ADJUMANI: Adjumani Woman MP Jesca Ababiku has dismissed claims that independent candidate Ben Anyama was forced to withdraw from the Adjumani West by-election, saying evidence presented to local leaders indicates that he stepped down voluntarily.
Anyama, who had been contesting the seat independently, withdrew from the race following discussions with President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who is also National Resistance Movement (NRM) chairman.
Speaking to the media in Adjumani on Saturday, Ababiku said a letter presented to leaders showed that Anyama voluntarily surrendered his candidature, with some of his supporters also signing the document.
“There were talks that he was forced by the President. The information which has been shared today, with the letter as evidence, is that he surrendered voluntarily,” Ababiku said.
She added that, unless Anyama states otherwise, she believed the decision was made with his consent after listening to the President.
“As a cadre, as a disciplined leader, he got denominated voluntarily with his consent. Some of his supporters also signed,” she said.
Ababiku described Anyama as a good leader who could continue contributing to the development of Adjumani and support the NRM in other ways.
“He is a leader who can wait for tomorrow, who can still support NRM in other ways, but also support the development of Adjumani. He is a good leader,” she said.
The Woman MP has also been actively mobilising support for NRM flag bearer James Leku Pilli, urging voters across Adjumani West to rally behind him in the September 17 by-election.
Ababiku has used her mobilisation engagements to emphasise the need for voters to maintain unity and elect leadership that can advance development in the constituency.
She said the focus of the campaign should go beyond political competition and concentrate on what residents expect from their leaders, including improved services and development.
“As people of Adjumani, we need to focus more on development than concentrating on division. We need to write our legacy, and we cannot write our legacy on division,” she said.
She said she was optimistic that the political differences witnessed in the district would eventually give way to unity, allowing residents and leaders to work together for the development of Adjumani.
Her mobilisation efforts are part of the NRM’s village-to-village campaign to consolidate support for Leku ahead of the by-election.
NRM Senior Manager for Communications Rogers Mulindwa said the party’s priority was to ensure that the election does not deepen existing divisions in the district.
He said political differences were normal during elections but stressed that residents of Adjumani must take the lead in rebuilding unity.
“Our target as a party is to leave Adjumani more united than we have ever found it,” Mulindwa said.
He said the NRM could provide guidance and support, but the responsibility for reconciliation ultimately rested with the people of Adjumani.
“The Adjumani people must take the lead. We can only give them some support and advise them on certain issues, but they have the key role in making Adjumani more united,” he said.
Mulindwa urged candidates, supporters and residents to respect one another and ensure that the election does not create lasting divisions among families and local leaders.
“These elections must not escalate conflicts in this district. They must not dig the rifts deeper. They must not leave families disgruntled or divide the leadership here,” he said.
He said the NRM campaign was progressing well, with mobilisation teams covering the five sub-counties ahead of President Museveni’s scheduled visit to Adjumani on Tuesday.
Mulindwa urged residents from across Adjumani District, including those outside Adjumani West, to turn up for the President’s visit.
He said Museveni’s message of peace and discipline would help reinforce the party’s call for unity ahead of the by-election.
Ababiku also welcomed the President’s planned visit, saying residents were ready to receive him and would use the opportunity to present a memorandum outlining challenges facing the district.
“We are more ready because this is an NRM-rooted district, but also we love the President and he has done a lot,” she said.
The Adjumani West by-election is scheduled for September 17, with NRM’s James Leku Pilli among the candidates seeking to succeed the late General Moses Ali.
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