The August 2nd NRM elections have sent fresh fears yet about the political crisis, and self-aggrandisement that is engulfing our country and eroding key principles of the young democracy.

From various corners of the country, reports of bloodshed and violence committed by members NRM against fellow supporters took many by surprise and led some to conclude that the coming general elections may be the worst Uganda has seen in the past twenty four years since the NRM government took power.

Many observers of the ongoing NRM elections have come to a few conclusions to explain that the polls have turned so bloody and scary.

From Busoga to Mityana to Ssembabule to Iganga, people have argued that the violence witnessed was a manifestation of greed among members taking over as the main motive for people's participation in politics as opposed to the cardinal principle that they are getting into politics to serve society.

In Mityana for instance, one NRM supporter and popular traditional healer Maama Fina, after having been tossed up like a feather by fellow movementists commented that what she saw was that everyone was trying to get an entry into the system to 'eat', at all costs.

That argument has been further strengthened by the amount of money candidates have poured into the elections which many consider an important step to winning their party's nomination for higher positions such as ministerial positions. Proponents of this argument say that being nominated as minister largely depends on whether one has a constituency or not.

For example in Mayuge district, the two ministers in the district competed for the district chairperson seat in what observers say was a contest to show who was the better mobiliser than the other. Agriculture state minister Henry Bagiire defeated his domestic rival Rukia Nakadama Isanga, the state minister for gender and culture.

The results forced the lady minister's husband Haji Dauda Isanga to turn his anger against a one John Kayanga the personal assistant to Manisula Masagazi the lady who intends to uproot Rukia Isanga from the Mayuge district women MP seat.

Mbabazi factor
Others however note that the violence was a manifestation of the escalating rivalry especially between security Minister Amama Mbabazi and his contestants for Secretary General's position who include Trade Minister Kahinda Otafiire and Vice President Prof. Gilbert Bukenya.

As we reported last week, the camps of these three men have done everything possible to get as many delegates to the forthcoming NRM delegates' conference so that their candidate can win one the most highly contested positions in the ruling party.

In Bushenyi for instance moneybags Hassan Basajjabalaba fought tooth and nail to defeat fellow businessman Charles Muhangi for the Bushenyi chairman's seat.

Charles Muhangi is a pro-Mbabazi candidate while Bassajabalaba is vehemently opposed to Mbabazi's candidature as secretary general.

Implications for future
The biggest worry among the party and non-party supporters is that the breakdown in political tolerance does not only spell doom and more chaos for the forthcoming nominations, it spells even more danger for next year's elections where FDC and other parties will battle with NRM for voters.

The irregularities seen during the NRM elections as evidenced by the hoarding of delegates and late delivery of voting materials emerges as another point of concern for NRM.

If as many candidates like MP Ssekikubo argued, there were far too many irregularities, many of the candidates in the coming NRM primaries are likely to opt to run as independents which will weaken the party in the face of a united and coordinated opposition. blog comments powered by Disqus

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