Kamuli, Uganda: Former Minister and NRM Elder Daudi Migereko has urged candidates in the ongoing NRM sub-county structure elections to maintain peace and discipline, warning against politically motivated violence.
“Our main concern was and remains to see how to get violence out of these elections. Our politics shouldn’t be guided by violence or bloodshed. Candidates should take control of their supporters and not be hell-bent on positions,” Migereko told DailyExpress.
He also challenged the media to promote responsible reporting and avoid speculative coverage that could inflame tensions.
“The media must focus on how well the elections are being conducted, instead of forecasting chaos and fueling community hatred. We must ensure people live harmoniously after the exercise,” Migereko said.
Meanwhile, former State Minister for Works and current Chairperson of the Leadership Tribunal, Asuman Kiyingi, has denied claims that he lost in the Bugabula South NRM grassroots elections, asserting that he did not participate in the race.
Responding to a report by the Daily Monitor titled “Tanga’s Mediation Collapses as Ex-Minister Kiyingi Loses in Bugabula South NRM Elections,” Kiyingi said the story was inaccurate and defamatory.
“Kindly pull down your biased, inaccurate report. How can I lose an election I didn’t participate in, unless you have been paid to tarnish my name?” Kiyingi said in a WhatsApp message to the outlet.
Kiyingi further argued that his rival, Mr. Bazanya, should have been disqualified following a petition by Juma Miti, which cited violent acts allegedly involving pangas and injuries.
He said the petition was heard by the NRM Electoral Commission in Kampala, leading to a mediation meeting in Kamuli where Bazanya reportedly pleaded for leniency.
“All these informed the decision to pursue a harmonious and unifying approach, which was communicated by Dr. Tanga Odoi. That compromised and condemned team could not sit in judgment over me. My peaceful approach saved Namisambya Parish from sickening and stupid fights,” Kiyingi stated.
Thomas Kategere warned that the aspirants should not play into the game of their opponent by focusing so much on what, how he is manipulating the voters, because this will hype his popularity.
“We should avoid becoming his publicity mobilisers every time we get on him, he gets public attention, and diverts us to his game plan. We were going to make a grave political blunder by disqualifying him; that is why, tactfully, we let him slip out of it,” Kategere urged.
Kategere also cautioned that the NRM Party aspirants should not exhaust, expose, and build internal differences in the preliminaries and team choice, yet the opposition is lurkin,g waiting to grab and recruit any disgruntled supporter.
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