NRM secretariat, CEC members disagree over cadre recruitment
National Resistance Movement supporters during President Museveni’s visit to Arua on May 16. Tension is simmering within the NRM party, with different groups disagreeing on how the party activities are being handled. PPU PHOTO
KAMPALA- Tension is simmering within the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party with different groups disagreeing on how the party activities are being handled.
At the centre of the bickering is a decision by the national chairman to recruit three NRM cadres per village, which he said would be used for mobilising the locals for wealth creation.
However, the decision drew the ire of the party secretariat which said all the activities of the party are supposed to be coordinated from the headquarters.
Last week, the NRM secretary general, Ms Justine Lumumba Kasule, issued a statement saying no party structure had endorsed such recruitment and that all the activities being carried out from the Kyambogo office were illegal.
“I would like to guide as follows; that there is no formal decision or directive of any organ of the NRM made specifically to identify and/or recruit the three cadres per village, as it is being implied in some of the social media platforms,
“As the custodian of the minutes of organs of the NRM, inclusive of the Central Executive Committee (CEC) meetings, I can state with no fear of contradiction that the recruitment drive is certainly not part of the 7-point Chobe Resolutions,” she said.
On Tuesday, the CEC issued a statement, distancing itself from the recruitment.
Eight members of CEC signed the statement saying the recruitment undermines the powers of the CEC, which they say is dangerous to the future of the party ahead of the elections.
“We, the undersigned members of the CEC of the NRM, have this day of May 28 [Tuesday] noted that there is increased discussions …whose effect is an assault on the legitimacy, integrity and the status quo of the CEC and implicitly the other organs and structures of the NRM Organisation,” the members said.
The members against
Among those who signed the statement include Mr Simon Peter Aleper, the national vice chairperson, NRM vice chairman for northern Uganda Sam Engola, national vice chairperson for Kampala Godfrey Nyakana, national chairperson of NRM elders’ league Dominic Mafabi Gidudu, chairperson NRM PWDs Gabriel Katto, NRM workers’ league chairperson James Tweheyo, NRM chairperson of women’s league Lydia Wanyoto and Mr Gadaffi Nasur, the NRM national youth league chairperson.
The CEC members say they are concerned that the proponents of the cadre recruitment are peddling lies that the recruitment was discussed during the 2nd CEC meeting at Chobe, yet such discussions did not take place.
They also said the national chairman, while performing his duties should not usurp the powers of the organs of the party which creates confusion within the party structures.
The members accused national chairperson of allowing some people to operate with impunity which is threatening the party internal cohesion.
“The CEC will move the national chairman to call for a meeting of the CEC to refocus on the bigger strategic vision of the NRM,” they continued.
Proponents hit back
Mr Farouk Kirunda, the spokesperson of the office of the national chairperson of the NRM party, says the CEC members who issued the statement saying no to cadre recruitment were misguided.
Mr Kirunda admitted there was no resolution passed at Chobe. He said Mr Museveni issued a directive to the personal assistant, Ms Milly Babalanda Babirye, to identify and recruit NRM cadres to mobilise Ugandans for wealth creation.
He said the decision was informed by the fact that the main party leaders and government officials had failed to educate the masses on wealth creation.
