NRM elects parliamentary flag bearers amid police deployment

The NRM and the police said yesterday party primary elections set for today across the region will be peaceful and sounded a warning to those who plan to indulge in violence.

The exercise, which will see the election of NRM local council and parliamentary flag bearers, will not disrupt the ongoing voter register display exercise, officials said yesterday. The Mbarara District EC returning officer, Mr Dan Ruhemba, told Daily Monitor that the events will run concurrently.

According to Police Spokesperson south western region, Ms Polly Namaye, the force is ready to ensure security during today’s elections. She said an office of crime intelligence was formed to work with the Electoral Commission to ensure that the two events go on peacefully.
“We are prepared. We have been watching the trends and our men will work hand in hand with the Electoral Commission to ensure peaceful and fair elections,” said Ms Namaye.
The south western regional police commander, Ms Olivia Wawiire, said yesterday that they do not expect violence in the region but added they have deployed police officers to monitor the exercise. “We have the motorised and foot patrols across the region,” she said.

Some of the areas where the police have deployed include, Bufumbira East, where Mr Eddie Kwizera Wagahungu, a former presidential adviser is battling Ethics and Integrity Minister Nsaba Buturo. In Kinkizi East, Kenneth Kakura is running against incumbent Dr Chris Baryomunsi. Other areas where the contest is likely to be heated are Isingiro North where minister Bright Rwamirama is tussling with Dr Posiano Mugyenyi. In Kashari, Minister Urban Tibamanya is facing the district chairman Wilberforce Yaguma.

In Igara East State Minister for Trade, Richard Nduhura is battling four other opponents, while in Rukungiri, public service minister Sezi Mbagutta, is contesting against incumbent Winfred Matsiko. Rukungiri district has had a relatively peaceful end of the open campaigns.
In Rubabo County, the race remains between Ms Paula Turwahikayo and David Ndibiriza.

Meanwhile in Kabale, the former head of discipline in president’s office, Lt. Muhamed Bahati Kabahena, a founder member and the head of the legal department of Uganda Federal Alliance, has defected to the NRM party, arguing that the original plan has been diluted.

Defection
Lt. Kabahane announced his defection to the NRM party at joint rallies at Kamwezi and Bukinda sub-counties where he campaigned for Minister Hope Mwesigye, now facing two opponents for the Kabale Woman parliamentary seat.

In Bushenyi, different NRM candidates have joined forces against district party chairman, Hassan Bassajjabalaba for allegedly convening meetings with some supporters and telling them who they should vote for.
Daily Monitor could not readily get Bassajjabalaba on phone as it was switched off all day.

Reported by Paul Aruho, Brenda A. Kashaki, Robert Muhereza, Patience Ahimbisibwe, Frankfurt Kuheisa, Rajab Mukombozi, Kadahweza Kamugisha

SEMBABULE: Crackdown on illegal guns

The Inspector General of Police, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura has announced a crackdown on illegal use of fire arms by private individuals in Sembabule District.

Maj. Gen. Kayihura warned that security agencies have started checking people’s homes to find out those who are in possession of illegal fire arms. He said they will use the Fire Arms Act to ensure that those found in possession of illegal guns are punished.

The operation follows complains by the district chairman, Mr Herman Sentongo, who said over 50 individuals acquired guns illegally. Mr Sentongo says some top NRM cadres have been using guns to terrorise residents who are not in support of the NRM party and many have been deprived of their right to vote. Mr Sentongo added that some cattle keepers who possess guns hire them out to politicians to intimidate those considered ‘dilute’ party members.

Sembabule is a NRM strong hold with about 80 per cent of residents subscribing to the ruling party. The NRM leaders are divided into group B comprising ‘staunch’ NRM members, headed by Foreign Affairs minister Sam Kutesa and group A headed by Lwemiyaga MP Theodore Sekikubo.

Report by Issa Aliga

HOIMA: Pre- election violence

Police in Hoima are holding three people suspected to have participated in pre-election violence that erupted on Saturday.

The Midwestern regional police spokesperson, Ms Zurah Ganyana, said supporters of the former district Chief Administrative Officer, Dr Patrick Mwesigwa Isingoma, and those of the Second Deputy Premier and public service minister, Henry Kajura, were involved in a scuffle.

Mr Kajura and Dr Isingoma are vying for the municipality legislative seat.
Mr Nasur Akaya, a supporter of Dr Isingoma, was reportedly admitted to a hospital after his fingers were chopped off by the minister’s supporters.
Police are holding Mr Herbert Kakesi, in connection with the attack. Mr Ganyana said police have arrested two other people suspected to have been planning attacks on disco and videos halls.

Meanwhile, the police have deployed in Buliisa ahead of the primaries.
The Buliisa County MP, Mr Stephen Mukitale Biraahwa, is contesting against Dr Alex Kamugisha, a Makerere university lecturer.

Reported by Francis Mugerwa

SIRONKO: MP Mafabi beaten up

The Budadiri West MP was yesterday allegedly beaten by armed men who were patrolling villages ahead of today’s NRM party primaries.

Mr Nandala Mafabi, who was supposed to address an FDC rally at Kidowa, with about 16 people, were reportedly ambushed by men with sticks and guns. “We were stopped and we explained that we were going to address a rally at Kidowa before army men jumped out and started beating us. We are making a statement here,” said Mr Nandala yesterday.

