About 200 supporters of presidential hopeful John Patrick Amama Mbabazi from the seven districts of the Acholi sub-region yesterday set off for his nomination scheduled for today at Nakivubo stadium in Kampala.
Acholi Times has exclusively learnt that the group left yesterday evening in three buses belonging to Homeland Bus Company.
By Monday evening the supporters had clandestinely convened at the home of a prominent Gulu Municipality politician who recently announced he would contest on an independent to ticket.
Our sources say 91 of the Mbabazi supporters are from Gulu while the rest are from Kitgum, Lamwo, Pader, Agago, Nwoya and Amuru districts.
The majority of the supporters include disgruntled former National Resistance Movement (NRM) members who lost in the recent NRM primary elections.
Amongst the big shots that have traveled for Mbabazi’s nominations includes the Gulu Municipality Mayor Mr George Labeja, Mr Alfred Oluba and the LC3 Chairperson for Layibi division in Gulu Municipality who defected to Mbabazi’s Go Forward from NRM last week.
Mr Alex Okwi, the former Chairperson NRM youth for Pece Division confirmed to Acholi Times today morning in a telephone interview that they were already in Kampala.
“We have safely arrived in Kampala, however, some of the members from Aswa County numbering about 50 missed the bus and they won’t make it here but others from Pader district are yet on their way coming,” Mr Okwi said.
Okwir claimed the Go Forward camp has many prominent politicians who he said will declare their support for Mbabazi after nomination.
The Independent Electoral Commission has so far cleared 10 aspirants for the country’s highest position although only seven have booked dates for their nomination which begins today.
Mr Mbabazi of the Go Forward Pressure group and President Yoweri Museveni, the NRM party Chairman will be among 11 presidential aspirants expected to be nominated today.
The other candidates, including FDC’s Dr Kiiza Besigye are expected to be nominated tomorrow.
Aspirants for the 2016 presidential contest includes, Mr Joseph Mabirizi a 40 year old Pastor standing on an independent ticket, Ms Faith Maureen Walube Kyalya, a lawyer and former Presidential advisor on poverty alleviation, Mr Charles Bbaale Lwanga of the Ecological Party of Uganda.
Others are Benon Biraro, a 57 year an NRM bush war hero and head of farmers Party of Uganda, Mr Abed Bwanika, President of the People’s Progressive Party, Nasser Ntege Sebaggala, the former Kampala Lord Mayor and Venansius Baryamureeba, a 46 year-old Former Makerer University Vice Chancellor and current Vice Chancellor of the Uganda Technology and Management University.
Officials campaigns after the nominations of the Presidential aspirants are expected to tentatively kick off on November 9th, subject to the outcome of the of discussions between the independent electoral commission, the candidates and other stake holders.
By Denis Otim
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Wekko lajok acel ceto ka cwakko lajok mukene ducu oyo ot pa min Akec.