Nwoya National Resistance Movement (NRM) party Chairperson Rose Nyeko has cautioned party members in the district against campaigning for independents, saying they will be expelled if they defy the order.
Several NRM party members in the district who lost in the primary elections are standing as independent candidates. They include: incumbent Nwoya woman member of parliament Lillian Adong, Tony Awany, a candidate for the Nwoya parliamentary, Mwaka George William also for the same seat and Michael Otukene for the LC5 Chairman seat.
Mrs Nyeko said the act of NRM- leaning candidates standing on the independent ticket is an act of indiscipline which should not be tolerated.
Nyeko said in an interview on Friday that NRM members should not campaign for independents against the official party candidate.
“When we get any of the NRM party members campaigning for the independent candidates, we will target them.” She did not explain what she meant by ‘‘target.’’
The Nwoya NRM Chairperson’s position on independent appears at odds with that of her boss —the NRM party Chairman Yoweri Museveni who said in a recent meeting with independents who lost in the party primaries. Museveni said they could stand on the independent ticket. Analysts say it is a move aimed at preventing disgruntled NRM members from joining former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi’s Go Forward camp.
Mwaka George William, one of the NRM- leaning independent candidates said Mrs Nyeko’s warning may instead discourage people from supporting the NRM party in Nwoya district.
By Denis Omony
