By Misairi Thembo Kahungu
President Museveni has challenged the Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) to ensure the party first delivers justice to members left frustrated by party primary elections before embarking on healing the wounds.Sources who attended the CEC meeting at State House Entebbe on Thursday evening revealed to Saturday Monitor that the national party chairman “rejected” the recommendations in party secretary general Justine Kasule Lumumba’s report to quickly embark on a reconciliation process.“Let us do justice first. People may not heal when they have not received justice” sources quoted Mr Museveni as saying.This was after Ms Lumumba presented a three-part report that highlighted events that happened before, during and after the primary elections. Ms Lumumba presented a plan on how to heal the broken souls in the party; Mr Tanga Odoi, the party electoral commission chairman, presented a report of how the exercise went, while there was also a report on how the elections disputes tribunal has dispensed justice.The party primary elections, especially for parliamentary flag bearers that was held on September 4, was marred with violence which left at least six people dead and scores injured. Advertisement
In some places, the violence was reportedly orchestrated by the candidates as a result of attempts to rig the election that was conducted by lining-up.Labour State minister Mwesigwa Rukutana, who eventually got declared winner for the Rushenyi County MP flag, is facing trial for alleged gun violence during the aftermath of the hotly contested election. In Bukono County in Namutumba District, Lands State Minister Persis Namuganza has been treating several of her supporters who were injured in the chaos on the eve of the election. Ms Namuganza won the flag. The outcome of the elections was challenged by more than 400 petitions and about 380 of them met the requirements to be heard by the tribunal chaired by Mr Enock Barata. The tribunal was up to yesterday still delivering verdicts after weeks of hearing of the petitions. Declaration of party primary elections results was delayed in some places, including for Tororo District Woman MP flag bearer for which Minerals State minister Sarah Opendi only got declared winner this week, whereas Ms Lydia Wanyoto was declared winner of the Mbale City Woman MP flag on Thursday. The party has had to repeat the exercise in some places, including in Bukanga County, Nyabushozi County and Kigulu County.Sources in CEC revealed that Mr Museveni, who has also received petitions addressed to him as the party national chairman was also not happy with the conduct of the NRM electoral body. Mr Odoi was reportedly on the spot over the way he has been treating some party members who knock on his office for help.“Mzee (Museveni) was bitter with Dr Tanga on how he is handling things at Plot 13 Kyadondo Road,” a source said.Mr Museveni is quoted to have said: “NRM is a resistance party and the moment people resist you, there must be reasons for resisting”.However, NRM director for communication Emmanuel Dombo told this newspaper that it is not true that Mr Odoi was a target in the chairman’s speech. He said Mr Museveni, who has recently authored missives on social media in regard to the way the primary elections were conducted, was bitter with everyone who is responsible for the injustices registered in the process.“The national chairman was not bitter with the EC chairman as you claim to have been told. The meeting agreed that some of the problems were not with the chairman but with the emerging conduct of the people participating in the election,” he clarified.Meanwhile, Mr Dombo confirmed that Mr Museveni was not in a jovial mood while responding to the Ms Lumumba’s report and insisted that those responsible for the violence by either altering results or perpetuating violence that led to loss of lives and injuries must be brought to book.“The main reason for the meeting was to look at the performance of the elections held so far. The chairman was extremely furious and he said the party should not condone any impunity. He insisted that all the criminal conduct should be investigated and there must be an audit of the results,” he added.The meeting, Mr Dombo said, did not make concrete resolutions and a follow up meeting will be held next week to take decisions. It is not clear whether these decisions will include listing out individuals among the candidates and election officials who must face prosecution as Mr Museveni has been insisting.mkthembo@ug.nationmedia.com
