200 NRM supporters defect to FDC over Museveni’s unfulfilled pledges

Over 200 supporters of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party have defected to the Opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC).
The defectors, mainly from Nawaikoke Sub-county who accused government of failure to fulfill pledges, were led by Moses Musango, the Nansololo Parish Councilor.

On Sunday, the group handed over the NRM party cards, T-shirts, caps to the FDC Secretary General, Nathan Nandala Mafabi who in turn handed them over to the party president, Patrick Obo Amuriat at Nawaikoke Sub-county headquarters.

“We have hosted the president [Museveni] here more than six times and he promised to give us electricity; but we are still in darkness. We are tired of empty promises,” Mr Musango said as he read from a list of unfulfilled pledges.

Mr Musango added: “He (President Museveni) had promised to give us better roads but as I speak now, the Kaliro-Buyende Road is impassable at Lumbuye. We also don’t have a Government-aided secondary school at the Sub-county as he promised.”

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  Mr Tusiime cited some of the reasons for defections as being unfair treatment and commercialisation of politics he explained has denied citizens the right to get leaders of their choice.

The group further alleged that the NRM party primaries are always characterized by malpractices where those elected on merit are not declared winners.

“I have been the NRM Village chairman for Nabubu Village but there is nothing I have gained from the party,” said Mr Steven Musiba, another defector.

While receiving the defectors, Mr Amuriat commended them for being brave and rejecting what he called ‘lies of the NRM government’.

He said: “Busoga has for many times voted for President Museveni, but what they get in return is no power, poor roads and poor education. Research shows that 68 per cent of people in the area are poor.”

The Kaliro District NRM chairperson, Mr Gagawala Wambuzi, however dismissed the allegations, saying the NRM government has done a lot for Bulamogi County and Kaliro District at large, pointing out construction of roads, schools and developing the area as some of the milestones.

He said: “They should be appreciative because government has given them a new Constituency and minister. About 400 kilometers of roads have been constructed; like the Namwiwa-Palisa Road.”

He added: “The area has been able to get a sugar factory at Bumanya which is employing our people and has boosted the income of sugarcane farmers.”

The FDC officials had gone on a mobilization tour of the area and to urge their supporters to contest in the forthcoming elections in newly gazzetted Town Councils of Bulumba and Nawaikoke.

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