Kampala. President Museveni has called yet another meeting of the ruling party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) for Friday. Party sources told Daily Monitor that one expected highlight on the agenda is the fate of Mr Amama Mbabazi in the wake of his sacking as prime minister and forced leave as NRM secretary general. At least two CEC meetings, all of them inconclusive on this matter, have been held since Mr Mbabazi was dropped from his job as premier two months ago. Speaking off the record in light of the sensitivities surrounding the Mbabazi affair, sources said it has been hinted that they will be expected to come up with a position on Mr Mbabazi ahead of the December 15 NRM delegates conference. The NRM deputy spokesperson, Mr Ofwono Opondo, confirmed to Daily Monitor yesterday this issue will be discussed. “CEC asked him to take leave and the NRM party chairman will report to CEC the way forward. The chairman also issued a notice for the delegates’ conference and he will report on the arrangements in place,” Mr Opondo said. Invoking his role as NRM chairman, President Museveni recently announced December 15 as the date for the national delegates’ conference to discuss ways of defusing growing tension in the party. Mr Mbabazi was relieved of prime ministerial duties on September 18 amidst widespread condemnation from certain quarters of the party of his suspected plans to challenge his chairman for the presidency during the 2016 general elections. The former premier has, however, denied that he will run against Mr Museveni. Mr Opondo also said Friday’s meeting will consider the Senninde report on the party’s 2010 primaries that were marred by irregularities countrywide. The report proposes that the position of secretary general and his or her deputy be made full time jobs to ensure they dedicate enough time to party work. It further proposes that the positions of party treasurer and his or her deputy should as well be full time jobs. The report proposes that whoever wants to contest for the party’s ticket for the post of President must pay Shs5 million, whereas those contesting for MP seats on the party’s ticket will pay Shs3 million. Those contesting for district chair will pay Shs500, 000 and Shs50,000 for local leaders. According to the report, the monies generated will enable the party to organise free and fair primaries. Mr Opondo said yesterday such fees would discourage jokers from attempting to contest for serious NRM party positions. I have no personal problem with Mbabazi, says Gen Muhwezi Maj Gen Jim Muhwezi has said he has no personal vendetta against former prime minister Amama Mbabazi as is believed by some sections of the public. Gen Muhwezi, the Rujumbura MP, who also chairs the ruling party’s Veterans League, told journalists yesterday that while he has “agreed and disagreed” with Mr Mbabazi several times, such disagreements are purely “work-related”. The retired army officer was recently appointed to head a committee in charge of security at the forthcoming NRM delegates conference and his remarks were part of responses he gave to questions about how planning for conference is coming along. “I have also heard about it in some sections of the media like you have heard. I first read about it when Adam Ruzindana said I have a personal vendetta against Mbabazi. There is absolutely no truth in that statement and it is just a figment of their imagination,” he said. Mr Ruzinda is the vice chairperson of the NRM central region and is known to be close to Mr Mbabazi, who is currently on leave from his position as NRM secretary general. “My relationship with him (Mr Mbabazi) has been work-related and a political relationship and we have agreed and disagreed on so many things but it is purely work-related. Given my security background, for someone to claim that I am targeting an individual, I feel insulted because my record speaks for itself,” he said. He stressed that their disagreements have been on principle. Both Muhwezi and Mbabazi hail from Kigezi sub-region, participated in the NRA/NRM bush war, which brought President Museveni to power in 1986. The two have traded sharp words on at least one occasion, according to media reports. In 2010, during a meeting of the NRM’ss highest decision-making body, the Central Executive Committee, which was called to discuss internal elections, Gen Muhwezi is reported to have accused Mr Mbabazi of nepotism and abetting corruption. Ms Hope Mwesigye, a former Agriculture minister and an in-law of Mr Mbabazi, then accused Gen Muhwezi of holding a grudge against Mr Mbabazi. Gen Muhwezi yesterday said the December 15 conference will be smooth and “hassle-free”. “I and my committee members are planning for a successful meeting. I will put my the resources to services of my party,” he vowed. [Mercy Nalugo, Monitor] Preview Mr Amama Mbabazi was dropped from the position of prime minister after majority ruling party MPs in February were stampeded into endorsing a non-binding resolution proposing Mr Museveni as the party’s sole candidate in the 2016 elections. The resolution, which was fronted by relatively junior party members, was seen as a move to curtail the perceived presidential ambitions of the NRM secretary general. That resolution and subsequent developments have led to a splitting of opinion, which has left the NRM sharply divided.
Posted on: Wed, 12 Nov 2014 04:17:31 +0000
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