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  • Chris Tinka

Why NRM Members Voted Out Museveni Cadres

Updated: Sep 9, 2020


NRM members are angered by the continued spoils system of governance by Uganda's President, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.


In his governance style that many on social media call 'Bottle Irrigation' or patronage system, Mr Museveni rewards members of his National Resistance Movement (NRM) with civil service jobs after winning an election.

Indeed, many of his supporters, friends, relatives and in-laws have been given incentives in the form of government jobs to keep the party stronger.


Bottle irrigation (Political Patronage) is the cause of all these. We need to cut off the strings they are attached to and burn the plastic, an angry NRM supporter posted on Facebook.


The results from the September 4 NRM primaries speak out loudly, party members the country over are sick and tired of the status quo.


In fact, supporters are thankful for voting in long lines on Friday to stem out any chances of ballot stuffing by Museveni's self-appointed guardians - the untouchables.


The NRM party primary could be a precursor to what is bound to happen in the forthcoming 2021 presidential elections.

The severe devastation of Mr Museveni's titans is in tandem with a recent poll by Research World International that the president may fall short of the 50 per cent mark to clinch the presidency.


Experts also believe that People Power movement an idea that is currently sweeping Uganda could have had a significant impact on the hair-raising NRM losses.


Here is a recap of the September 4 NRM Primaries that were marked jubilation, invalidation, shootings and tears


NRM plays Beatrice Anywar like a Piano.

In Kitgum district, the Municipality MP and political seducer, Beatrice Anywar reached the polling station only to find that she is not on the voters' register.

Beatrice Anywar is renown for her political prostitution, she was once in the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC). She switched to Ex-Premier, Amama Mbabazi's Go Forward for green pastures.

Then she noticed that the grass was greener at the rivalling Museveni's camp. She jumped ship! However, Anywar did not register as NRM and had no party card at the polling day.


She is blaming the party mafias for erasing her name from the register at the last minute.


Anywar will now run as an independent and may never return to NRM since they fronting a candidate against her.


Minister Rukutana brandishes AK-47 rifle, allegedly pulls the trigger

Mwesigwa Rukutana on Friday grabbed a gun from his bodyguard to shoot at the raging opponents in the Rubaare chaotic NRM primaries in Ntungamo district.


The former Deputy Attorney General claimed he was trying to defend himself from armed people.

In the video that has gone viral on social media, Rukutana appears to grab the AK47 from his bodyguard. A gunshot is later fired as heard from a speeding vehicle.

Rukutana was struggling in vain only to lose the election to Naome Kabasharira.


Supporters of Kabasharira thronged the streets to celebrate her triumph over the untouchable, the most powerful NRM cadre.

'Remember the time when Mwesigwa Rukutana met the Land Committee and said he was only answerable to God, you can go hung? The people of Rushenyi county have decided to vote him out.' Someone tweeted!


In the past, he was seen carrying an AK47 rifle while herding cows on his farm.

Minister Rukutana arrested

The State Minister for Labour was on Saturday arrested by police in Ntungamo together with his three escorts following a shooting incident in Ruhama, Ntungamo district. One person was seriously injured and a motor vehicle damaged during the fracas.


“The victim was rushed to hospital in critical condition while the suspects are in detention on charges of inciting violence, attempted murder by shooting and malicious damage,” Polly Namaye, the Deputy Police Spokesperson said.

It was reported that Minister Rukutana was arrested trying to cross into Rwanda by a combined force of SFC, CMI, ISO, ESO and the Uganda Police.


More sad news came that the man who was allegedly shot at was reported dead.


Who is Mwesigwa Rukutana the self-appointed Museveni titan?

Mwesigwa Rukutana was born on November 15, 1959, in Ntungamo district, he attended Kigezi High School for his O-Level education and Mbarara High School where he completed his A-Level studies.


He graduated with a Bachelors degree of Laws from Makerere University and holds a Diploma in Law Practice from the Law Development Center in Kampala.

From 1984 until 1992, he taught Law at the Law Development Center. In 1994, he was elected as a Delegate to the Constituent Assembly that drafted the 1995 Ugandan Constitution.


In 2001, he was elected to the Ugandan Parliament, to represent Rushenyi County, Ntungamo District and up to date, he is their area Member of Parliament.


In the same year, Rukutana was appointed Minister of State for Finance, serving in that capacity until 2006.


The President later appointed him as Minister of State for Labour until 2009. He was reassigned as State Minister for Education, responsible for Higher Education, on 16 February 2009.


He was also the State Minister for Labor, a position he served from May 2011 to March 2015 when he was appointed Deputy Attorney General.

Last year, Mwesigwa Rukutana was appointed State Minister for Labour.


In the same year, Rukutana made headlines when he refused to adhere to the  Commission of Inquiry into Land matters.


He was summoned by the commission to give clarity on how Government arrived at Shs 24billion meant to compensate Dr Muhammad Kasasa over a piece of land in Mutungo, a Kampala suburb.

During the cross-examination, Rukutana kept on interrupting and interfering with the process. His arrogancy and disrespect forcedJustice Bamugemereire to kick him out of the hearing.


As he waltzed out, he told journalists, “I don’t give a damn. Let her tell the president, she can even tell God.”


 Mwesigwa Rukutana is said to have more than 10 wives the latest Sheila Gashumba's mother and over 20 children. He once said he know how to put young girls to good use.


The Fall of Titans


In a deeply shocking turn of events, ten Uganda cabinet ministers have lost the NRM primaries to little known or unpopular candidates.


Hon. Elioda Tumwesigye the Minister for Science and Technology and the current Member of Parliament for Sheema Municipality lost to newcomer Dickson Kateshubwa (Katesh).


Katesh was once accused of enticing voters especially women and young girls of voting age with knickers. His team was seen distributing knickers to groups of women all over Sheema Municipality.

When he was asked by the media why he was bribing voters with underwear, Katesh quickly shrugged off the question, saying that his opponents were also giving out condoms.


NRM's Mary Karoro Okurut who is the Minister of General Duties in the Office of Prime Minister and the Woman Member of Parliament for Bushenyi District lost to Annet Tusiime Mugisha the wife to Dr Silver Mugisha the Managing Director of National Water and sewerage corporation.

Minister Mwesigwa Rukutana is reported to be held at Mbarara Police post after allegedly shooting a man from a rival camp during Friday's NRM Primaries in Ntungamo. Rukutana lost to his main challenger Naome Kabasharara.


Evelyn Anite the State Minister for Investment and Privatization conceded defeat in the hotly contested Koboko Municipality race.


According to provisional results, from 35 out of 36 polling stations, Dr Charles Ayume had 8,089 votes and Hon. Evelyn Anite had 7,321.

Beatrice Anywar did not find her name on the NRM register at the election day. She is the State Minister for Water and Environment and represents Kitgum Municipality in Parliament.


Adolf Mwesigye, the Minister for Defence and Veteran Affairs and represents Bunyangabo County in Bunyangabo district also lost the seat.

The NRM Primaries have exposed the weakness of several incumbents, members are challenging the status quo, they are tired of being sidelined those who are supposed to represent them in parliament.


They turned up in large numbers to send a message to their chairman, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni that the tide is turning.


They desire fair appointments to the civil service, accountable leadership, better service delivery and a party free of political patronage.





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