Bruce Nzabinita, one of the Party mobilizers in Lwengo is afraid that the intended joint rallies may turn into scenes of violence in the area, attributing it to the current hostilities among intending aspirants.
NRM Electoral Commision Chairperson Dr Tanga Odoi handing over nomination forms to Lwengo L.CV Chairperson Ibrahium Kitatta and his Vice Vincent Birimuye who both aspire for parliamentary positions
A section of National Resistance Movement (NRM) supporters in
Lwengo district has asked the party to be cautious with joint campaigns for the
party's primary elections, warning that they may turn into scenes of violence between
contenders.
According to them, the different intending aspirants for the
party flag in the next general elections have already formed warring factions of
fans and violent gangs, who may fight when they converge at the same campaign
venue.
Tanga Odoi, the NRM Electoral Commission Chairperson, has already indicated that contestants for the party flag on the same leadership positions will address joint campaign rallies in their respective areas, as a way of minimising expenditure and maintaining discipline within the party.
According to the NRM elections roadmap, the party will conduct
joint campaigns for members of parliament, district chairpersons, mayors and councillors
from 01st up to 14th July, ahead of their
primaries slated for 17th.
Bruce Nzabinita, one of the Party mobilizers in Lwengo is
afraid that the intended joint rallies may turn into scenes of violence in the
area, attributing it to the current hostilities among intending aspirants.
He observes that many of the intending aspirants got involved
in early campaigns, hence politically charging the communities, and creating
warring camps of supporters who have already exhibited confrontational
characters against each other.
For instance, according to him, political tempers are already
heated up in Bukoto West, Bukoto Midwest and Bukoto South Constituencies, where
supporters of the incumbent Members of Parliament have openly clashed with camps
of their potential opponents.
Nzabanita prefers that the party allows each of the candidates
to independently run their campaigns, to avoid further confrontations that may
even be carried forward into the general elections.
Elizabeth Nalule, the
NRM Youth Secretary for Malongo sub county, indicates warns that unless the
party first reconciles the camps of the different candidates, the planned joint
campaigns may not be possible in the area.
“If people already cannot greet each other because they
support different candidates, I don’t believe that they can share a common
campaign platform and address the same rally,” she says.
She explains that many of the NRM structure leaders who are
expected to organize and oversee the joint campaigns are already biased and
have already become campaign agents of a specific candidate, which has put them
on collision course with the opponents.
Ibrahim Kitatta, the
current Lwengo L.CV Chairperson, who has however, picked nominations to contest
for Bukoto West Parliament seat, is also uncertain that joint rallies will end
peacefully, given the conduct of incumbents, whom he accuses of fomenting
hostilities against anybody seeking to unseat them.
He challenges that party to ensure security presence at all
planned joint rallies in the area, to avert possible physical confrontation
between candidates and their supporters.
Nevertheless, Kitatta appreciates that the joint campaigns provide the electorate
with the opportunity to assess the capacity of people who seek to become their
leaders.
//Cue in:
“even us when we were….
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…..same primaries.”//
Luganda //Cue in:
“tubanja ababaka…..Cue out:
…..tutegeere obusobozi bwe,”//
Doctor Twaha Kagabo Mzeeyi, the incumbent MP for Bukoto South,
says that it is important for the party to make proper arrangements that can
provide levelled grounds for all candidates and task them to exercise control
over their supporters
