A group of over 225 NRM supporters yesterday appealed to President Museveni in his ability as the NRM party chair to summon an unrehearsed NRM Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting to have former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi kicked out of the NRM party.
The group “Cadres 2014”, who handed their request to Youth state minister Evelyn Anite, want the party secretary-general, Justine Kasule Lumumba, to call CEC and expel Mr. Mbabazi from the party. Cadres 2014 is a youth association passed out by President Museveni at Nakivubo Blue Primary School a year ago subsequent to undergoing military training.
They accuse Mr. Mbabazi, among others, of “campaigning before the time stipulated by the NRM electing commission, always associating with the Opposition through The Democratic Alliance (TDA) and the use of hate messages spread by his supporters.”
The youths led by Mr. Swaib Ssemakade additionally want Mr. Mbabazi subjected to disciplinary action for using a logo different from that of the NRM party.
Anita welcomes petition
Ms. Anite, who championed the questionable Kyankwanzi resolution which supported President Museveni as the NRM sole candidate, said she shared similar sentiments in regards to Mr. Mbabazi with the group.
“I have already written to the SG and the NRM party chairman. I take up with the youth and that is the reason we moved the sole candidature resolution in light of the fact that he has been working with the opposition to undermine the work of our party.”
Ms. Anite, who said other youth groups have written to her with comparative petitions, said NRM couldn’t commit an error of replacing Mr. Museveni with Mr. Mbabazi.
“We can’t replace a driver with a conductor. You can’t push out a driver who has taken you from Kampala to Kisoro with a conductor whose job is to call passengers. President Museveni has navigated us through instability and illiteracy. Why would we replace him.”
The long term
The youth petition comes days after Mr. Mbabazi announced he would contest for the NRM party presidential flag bearer and later vie for the presidency at the national level. His declaration has since attracted criticism within the NRM circles with some leaders suggesting that it is not yet time for campaigns.