Politics
NRM should not celebrate 6 unopposed MPs- Ssemujju
The ruling National Resistance Movement, NRM party should not celebrate the 6 Member of Parliament candidates who have been elected unopposed, ahead of the 2021 general election.
The argument was made by the opposition Forum for Democratic Change, FDC party spokesperson Ssemujju Nganda who says the next Parliament will have more than 500 MPs and 6 unopposed shouldn’t call for celebration.
The unopposed MPs include; Papalu Lilian Obiale, (Arua District Woman Representative), Lakwang Hilliary (Ik County Kaabong), Wakabi Pius, (Bugahya county-Hoima), Kugoza Emely (Buyanja East in Kibaale), Enock Nyonyore (Nakaseke North in Nakaseke) and Gyavira Ssemwanga for Buyamba in Rakai District.
While appearing on a local TV station on Monday morning, Hon. Nganda said they had expected the ruling party to have at least 100 unopposed legislators due to the size of the next parliament. He added that parliament created new constituencies after the FDC had finished primaries
“To raise candidates in Uganda is the biggest task, because there are now 1.5 million elective positions. This particular parliament created 70 constituencies after the FDC had finished primaries. Absence of candidates is not absence of support. Therefore, I am actually surprised that they got only 6, I had thought they would get more than 50 MPs” Hon Ssemujju said.
He also noted that in some areas like Karamoja, the MPs are appointed by RDCs and the opposition does not have RDCs, while other MPs report to CAO, RPCs among other people. Hon. Nganda says these areas are run by the military.
However, the NRM Party’s new Director for Information and publicity Emmanuel Dombo says they are celebrating the 6 MPs as this shows the weakness of opposition and its failure to field candidates.
“The Independent electoral commission called people to offer themselves and parties could not raise candidates. To us as NRM we celebrate because we now have 6 awaiting swearing in. that’s the beginning point. By the time we finish the exercise and get the numbers, perhaps over 80% will begin telling stories” Dombo said.
