NRM youth clash at party headquarters
What you need to know:
NRM youth continue to clash over the supposed Mbabazi presidential bid against party chairman President Museveni.
Kampala- National Resistance Movement youth yesterday clashed at the party headquarters in Kampala over plans by rival factions to call parallel delegates’ conference.
First to arrive at Plot 10 Kyadondo was a group comprising the party’s youth league chairperson, Mr Dennis Namara, and Northern Youth MP Evelyn Anite.
The group allied to Mr Museveni, addressed journalists and announced that they had called off a delegates conference that had been scheduled for today at Namboole Stadium.
In letters sent to delegates earlier and signed by Mr Moses Kiwanuka, the national vice chairman (eastern), it had been indicated that the conference would discuss the misconduct of some Youth League members and disciplinary action for their misdeeds.
However, a parallel group loyal to Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi had also announced it would hold its own meeting at Bat Valley Primary School in Kampala.
However, as Mr Namara was addressing journalists, a different group calling itself “NRM Poor Youth Forum” stormed the venue, chanting slogans in support of Mr Mbabazi.
The group was led by Mr Richard Kirekyankuba, the publicity secretary of the NRM Youth League in Kawempe Division, Kampala.
“Like the President said a puppy cannot celebrate when another has taken milk,” said Mr Kirekyankuba. “We are the puppies that have not taken even a single drop of that milk. We believe in change and if Mr Mbabazi came up, there will be a chance to drink some milk.”
The Namara group immediately charged at the newcomers, with Ms Anite accusing them of being drunken moles from other political parties.
Later, the Kampala Region National NRM youth vice chairman, Mr Adam Luzindana, said all the meetings had been called off until the youth league comes up with a common position.
NRM youth have been at the centre of the silent power struggles within the NRM that emerged after the party’s parliamentary caucus in February resolved to endorse President Museveni as the party’s sole candidate in the 2016 elections.
A section of the party’s youth leaders, who are said to be allied to Mr Mbabazi, however, opposed the resolution and embarked on a nationwide campaign to solicit for signatures against the resolution.
The action saw some of them arrested and later charged with abuse of office and bribery. The case that has Mr Omodo-Omodo, the NRM national vice chairperson [northern] Youth League, and Mr Luzinda as suspects is still in court.
Mr Mbabazi, who is also the NRM Secretary General, in an earlier interview, told Daily Monitor he would not contest against Mr Museveni.