Luttamaguzi, Nakaseke NUP leaders in row over elections

Nakaseke, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Conflicts are escalating between Nakaseke South Member of Parliament and National Unity Platform district party leaders over elections of mobilization committees.

Last week, Luttamaguzi convened a meeting at Namilari village in Nakaseke sub-county and presided over elections for mobilization committees where he was elected as Constituency Chairperson for the Party.

Lawrence Kibirige Masantil the Semuto Sub County LC3 Chairperson was elected as the Vice Chairperson and Esther Nakawooya the District Woman MP as secretary for Women Affairs among others.

However, on Friday, the Nakaseke District NUP Chairman Fredrick Kakooza convened a meeting at Semuto town council where he rejected the elections and warned Luttamaguzi against destabilizing the leadership.

Kakooza who is LC3 Chairperson of Kasangombe sub county explained that the mobilization committee was illegal because the district registrar wasn’t involved and they were not informed about it. He added that even the elections were held after the party had canceled elections across the country.

Kakooza said that they were waiting for the new NUP Party roadmap for elections of mobilization committees and that the registered supporters would be invited to participate in the exercise.

“The MP hijacked the process of the elections and we can’t tolerate it. We want to tell our supporters that there have never been elections for mobilization committees in Nakaseke and they should for the fresh roadmap.’’Kakooza said.

Kakooza is also aspiring to contest for the LC 5 Chairperson seat on the NUP ticket.

Samuel Byekwaso the Nakaseke NUP District Registrar said that he learnt about the elections as the exercise was ongoing and stayed away from it because it was irregularly conducted.

Byekwaso added that the party secretariat nullified elections across the Country and halted those that hadn’t been held till guidelines were issued.

“Some people think that MP Luttamaguzi is destabilizing the party but we need him to develop it and he should also agree to work within the guidelines,’’ Byekwaso said.

Mustapha Kakande a NUP Supporter insisted that MP Luttamaguzi remains a DP card holder and has never publicly crossed to NUP to be elected as chairperson of the constituency.

“Luttamaguzi should leave the issues of the NUP to its leaders and supporters till when he chooses to cross to the party. Recently he also blocked a meeting intended to mobilise supporters. Why should MP block NUP mobilization by threatening to call in Policemen?” Kakande questioned.

But when contacted MP Luttamaguzi defended sidelining the leaders in the elections saying he doesn’t recognize them and insisted the committee was carefully elected to enable the party to mobilize support.

“Yes I haven’t officially crossed to NUP because am barred from doing so till next year but NUP President Robert Kyagulanyi appointed me the chairperson of the People Power Movement for Greater Luwero. I have also bought NUP party cards for four million shillings and distributed them to supporters. So doubts my loyalty to NUP ?” Luttamaguzi asked.

Luttamaguzi vowed to shun meetings called by the group and accept any other elections in the constituency.

He also bragged that with or without an NUP ticket, he could win the MP seat and no person would intimidate him in the constituency.

Recently NUP supporters in Mukono municipality protested the election of MP Betty Nambooze as District NUP Chairperson.

The elections ended in chaos with the section of supporters demanding Nambooze step aside to give way to other leaders. The supporters expressed fears that Nambooze may use the position to block other people from challenging her in the MP elections.

In Luwero, supporters formerly belonging to DP and the NUP party also threatened to fight before elections were called off.

Following the chaos, the Party resolved to suspend elections across the Country till guidelines were issued on the matter.

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URN