists at the EC offices in Kampala, chairman Eng Badru Kiggundu said all is set for voting at all the 375 polling stations in the district.
"We must say that campaigns have been largely peaceful and we want to commend all the stakeholders for this," Kiggundu said.
Fred Enanga, the police spokesman, said their forces on the ground were ready to ensure that the elections move on smoothly. He urged politicians, voters and candidates to keep peace throughout the entire process.
"All along we have allowed everyone to campaign but, during polling day, if one finds himself on the wrong side of the law, we shall come in immediately," Enanga cautioned.
Voting begins at 7am and ends at 5pm, according to the EC. Thereafter, counting of votes and declaration of results shall take place at Luweero district council hall. A total of 185,930 voters shall participate in the exercise.
The candidates are: Nabukenya (DP), Nalwanga (NRM), Ramula Kadala and Faridah Namubiru, both independent.
nangonzi@observer.ug
sadabkk@observer.ug
Additional reporting by Yudaya Nangozi
0 comments:
Post a Comment