It is evident that peaceful elections of the organs and primaries of NRM will entirely depend on behaviors and attitudes and conduct of the "political class." In the recently concluded elections of structures of NRM.

In some areas violence was masterminded by the so called elite class within the party who by design or false glory think they are a class apart and losing an election is a taboo.

Initiatives such as youth net work for peace and district peace committees, conflict management and sensititsation seminars at grass roots supplying early warning conflict indicators and involvement of security agencies like police is important for NRM campaigns and on the final day of voting on August 30, 2010. Conflict is a fact of life, however violence and conflict do not mean the same thing because conflict involves choices that include interventions before it becomes violent.

We must now join hands to work towards the kind of interventions that promote harmony, unity and peaceful existence before and after elections.
The August 30, elections present an opportunity to all members of NRM political organization to choose the best team to compete with other parties come 2011. According to the amendment of the 1st Conference of NRM held at Namboole, all card holders will choose their leaders from branch level (LC1) flag bear to district level or constituency.

The guidelines issued by NRM Electoral Commission, prohibit candidates from engaging in all acts of sectarianism, hooliganism, use of bad language and hiding of voters or running away with basins at a polling station. All those are good practices of a leader at any level in the National Resistance Movement or any other political organization that have hopes of leading Ugandans now and in the future.

Judging by the recent elections for choosing of party structure bosses, it is evident that many errant politicians who hid and bribed voters, eventually lost which is a clear manifestation that you can bribe voters and you are denied votes. It is important for all our aspiring candidates to appreciate that in every game there must be a winner and a loser and according to our laws losing is not a crime.

It the forthcoming elections, candidates who have performed well will renew their mandate and those whose performance is doubted are relieved of their duties. The moment electorates are twisted they live to regret and for five years they will be lamenting one by one like Catholics lining up for holy communion.

My appeal to fellow citizens is that we must try to be patient, tolerant during the coming primaries. Our neighbours in Kenya having learnt from the 2007 election violence, on August 4, 2010 voted in a peaceful referendum to adopt a constitution after forty years.

And in neighbouring Rwanda, another peaceful election has just been held in which President Kagame came out with over 93%. Let us join them in a violent free election in the spirit of the East African Federation and plant the seeds of democracy in the region.

Lastly it was encouraging to see that majority of voters in the last structure elections of NRM were youth who endured heat and long queues in order to vote.

This was a sign of patriotism for the party and the country at large since NRM is a mass party. This clearly shows that our youth have taken a big stride towards building a strong foundation of democracy in this country and continuing to perfect the  words of the NRM chairman that this is not  a mere change of guard but a fundamental  change are now ready to shock such politicians come August  30, NRM primaries.

Stephen Asiimwe blog comments powered by Disqus

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