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Leaders in Mitooma appeal to Kadaga over infighting
Embattled Mitooma LCV chairperson Mr Benon Karyeija(R) and MP Dononzio Kahonda(C) welcome speaker Rebecca Kadaga at Kyamuyanga church in Kabira ,Mitooma district on Sunday. PHOTO BY RAJAB MUKOMBOZI
What you need to know:
Ms Kadaga was the chief guest at the thanksgiving for Ruhinda MP Rtd.
Capt. Dononzio Kahonda on Sunday at Kyamuyanga Catholic Church in Kabira Sub County.
Leaders in Mitooma district have appealed to the Speaker of Parliament who is also NRM's second National Vice Chairperson Ms Rebecca Kadaga to ensure that the top party leadership reigns in the members fighting colleagues which they said has greatly undermined cohesion and service delivery.
Ms Kadaga was the chief guest at the thanksgiving for Ruhinda MP Rtd.
Capt. Dononzio Kahonda on Sunday at Kyamuyanga Catholic Church in Kabira Sub County.
“There are some leaders and individuals in the NRM party who claim to be the only decision makers and vision bearers, they will try to fight and oppose any other person with good developmental ideas so long as they are not going through them,” Capt. Kahonda said.
He added that when such leaders are voted out of power, they will try to sabotage those who defeated them. Capt. Kahonda however did not name the party member or members that are trying to fail others.
He defeated Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire in 2015 NRM primary election and 2016 election where the latter contested on Independent ticket.
While hosting elders and members of Mitooma Development Forum at his home in Kashenshero Town Council on November 3 Gen. Otafiire who is also Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister said he will contest he will contest for the seat again in the next election. He was Constituent Assembly delegate and served as area MP from 1996 to 2016.
Gen. Otafiire also delivered 3000 hoes part of the 6000 hoes that President Yoweri Museveni had pledged to constituents. “We are appealing to the top NRM leadership to reign in individuals that claim to be bigger than and more important in NRM than others.
Even when they become unpopular and are rejected by voters, they want to force themselves on electorate and will work to frustrate any development their opponents come up with,” Capt. Kahonda said.
However Capt. Kahonda who was speaking in apparent political right between him and Gen. Otafiire did not mention directly how the latter has frustrated him.
Capt. Kahonda is battling in court a case of forgery and uttering false documents. He said some members of the opposition are now taking advantage of the infighting to infiltrate and recruit from the ruling party.
The embattled Mitooma LC5 Mr Benon Karyeija and strong ally of Capt.
Kahonda echoed the same frustration. Mr Karyeija was censured by the district council on July 24, 2017 over allegations of abuse of office and disrespecting councilors.
He appealed the dismissal in the high court and he was reinstated by court order on July 28, 2017 pending hearing and determination of the case. The council also secured a court order removing him from office on August 3, until his case has been heard and determined. The case has never been determined and Mr Sylvester Tumukurate is the Acting LC5 Chairman.
“I appeal to you madam Speaker that the top NRM leadership priotises cohesion within the party that is threatened by infighting, elected leaders are fought, can’t be given a chance to deliver because some members of our party claim to be more important than others,” Mr Karyeija said.
He added, “We are people of the same party, lets calm down as a family and as leaders let’s respect each other and serve our people.”
Ms Kadaga said leaders should be given opportunity to serve. She also promised to follow up Mr Karyeija’s case.
“Let’s work together, give elected leaders confidence to work for people. In Mitooma some of the leaders have not been able to serve their people effectively because of infighting. For example my son here (Kahonda) despite being hard working he has had so many challenges,” Ms Kadaga said.
Efforts to get comment from Gen. Otafiire were futile as he did not pick our repeated calls or return them. MP Kahonda said the thanksgiving was in appreciation of God for attaining degree in Public Administration and Management from Bugema University, celebrating the lives of his parents, and his election to parliament.
