NRM counts on LCI majority win to reclaim Kampala

Former Kampala central division mayor Godfrey Nyakana talking to some of the division NRM members during their planning meeting of LC2 elections in Kampala. PHOTO BY ABUBAKER LUBOWA

What you need to know:

  • asing on the provisional data on LCI elections from three divisions, Mr Nyakana said his party polled 67.7 percent majority in Central Division, 78 per cent in Makindye Division and 72.1 percent in Nakawa Division.
  • Hajji Sulaiman Luyimbazi, one of the NRM elders said that in some places, the opposition had wanted to ensure unregistered voters line up to be counted but that was detected early.

KAMPALA
The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) national vice chairman for Kampala, Mr Godfrey Nyakana has said the overwhelming win in the Local Council One elections is an opportunity for the ruling party to reclaim top leadership in Kampala in next general polls.
Addressing journalists at his offices in Industrial area today, Mr Nyakana said the fact that NRM overwhelmingly defeated the opposition in all city divisions in the July 10 polls shows how the party has grassroots support in Kampala.

“This is an opportunity for us the NRM to scheme for these top positions like MP, Lord Mayor and Division Mayors because now we have a base with the LCI and women councils. At the moment, NRM will determine what should be done because those top leaders cannot work without the lower councils. How will they know what the villages want if they don’t talk to LCI s who are NRM!” Mr Nyakana wondered.

None of the nine members of parliament representing the different constituencies in Kampala was elected on NRM ticket. Only Kampala Central MP Muhammed Nsereko is an NRM-leaning independent.
Efforts for NRM to takeover Kampala Capital City Authority from Opposition kingpin Erias Lukwago failed when musician Daniel Kazibwe alias Ragga Dee lost the Lord Mayoral race to the incumbent.
However, Mr Nyakana believes that NRM has all it takes to rally support in the next parliamentary and mayoral elections because the LCI Chairpersons and women leaders will supplement the 30 members per village to do mobilization.

Basing on the provisional data on LCI elections from three divisions, Mr Nyakana said his party polled 67.7 percent majority in Central Division, 78 per cent in Makindye Division and 72.1 percent in Nakawa Division.
“We now have the capacity to enhance our support around Kampala because the LCI chairpersons are the first point of contact. The Opposition has been telling lies that Kampala is theirs but we have known how to handle such,” he added.

Meanwhile, some members of NRM said despite the overwhelming win in Kampala, there were still cases of interference with the process by some members of the opposition.
Hajji Sulaiman Luyimbazi, one of the NRM elders said that in some places, the opposition had wanted to ensure unregistered voters line up to be counted but that was detected early.
He said that in some places where opposition candidates went through, NRM will ensure that they do not takeover LCII seats.