NELSON K
Two senior presidential advisors, Batinti Francis and Peace Rugambwa, have urged Rukungiri District NRM politicians to reconcile and work together for the good of the party. The advisors discouraged one-sided politics, saying it has fueled divisions within the NRM in Rukungiri.
The call was made during an NRM reconciliation meeting held between flag bearers and candidates who plan to contest as independents in the upcoming elections.
While addressing the gathering, Madam Peace Rugambwa, a senior presidential advisor, emphasized the importance of unity, harmony, and faithfulness among NRM members. She urged politicians to act as one family, rally behind President Yoweri Museveni, and strengthen the NRM party structures in the district.
Rugambwa cautioned aspirants against running as independents out of envy, ego, and anger after losing in the party primaries, saying such actions weaken the party’s strength. She expressed disappointment with LC5 aspirant Angello Twinomuhwezi, accusing him of disrupting the meeting with inconsistent remarks and divisive gestures aimed at undermining fellow party members.
She reminded attendees that such behavior is unacceptable in the NRM and goes against the principles championed by President Museveni, the party chairperson.
On his part, Mr. Francis Batinti also called for reconciliation, noting that the NRM primaries were a competition among family members and should not breed hostility. He praised Hon. Tumukunde and Hon. Paula for initiating reconciliation efforts by visiting him in Kampala to discuss unity among Rukungiri NRM members. He further commended the district NRM chairperson for organizing the meeting to resolve the ongoing disputes.
Batinti, however, noted that the reconciliation process should have been conducted earlier to prevent aggrieved members from deciding to run as independents.
Despite efforts to maintain calm, the meeting ended abruptly after tensions and misunderstandings erupted among candidates who lost in the primaries. The session was postponed to tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. at Rukungiri Inn Hotel, where a smaller committee of selected members, including LC5 and MP flag bearers and independent candidates, is expected to continue the discussions.
