Violence, intimidation, intrigue characterise NRM campaigns

Kampala

Violence, intrigue, counter accusations, intimidation and bribery allegations are defining NRM party’s campaigns in the run up to the August 30 elections. A look at the campaign progress over the past week suggests that whereas incumbents are facing a new order that is ‘dying’ to unseat them, they just will not cede their places without a fight.

Ordinarily, candidates are supposed to hold joint campaigns at the same venue, but this has been pushed to the sidelines by the contenders for security reasons. This viewpoint has been pushed forward by incumbents and those who have had a long history of political rivalry. Lwemiyaga MP Theodore Sekikubo and Patrick Nkalubo have already drawn the first blood in the race for the parliamentary seat. Theirs is an age-old rivalry.

MP Sekikubo on Sunday added another episode to his political drama series after he stopped a police officer from arresting his bodyguard in Lwenzo Trading Centre in Sembabule.
The bodyguard, Alex Mugabi, is allegedly wanted over several cases but Mr Sekikubo says such acts are part of his political nemesis, Sam Kutesa’s, bagful of intrigue.
That is not the only chaotic scene in the campaigns.

In Fort Portal, hooliganism is reportedly taking centre stage with clashes between incumbent Steven Kaliba and his opponent Asaba Ruyonga’s supporters. Both aspirants have opened case files at the police accusing each other of assault. Second Deputy Premier Henry Kajura’s quest for the Hoima Municipality MP seat, has so far attracted its fair share of drama.

On Sunday, stick-wielding men allegedly waylaid Dr Patrick Mwesigwa Isingoma and smashed his car. Dr Isingoma is facing of with Mr Kajura for the municipality seat. Dr Isingoma claims to have indentified the attackers and that they are supporters of his political opponents.

Ms Janet Museveni’s sole opponent in Ruhama County, Mr Hannington Kanyate, is petitioning the NRM secretariat for disciplinary action against the First Lady because she has refused to hold joint rallies. “There is no need of harmonising programmes with (Mr) Kanyate. We shall make our independent rallies, the constitution allows that,” Ms Museveni’s political assistant, George Bakunda, told Daily Monitor.

“We have sought permission from the district registrar and we do not know why Kanyate is complaining. May be he needs to capitalise on ours.” In Rubanda West, the incumbent MP, Mr Henry Banyenzaki, has also abandoned joint campaigns after his opponents reported a case against him at Kabale Police Station, claiming that he was bribing voters. They also lodged a petition at the district NRM party office, asking for his disqualification from the race.

In Budadiri West, Dr Beatrice Wabudeya has also refused to hold joint campaigns with her rivals but she has been accused of bribing voters. Dr Wabudeya’s opponents for the NRM ticket are Mr Paul Wakou and Mr David Livingstone Giruli. “We hear the minister is moving in the villages, buying off voters and planning to rig. She is dodging tough questions from voters on what she has done,” Mr Wakou said. “She has refused to present her programme. So we are just two people campaigning and we want the NRM electoral commission to compel her to join us for joint campaigns.”

The NRM regulations have tough sanctions against any candidate offering freebies to voters.
Mr Michael Werikhe, who is standing in Bungokho South, has been accused of bribery and the district party office said it has not received his campaign programme though they know he is carrying out a door-to-door mobilisation. “We have failed to get in touch with him (Werikhe). We are told he has not yet started campaigns but we know he is holding mobilisation meetings in the villages,” said Mr Balayo, the NRM district boss.

The minister, however, said he has his programme and nobody, even the party guidelines, will stop him from campaigning alone. And in Rubanda East, Henry Musasizi’s supporters refused to listen to junior minister Pereza Ahabwe, claiming that he had talked for more than the accepted six minutes at the rally. They chose to walk away. But Mr Ahabwe denied the claims, saying it was stage-managed by Mr Musasizi after realising that he was losing the support as he (Minister Ahabwe) uncovered the lies made by his opponent.

In Ndorwa West, supporters of the incumbent MP, Mr David Bahati, booed his opponent Charles Musekura at Kitumba Sub-county headquarters where the legislator hails from.
Mr Musekura had to abandon the rally because nobody was ready to listen to him.
Mr Bahati said he did not arrange for the booing of his opponent but that Mr Musekura left the campaign grounds after sensing hostility.

Kabale Municipality was, however, calmer save for the usual campaign accusations and counter accusation between incumbent Serapio Rukundo and his opponents.
The same atmosphere was evident in Igara East where health state minister Richard Nduhura is tussling it out with Mr Michael Mawanda Maranga as his main challenger for the seat.
Four others are in the race.

In the north, Arua Municipality is volatile. There is a lot of violence from within the different camps but their local NRM leaders have vowed to disqualify any candidate who contravenes the party electoral regulations. Six people are vying for the seat.

“Once anybody embarks on sectarianism and abusive language, we shall cancel his candidature,” Mr Swaib Akifo, the area NRM administrator, said. Talking of numbers, at least 811 people in Gulu have picked nomination forms to contest for flag bearers in the different constituencies, according to the party administrative secretary there, Mr Douglas Peter Okao.

Additional reporting by Joseph Mazige, Robert Muhereza, David Mafabi, Brenda Kashaki, Paul Aruho, Uwera Runyambo, Perez Rumanzi, Warom Felix Okello, David Musengeri, Alfred Tumushabe, Francis Mugerwa, David Ayebale & Felix Basiime.