NRM releases timetable for top leaders' nomination

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The timetable for elections of candidates for the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party’s topmost organ, the Central Executive Committee, starts tomorrow, June 26.

Dr Tanga Odoi, the party's Electoral Commission (EC) chairperson, says that the expression of interest and picking of the nomination forms will run from June 26 to July 1.

He also announced that Saturday, June 28, has been specifically reserved for President Yoweri Museveni, the party's Presidential candidate and the National chairman.

The President will be picking his forms from party electoral commission offices and the gazetted time is from 8 am - 5 pm,” Odoi said, adding that the nomination of the CEC and presidential candidates will take place from July 2-4.

“The national chairman of the party will return his nomination forms on July 4.

Recently, Dr Tanga Odoi stressed that for any candidate to be nominated for any CEC position, he or she must have a clean criminal record for the past 10 years. 

According to the Parliamentary Elections Act, 2005, a candidate can be disqualified from being elected as a member of parliament if they have been convicted of a crime involving dishonesty or moral turpitude within the seven years preceding the election, or if they are under a sentence of imprisonment exceeding nine months.

Odoi noted that the other guidelines for eligible contestants for CEC are:

i) One must be 18 years and above,

ii) must be a registered party member,

iii) must be registered in the National Voter Register,

iv) must be a person of proven integrity,

v) must have a track record of service in the NRM,

vi) must pay a non-refundable expression of interest fee.

Odoi revealed that by the closure of business on Wednesday, his team had nominated over 1930 candidates for both MP and LC5 slots.

Kadaga approved for Kamuli race, seeks to return to CEC

Kamuli Woman MP, Rebecca Kadaga, who doubles as the first deputy prime minister of Uganda looking on as Fred Jachan Omach nominates her to contest for Kamuli Woman MP seat as other officials look on at the NRM EC offices. (Photo by Simon Peter Tumwine)

Kamuli Woman MP, Rebecca Kadaga, who doubles as the first deputy prime minister of Uganda, noted that she seeks re-election because she wants to witness the completion of Jinja airport among other projects.

“One of my biggest ambitions is to have the Jinja airstrip expanded to the international airport so that the eastern region can have its own airport,” Kadaga said, adding that other issues that she needs to accomplish are the nuclear project in Buyende.

Kadaga also revealed that she is ready to come and pick up nomination forms for the second National CEC representative female.

Former Minister, Zoe Bakoko Bakuru, who is eyeing Ayivu East parliamentary seat in Arua posing with her nomination form shortly after being nominated. (Photo by Simon Peter Tumwine)

Former Minister Zoe Bakoko Bakoru, who is eyeing the Ayivu East parliamentary seat in Arua, revealed that she seeks to address the vacuum which have been existing ever since she left the political arena.

“Poor fractured, uncoordinated regional decisions, poor service delivery, these are some of the reasons I was asked to come and contest again,” Bakoko said.

Deborah Tuhirirwe Rwabwogo, an aspirant for Lyantonde Woman MP who doubles as the NRM district Chairperson, revealed that this isn’t her second time contesting in Lyantonde, adding that she contested 10 years ago, but all did not go well for her.

Simon Nicholas Owino, the aspirant of Tororo North County posing with his nomination form shortly after being nominated by the NRM electoral commission. (Photo by Simon Peter Tumwine)

Simon Nicholas Owino, the aspirant of Tororo North County, noted that on top of his agenda is youth empowerment and job creation in his constituency.