The officer in charge of Bugusege Police Post, Mr Michael Napoli, said they have received a complaint of assault from the FDC member. “Several people have reported about being beaten by this group,” he said.

Polly Mugoya, FDC chairman for Sironko, alleged that the group is linked to Minister for Presidency, Ms Beatrice Wabudeya. But a member of Ms Wabudeya’s camp, Mr Martin Wasukira, said the FDC group attacked the armed group first, that is why they were beaten up. Ms Wabudeya is running against Paul Wakou and David Giruli for the party primaries. Political pundits say Mr Giruli is sponsored by Mr Nandala, explaining the alleged attack on him.

Reported by David Mafabi

MOYO: Vote buying accusations

NRM campaigns in Moyo have taken a sour twist with contenders accusing each other of vote buying. Two candidates are in the race for Moyo West Constituency. Mr Phillip Idro accuses his opponent, Mr Tom Aza of vote buying. “I don’t think this is a fair game because my colleague has started distributing bicycles, iron sheets and saucepans to people,” he said. But Mr Tom Aza said: “These people asked me that they want those things.” But a resident, Ms Clara Andera, said vote buying would not help the candidates. “My vote is not equivalent to a saucepan. All I want is service delivery.”

Martine Okudi & Felix Warom

GULU: New members to miss poll
Thousands of people, who have just defected from other parties to the NRM, could miss out on the party’s primary elections that start today.

The party’s administrative secretary in Gulu, Mr Douglas Okao said the members could miss participating in the election because they joined the party after registration of members had already taken place. “Their names are not included in the NRM registry. This will bar them from voting in the primaries,” said Mr Okao.

Mr Okao said in Gulu district alone the NRM party received over 1,000 new members in the last few months.

Reported by Jacky Adure

MBARARA: Contender’s papers queried

Some members of the NRM have petitioned the party’s electoral body, accusing Mr Abel Nkoreri, a contender in Kazo County, Kiruhura District, of having forged ‘O’ level documents. “As supporters of NRM, we have found it compelling to inform you that our party risks losing that constituency if Mr Nkoreri wins the primaries and becomes the NRM flag bearer because his academic papers have been obtained through a series of manipulation and use of fake certificates,” reads the petition.

It adds: “When Nkoreri was admitted in Makerere University in 2002, his 1983 ‘O’ level results were questioned by the Academic Registrar on the basis that the university had received information that Mr Nkoreri had used someone else’s ‘O’ level results”

The petitioners also accuse Mr Nkoreri of having contradicting birthdays.
They said Mr Nkoreri admission letter to Kololo Secondary School, states that he was born on December 30, 1961 while his data with the Public Service Commission states that he was born on December 30, 1960. But Mr Nkoreri in his defence to the Academic Registrar of Makerere University in 2002, reportedly stated that he was born on January 30, 1962.
The members also said on his admission letter to Kololo SS in Senor Two, Mr Nkoreri stated that he was a born on December 30, 1961 and yet his curriculum vitae states December 30, 1960, as his birthday. The university also reportedly queried his change of name from Christopher Nkoreri to Christopher Abel Nkoreri, but in his response, Mr Nkoreri said he acquired the two names during baptism.

Conflicting birthdays
“I was born on January 30, 1962 in Nyakashure village, Nyamirama a sub-county, Kanungu district. My father, Azaria Muhindo gave me a family name Nkoreri,” reads part of his testimony. “However, I was baptized thus acquiring the names of Christopher Abel. I wish to make a correction in my letter dated November 25, 2002, where I mentioned that my baptism names were Chrissy Abel, the name Chrissy was an abbreviation of Christopher.”

Mr Nkoreri told Daily Monitor that the allegations against him were the work of his detractors. “The allegation is baseless. That is the work of those fearing me.” However, a source from the NRM electoral commission, told Daily Monitor that Mr Nkoreri is among people the party is investigating after Uganda National Examination Board and National Council for Higher Education cited anomalies in their academic credentials.

Reported by Joseph Mazige

TORORO: Court blocks West Budama south polls

The High Court in Mbale has issued an injunction stopping the NRM from conducting the primaries in West Budama South Constituency in Tororo today, until the party’s voters’ register for Iyolwa Sub-county is cleaned up or fresh registration of voters is carried out.

The order, a copy of which Daily Monitor obtained, was issued on August 27 and stands until September 21, the date for the disposal of the main application.
The order was issued following an application filed by Mr Jacob Oboth-Oboth, one of the candidates challenging the double registration of the State Minister for Labour, Dr Emmanuel Otaala, six ghost parishes, 158 villages and over 15,000 ghost voters, allegedly appearing on the voters register in Iyolwa Sub-county. Dr. Otaala is registered as Number 401 as Otaala Emmanuel Otiam and Number 408 as Otiam Emmanuel with the same birth day November 24, 1968, on page 856 of the register in Awuyo A zone.

The concern arose from the discovery that the number of parishes in Iyolwa Sub-county had been inflated to 10 instead of four, the number of villages increased from 30 to 188 and the number of voters from 7,100 on the Electoral Commission register to 22,702.

Register messed up
The Resident District Commissioner, Mr Samuel Mpimbaza Hashaka, said Budama South was totally messed up and that he had communicated to the NRM secretariat and Electoral Commission to urgently address the matter.

Reported by John A. Emojong