A cross-section of National Resistance Movement (NRM) party
stakeholders in Bushenyi district have petitioned the NRM National
Chairperson, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni seeking sacking of their
district party chairperson.
On Wednesday, August 26,2020, the NRM party members holding
placards asked the president to provide remedy for the gross harm and
impunity caused by Al Hajji Hassan Bassajjabalaba that undermines the
party constitution.
In a petition dubbed ‘the unbecoming behavior of the district NRM
chairperson’ dated 26 th August, 2020, members accused their
chairperson of failure to pray an impartial role during internal NRM
party elections, disrespecting party leaders and candidates participating
in party primary elections, openly involving himself in voter bribery
while supporting a section of party candidates against others,
Conducting open rallies in different areas with massive gatherings that
float the presidential directives and Standard operating procedures as
laid out by the ministry of health concerning the COVID 19 pandemic,
financing illegal activities and undermining elected leaders, dividing the
Muslim community, siege and closure of Basajabalaba Mosque, among
others.
Members added that the NRM party chairperson has promoted series of
electoral violence against party candidates that has left about five people
serous injured and admitted in different hospitals on the verge of losing
their lives.
It is from this background that the NRM stakeholders appealed the
president to refrain Bassajjabalaba from partial and selective
participation in NRM primary elections before district NRM members
defect to opposition political parties.
NRM stakeholders also want the security agencies in Bushenyi district
to “apprehend the criminal gangs under the District Chairman’s
sponsorship.”
Apollo Kakonge, the Executive Director Western Ankole Civil Society
Forum (WACSOF) confirmed that the Bushenyi situation warrants for
immediate action against the NRM district chairperson.
He suspects that by the end of NRM primaries, most candidates will
have thought of standing on independent tickets because of the rough
party politics that are ongoing.
In response, the accused (Hassan Bassajjabalaba) rubbished all the
allegations against him calling for peaceful and fair elections among all
party candidates in Bushenyi district.
He instead accused some of the aspiring party candidates who are
tarnishing his name after failing to fulfill all the credentials to represent
the district.
On issues related with vote bribery, Mr. Bassajjabalaba confirmed that
he was fulfilling the 2016 pledge he promised to sub county NRM party
chairpersons after massively voting president Museveni into power.
Bushenyi has about 17 sub counties and the battle is between the
incumbent Karoro Okurut and Annet Katusiime Mugisha tussling for the
district woman MP race.
Ainomugisha Aaron https://twitter.com/AaronAinomugis3
