Pro-Mbabazi youth meeting blocked
NRM national Youth League vice chairperson Northern region Omodo Omodo (3R) accompanied by other leaders, L - R: Mike Adoko, Norah Akwi, Shakur Walusimbi and Zainabu Ajwang, address journalists in Lira yesterday. Photo by Hudson Apunyo
What you need to know:
The NRM party leadership in Lira claims to have blocked the ‘illegal’ gatheringsl.
Lira- The NRM leadership in Lira has said it foiled planned meetings in four sub-counties in the district organised by youth who are pro-Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi.
Lira District NRM party chairperson Lawrence Egole said he had asked the police to deploy heavily in every sub-county where the team was supposed to meet the youth on Tuesday and stop their access to the people.
“The whole plan flopped,” Mr Egole told this newspaper yesterday, adding that the group planned meetings at Agali, Amac, Ngetta and Barr sub-counties.
NRM lawmakers during a retreat at Kyankwanzi last month resolved to have President Museveni as the sole candidate for the party in the 2016 elections. They have since been given facilitation to market Mr Museveni’s sole candidature.
Mr Egole vowed to stop Mr Willy Omodo Omodo, the party vice chairperson of the youth league for northern Ugand and his group from moving around mobilising youths in his name.
“We also need clarity on the cash Mr Mbabazi is alleged to have given the youth leaders that they are moving around and where it was sourced from,” he said.
Mr Mbabazi’s special envoy in charge of youth affairs central region Shakur Walusimbi, however, says the planned meetings went on successfully.
“We have been in the meetings with all the leaders for Lango sub-region and the NRM youth in Lango have recommended that they back premier Amama if he comes for the presidency, which is good news. They have faith in him,” Mr Walusimbi said on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Mr Omodo Omodo and the group, addressed a joint press conference at Kanberra Hotel on Tuesday. They demanded that President Museveni must relinquish power so that Mr Mbabazi takes over the country’s leadership.
Ms Norah Robinah Akwi, NRM national youth treasurer, said she was not pleased with the “selfishness” and the “greed” that the NRM legislators have by fronting President Museveni as the party’s sole candidate for 2016.
When contacted, North Kyoga public relations officer Manshur Suwed said he was not aware about the development since he was out of office on official duty.
