The National Unity Platform (NUP) has unveiled approximately 300 mobilizers ahead of the Dokolo District Woman MP By-election.
On Saturday, a delegation led by the party’s Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya met mobilization committees from all the 14 sub-counties in the district.
They tasked them to return to attract new members for the party to vote for their candidate in the forthcoming By-election.
Rubongoya explained that the move is an indication that NUP is not only in central Uganda but spread across the country.
Already one person has expressed interest to contest in the By-election but Rubongoya said the party will go through a primary election in case more people show interest.
Asega Habib Jogo, the NUP’s deputy secretary of mobilization in charge of Northern Uganda warned security against threatening their mobilizers, saying that NUP is a legitimate political party, which should be able to mobilize its structures without intimidation.
Meanwhile, on the same day, the NRM party unveiled Janet Adongo Elau, the official candidate for the Dokolo By-Election although six other people had shown interest in the same post.
During their mobilization meeting held at Dokolo Parish hall, two candidates; Judith Ayugi and Lillian Auma Okullo stepped down while five including Beatrice Molly Abang, Irene Amongi Ajwika, Grace Hanna Lalam, Rebecca Arao and Dr. Grace Anna Atine opted to run as independents.
Rosemary Nansubuga Seninde, the party’s director mobilization cautioned those intending to contest as independent candidates against betraying the party.
Seninde who attributes the party’s failure in winning by-elections to conflicts between party members asked district leaders to convince the candidates to step down to pave the way for a smooth by-election.
“It’s very unfortunate that NRM wherever it loses is not because the opposition is strong, not at all but where members are many in a family, such conflicts are inevitable. So even in the NRM party, we have that kind of conflict where members of the party fight each other and whenever we fight ourselves we give opportunity to opposition.”
She also used the opportunity to inform aspiring party members hoping to be bought off to forget saying the party has no money.
Emmanuel Dombo, the NRM’s Spokesperson advised the independent- NRM-leaning candidates to support the flag bearer, saying the election is for the party, not individuals.
Dokolo district will go to polls on 21st March 2024 in a by-election to elect the woman MP following the death of Imat Cecilia Atim Ogwal who passed on last month.