NRM MPs who voted against the Age limit Bill have reportedly been denied access to campaign cash that is to be handed over to the LC1 party flagbearers.
Shs20m is currently been distributed to each NRM MPs from the NRM party headquarters to give to NRM flagbearers to assist them in their campaigns for the various local council positions. The LC elections which started this week climax on July 10 with the election of LC1 representatives. As a result, government through ministry of Public Service has declared July 10, a public holiday to allow all Ugandans participate in the LC1 elections.
However, it has emerged that only NRM MPs who have been loyal to the party positions are entitled to this money, while the NRM ‘rebel’ MPs have been told to go and hang.
According to a source, each MP has been given an extra Shs1m to facilitate them to travel back to their constituencies and hand over the Shs20m to their local council candidates. Each NRM flagbearer is expected to get at least Shs20,000 from the area MPs.
In December last year, about 25 NRM MPs voted against Constitution Amendment (No.2) Bill, 2017 that among others removed upper age limit for presidential candidates and other local council. Among the NRM ‘rebel’ MPs include; Kumi Woman MP Monicah Amoding, John Baptist Nambeshe (Manyija), Theodore Ssekikuubo (Lwemiyaga), Patrick Nsamba (Kassanda North), Muyanja Senyonga (Mukono South), Suzan Amero (Amuria), Henry Kibalya (Bugabula South) among others.
It has emerged that MP Ssekikuubo today attempted to storm Party headquarters for his ‘share’ but he was shown the exit.
Speaking to another prominent NRM rebel MP, Monicah Amoding, the MP said that she is among those who have not got the money or even contacted to pick it on behalf of the party flagbearers.
“I am among the people who have not received the money nor contacted, but the elections will go on with or without money because I have already mobilized my candidates. There is even no need for that money; we are monetarizing every single thing that is why we even end up having leaders who are not up to the task,” Amoding said, adding that there is a possibility the money has been given to other NRM MPs in Kumi district who voted in favour of age limit Bill. Ismael Orot (Kanyum county) and Charles Ilukor (Kumi county) both from Kumi district voted in favour of the controversial Bill.
Amoding also decried the criteria used to handpick NRM MPs who should mobilise for LC elections, saying this discriminatory method will continue to rip the party apart.
“If that is the way forward then they are beginning to tear the party further because my vote on age limit was based on my peoples’ will. So if they say they are not giving me money because of that then there is the beginning of the downfall of the so called multiparty. That means they are squeezing us from the party and yet we pay membership,” Amoding said.
