NRM big wigs fall in party elections

News

Written by Sunrise Reporters Friday, 30 July 2010 08:02

This week’s polls to elect the occupants of NRM party structures have produced some shocking outcomes with ministers and other senior members of the party losing to little-known peasants and boda boda riders.

This was the case in Mayuge district of Busoga sub-region where Agriculture state minister Henry Bagiire (pictured) was floored by a boda boda rider for the chairmanship of the party in his fathers’ home village of Bugodi.

The Sunrise has learnt from voters that Bagiire was defeated because he does not reside in that village, even though he was born there. In a classic case of little David versus the mighty Goliath, Kakaire told this reporter that when the minister sensed defeat, he begged him to step down. But Kakaire refused to give in to pressure because he feared to let down his supporters.

But after the defeat, the minister later pleaded with the villagers to be given another position and was dully installed as the post of treasurer.

Bagiire wasn’t the only casualty in Mayuge. The district speaker Fred Wajokerana was twice humiliated when he lost at the parish as well as sub-county level. On Monday 26, Wajokerana lost to Robert Batuka for an NRM position at Wambette parish. He was consoled with another position so he could advance to Busakira sub-county elections. Still, he was beaten there as one Charles Mugabi.

Nakadama, Kyafu also fall

In Iganga, despite several attempts, Gender and Labor minister Rukia Nakadama Isanga also failed to get past the LC II level in Lugolole Waitambogwe parish.

Still in Iganga, the powerful district boss Asuman Kyafu, who is considered a senior cadre got a shock of his life when he lost at the village level. The shock spread like bush fire when the jubilating villages braved the long distance to Iganga town bringing business to a standstill.

According to analysts NRM big wigs lost largely because they were considered visitors who had come to grab what does not belong to them. For example Asuman Kyafu and Nakadama are regarded residents of Iganga town council and Mayuge town respectively, and yet they wanted to be voted in the villages where they do not reside.

But others including John Fisher Kasenge, argue that whoever wants to become MP or Chairman LC V must not compete for party leadership positions because MPs and LC V chairpersons are directly part of the party leadership.

However, The Sunrise has learnt that Bagiire and Nakadaama managed to go through to sub-county level where intend to advance to district level.