The NRM secretariat has distanced itself from Dr. Philemon Mateke, the Kisoro NRM chairperson's stance on the forthcoming by-election for the Kisoro District woman Member of parliament .
As the election heats up, the NRM secretariat is taking steps to maintain neutrally and ensure a fair election process.
Dr. Mateke previously said that the NRM flag bearer Rose Kabagyeni was forcefully imposed on the people of Kisoro.
However, the NRM led by the National Mobiliser Rosemary Seninde who is being accompanied by NRM vice chairperson Western Region Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, Jackline Kyatuhaire the party treasurer and Rodgers Mulindwa the NRM spokesperson are campaigning for the party flagbearer.
Seninde said that since the Kisoro NRM chairperson has openly revealed that he is not ready to work with NRM in this by-election , they decided to work with the district party vice chairperson to lead them in the by-election as they campaign for the party flag bearer.
Seninde calls upon party leaders to appreciate the importance of party politics and follow the guidance of the party.
"We are calling our party leaders in Kisoro to support their party and we shall continue guiding them. We are going to campaign and mobilize,"Seninde stated.
"We are going to have several meetings with NRM leaders to ensure that they support the flag bearer who was chosen by the people."
The NRM vice chairman Western region who also doubles as the minister of technology and National Dr. Chris Baryomunsi noted that Mateke's refusal to support the party flag bearer is an act of indiscipline within the party adding that the mistake he made was to rally behind one of the contestants which is the against party rules and regulations.
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"We think that our members offer themselves for competition looking for the party flag, then we the NRM leaders should not show sides because all of them are our people. We leave it to the voters to vote the person of their choice," Baryomunsi said.
He noted that the challenge that Mateke has is that he took sides at an early stage when all contestants were NRM but the person he preferred did not win, which he said is normal.
In response Dr. Philemon Mateke insisted that the party should have principles of transparency to remain relevant.
"As NRM we must be transparent and honest if we are to strengthen our party. There is no party which should just leave and operate on lies. In this case of the by-election, I think it was not fair to impose a candidate that I feel was not elected by the people of Kisoro," Mateke asserted.
"In this by-election the people of Kisoro will elect their right candidate."
President Museveni is expected be in Kisoro this week as he campaigns for NRM flag bearer Rose Kabagyeni.
As Kisoro on who is the next district woman MP, currently six candidates are vying for the Kisoro district woman MP seat where they will head for polls on November 14,2024.
