KAMPALA – NRM flag bearers for parliamentary and LC V seats from greater Masaka sub-region have urged the senior party leadership to stop blaming their loss in the recently concluded elections on sectarianism.
While meeting the vice chairman for central region, Mr Godfrey Kiwanda, on Monday, February 8, 2021, the former NRM contestants said such allegations are baseless and only serve to alienate the party from the people.
“We need to be sensitive while dealing with issues of sectarianism because they may instead affect our future pursuits. We have been working with groups of people regardless of their tribal and religious inclinations, our focus should be on improving people social welfare as a way of attracting people on our side other than focusing on non-issues,” noted Christine Nakyejjwe, who contested for Masaka City Woman MP position on the NRM ticket.
Peter Ssenkungu, the Masaka district NRM chairperson, also patron of party chairpersons in the nine districts of greater Masaka sub-region, instead revealed that their preliminary assessments have pointed to unresolved land disputes and personal characters of arrogance and intrigue as some of the factors that contributed to the loss of many candidates in the race.
He challenged the party’s top leadership not to treat the assessment as a formality but ensure that the issues raised are conclusively addressed if they are to regain public appeal.
Results from last month’s general election indicate that the NRM performed poorly in the presidential and parliamentary polls in the central region. Many of the incumbent MPs including ministers were defeated by rivals from the opposition. They include the Vice President Edward Ssekandi, Haruna Kasolo, Amelia Kyambadde, Ruth Nankabirwa, Judith Nabakooba, Dr John Chrysostom Muyingo and Rosemary Seninde among others.
High ranking party members attributed their loss to tribalism, religious sectarianism, and malicious propaganda allegedly spread by opposition candidates in connivance with some religious leaders and elements within Buganda Kingdom.
Kiwanda revealed that they have started moving out to interact with all their flag bearers with intentions of establishing the real factors that haunted the party in the elections.
He added that the party has hired an independent consultant to help them conduct an independent assessment of the issues that affected the party other than relying on mere speculations and desperate emotions.
