NRM primaries of violence and potential virus spread

The NRM parliamentary primaries of a week ago produced many ugly scenes. Fistfights. Shootings. Rigging. If anyone, especially party chairman Yoweri Museveni, thought that voting by lining up behind candidates as opposed to secret ballot would sanitise the party, he was badly mistaken. 
Apart from potentially spreading the coronavirus near and far, the lining up produced more of the same. On November 2, 2015, The Independent newsmagazine carried a headline that read: “Why NRM primaries were bloody”. And the current headlines? “NRM primaries: Voters bribed with Shs1,000”, The Observer reported. “Chaos as NRM announces two winners for same seat”, according to Daily Monitor: The demons that plague the NRM just won’t allow to be cast out. NRM-aligned Pentecostal pastors still have a big task to deliver on. Like we saw in 2015, the chaos and corruption were on magnificent display. 
In many parts of the country, say western Uganda, the winner in an NRM primary for MP is practically guaranteed to beat an Opposition opponent and enter Parliament. This assumes, of course, that the NRM primary opponent does not show up to run as an Independent. The Independent candidate usually wins if the electorate thinks he or she was blatantly cheated in the primary. Barring that, the NRM flag bearer is a shoe-in for the good times as an elected MP.  So, winning an NRM primary is such a big deal.  
Not that the Opposition parties are free of bloody confrontations. The purge in  FDC, the largest Opposition party, has been something to behold. Leaders in that party seem to drip with contempt for colleagues with whom they disagree. It is likely that if they were the party in power, with State resources ready to be exploited, things would be as terrible as in NRM. Or maybe not. We always have to leave room for hope and surprise.  Generally, Ugandan politics has a toxic culture of tough tactics. It is as if everyone is competing to prove how thuggish he or she can be in bludgeoning an opponent into submission. A political rival is not just that; a political rival, especially one you are going head-to-head with for the same elective office, is an enemy to be destroyed.
I have no idea how to ensure a very competitive campaign in the primaries and in the general election without things having to degenerate to violence. Maybe we work harder to expand and deepen the economy so that there are enough quality jobs for everyone. In that way those running for office will be inspired by the need to render public service than to get a day job. Poverty is messing with our heads.
The Independent reported last week: “In Bushenyi four people suffered serious injuries in election-related fights between agents of Annet Katusiime Mugisha, who was contesting for the district Woman MP flag and the incumbent, minister Mary Karooro Okurut.
“In Sembabule, the Woman MP Hanifa Kawooya, who was battling to retain her seat, was assaulted and shown on TV exposing her bruised back.
“In the same area, Lwemiyaga MP Theodore Ssekikubo was battling Joy Kabatsi, the minister of State for Transport, in a violent campaign.
Tanga Odoi, the NRM party electoral commission chairman, was helpless. He pushed the cases to the party chairman, President Yoweri Museveni. The NRM national vice-chairperson Mr Moses Kigongo, rushed to quell tempers.
‘“I do not want to hear of chaos and misuse of guns in Sembabule, stop shaming our party,”’ Kigongo reportedly told a meeting of aspirants.”
NRM being shamed? The day that happens, a lot of good will happen to Ugandan politics and government.

Mr Tabaire is a media trainer and commentator on public affairs based in Kampala. [email protected]
Twitter:@btabaire