{UAH} The Observer - NRM report reveals rot
|
10:20 AM |
No comments |
The Observer - NRM report reveals rot
Wednesday, 27 August 2014 01:15
President Museveni with some of the NRM's senior officials at Kyankwanzi
The 32-page report, seen by The Observer, was written by a committee set up to investigate the chaotic 2010 primaries.
The committee was chaired by Rosemary Sseninde, the Wakiso Woman MP. Other committee members were Maj Gen Jim Muhwezi (Rujumbura), Felix Okot Ogong (Dokolo), Connie Nakayenze Galiwango (Mbale Woman), Teopisita Ssentongo (Workers), Dr Chris Baryomunsi (Kinkiizi East) and Steven Tashobya (Kajara).
The committee interviewed 84 party members, including President Museveni, Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi and Moses Kigongo, the NRM vice chairman, among others.
Party discipline
In the report, the committee pins the party's by-election losses on the greed for control of funds by some senior officials.
"It was further reported that during the by-elections, a number of campaign teams are facilitated. For instance, the NRM structures on the ground are ignored at the expense of different teams that come from Kampala. These in most cases are not coordinated, leading to mismanagement of campaign funds, which would otherwise be put to better use by the candidate…," the report partly reads.
The committee also observed that there is "notable deterioration in the levels of party discipline especially at leadership levels, though at this moment, the ethics and discipline committee has not taken any action as stipulated by the party committee. Some senior party leaders support and facilitate particular aspirants during primaries and independents or even opposition candidates during the general elections against the party flag bearers."
The probe team also singled for criticism, instances of party members and leaders giving contradictory public statements on key party policy positions. The committee thus concludes that "lack of respect for party hierarchy and the disregard for party lines, leads to intrigue and clique formation."
The committee contends that "The party has not dealt with these indiscipline incidences seriously which are affecting party cohesion."
The committee also observed that there were numerous problems encountered during the nomination of the NRM flag bearers during the primaries.
"The committee recorded some cases where the NRM electoral commission had cleared contestants who were not qualified to run for elections, disregarding the stipulations of article 39(1) and (2)(b) of the NRM constitution on the eligibility of candidates. This oversight has proved costly both to the party and the taxpayers, due to the resultant by-elections," the report asserted.
The committee observed that the nomination processes were further exacerbated by the long distances parliamentary and LC-V aspirants were expected to travel at exorbitant costs to the nomination centre.
Rewarding opposition defectors
The committee observed that there was a number of ardent critics of NRM who have benefited more than the loyal cadres of NRM, through quick rewards by the president.
The beneficiary defectors were listed as: Rose Namayanja (Information and National Guidance), Maria Mutagamba (Tourism) crossed from DP, Alex Onzima (state minister for Local Government) crossed from FDC, Nasser Ntege Sebaggala (senior presidential advisor) crossed from the Liberal Democratic Party.
Party positions
Others are Eric Sakwa (RDC Jinja) crossed from UPC, Henry Mayega (presidential advisor) crossed from UPC, Major Rubaramira Ruranga (Head veterans Aids project) crossed from FDC, among others. Such rewards to former critics, the committee noted, had demotivated long-serving loyal members of the party.
"The party has a tendency of quickly rewarding those who cross from the opposition at the expense of loyal party cadres. Rewards should be based on ideological growth and performance and not opportunism," the report noted.
Since their cardinal role was to find lasting solutions to the chaotic party primaries, the committee recommended that "those who occupy the positions of secretary general, treasurer, and their deputies, be barred from contesting or occupying any other elective political positions and that they are not assigned any other governmental responsibilities in order to concentrate on building the party.
Recommendations
Among others, the committee recommended that "the levels and mechanisms for financial support to party flag bearers be reviewed and rationalized in accordance with the existing realities on the ground. The report argues that the funds for campaigns be released in a more coordinated manner to avoid wastage of scarce resources and candidates be involved in the planning for party facilitation.
The report noted that the NRM constitution should be amended with the objective of enacting stricter verification mechanisms for applications of academic documents presented by aspirants. And for incumbent members of Parliament to be nominated, they should have duly paid all the outstanding monthly contributions they owe to the party, the report adds.
They also proposed that aspirants pay nomination fees of Shs 500,000 for MPs, Shs 200,000 for LC-V, Shs 50,000 for district councillors and LCIII chairpersons to boost the party electoral kitty. They also want the nomination of aspirants to "be decentralized to the district level" for MPs and LC-Vs. Currently, the nomination is handled by the party's electoral commission.
The committee recommended that, for anyone to benefit from the party, evidence of service to the party for a given period of time must be tabled and that, similar rules should apply to anyone interested in standing for elective positions on the party ticket, unless authorised by CEC.
"A cadre development policy [should] be put in place to encourage retention, sustainability, and recognition of party membership, a circumstance which requires a party constitutional amendment," they noted.
They again recommended "strict" adherence to and enforcement of "The NRM constitution, code of conduct and other NRM laws".
Of importance, the report noted, is the review of the party constitution with a view to streamlining and strengthening party leadership structures, building electoral accountability and transparency through building a new and credible register," the report says.
"Appointment of a fully-fledged and independent EC is of paramount importance and urgency. Preparation for 2015 primary is also long overdue. In addition, mechanisms for responding to membership needs, recognizing and rewarding loyal cadres are required and should be constructed while reflecting on party discipline.
"We, therefore, pray that the aforementioned recommendations be approved and implemented urgently for the betterment of our party," the report concludes.
Related Posts:
{UAH} What does it mean to be ‘educated’? In Uganda it’s not just schooling that counts | Str8talk Magazine- {UAH} My Journey To Employment And Nigeria Today | Str8talk Magazine
- {UAH} Nigeria’s so-called tax collectors: Menacing and mafia-like | Str8talk Magazine
{UAH} URSULA VAN DER "KAREN"?
- {UAH} How Guinness World Record mania has gripped Nigeria | Str8talk Magazine
0 comments:
Post a Comment