RWAKITURA —President Yoweri Museveni has asked 27 former supporters of Amama Mbabazi from Kanungu District to return to the ruling NRM party in what observers say is a signal that former prime minister and NRM secretary general is on the way back to Cabinet, PML Daily has learnt.
The President met the 27 Mbabazi supporters alongside other religious, political and opinion leaders from Kanungu, Mbabazi’s home district, during a meeting that took place at Rwakitura in Kiruhura district on Sunday, November 24.
Mr Mbabazi’s supporters had been expelled from the party in the wake of the former prime minister’s decision to run against Mr Museveni in the 2016 presidential election. Those who met the President include Kihihi Sub-county Chairman Nelson Natukunda, Nyakinoni Sub County chairman Pison Ndyabanawe, Kihihi Town Council LC3 chairman Zepha Mugisha, Kanyantorogo Sub County chairman Kenneth Tumuhamye and Kihihi Town Council LC5 Councillor Allen Turyasingura.
The Kanungu district NRM Chairman Mr Godfrey Karabenda, Mr Frank Byaruhanga, the Chairman Southwestern Uganda Tea Nursery Bed Operators Association and Mr Charles Beshetsya, the district council speaker, also attended the meeting.
Sources close to the meeting said the President urged the group to return to the NRM and work for the development of the party. He is also reported to have told the group that he has resolved his wrangles with Mr Mbabazi.
Mr Museveni, sources said, promised to visit the district and reconcile the leaders.
Mr Byaruhanga, the Chairman Southwestern Uganda Tea Nursery Bed Operators Association, confirmed that the meeting took place. “The President said the group shouldn’t have been expelled because NRM should be bringing people together,” he said in an interview yesterday.
The President also promised to tarmac Hamurwa-Rutenga and Kanyantorogo-Butogota-Mpungu-Ruheija-Omurubanda roads in order to boost tourism in the area