The Ruling Party supporters from Greater Bushenyi have penned a stinging letter to the NRM Chairman Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni decrying divisionism in the party promoted by businessman Hassan Bassajjabalaba.
In a petition sent to Museveni on Wednesday, the NRM elders raised seven fundamental points why the President needs to reign in on Basajja’s conduct.
“Mr. Chairman, the current situation in Bushenyi NRM party warrants immediate action. There is already gross harm on the reputation of our members who have been abused and intimidated which is affecting their persons as well as their public image. Many of them have shown interest in serving their party as well as their country in different positions of leadership.
The interests of the party must at all times stand above any of our interests in conformity with our party constitution.
We wish to retaliate our commitment towards building a strong party in Bushenyi district.
Looking forward for your timely response to save our party,” the petition reads in part.
Full Petition
PETITION AGAINST THE CONDUCT OF BUSHENYI DISTRICT NRM CHAIRPERSON AL HAJJI HASSAN BASSAJJABALABA:
We the undersigned members of the National Resistance Movement in Bushenyi, aware of the history of our country and in particular the politics of division and hatred amongst our people in Bushenyi district caused by bad party politics of the past regimes;
Committed to consolidating the plight of our party as a champion of unity and political stability in the country and Bushenyi in particular and cognizant of the achievements made by the NRM government in promoting participation of citizens in the governance of our beautiful country Uganda;
Having observed that the core principles and values upon which our party stands are being eroded by the conduct and unbecoming behavior of the Bushenyi District Party Chairperson Al Hajji Hassan Basajabalaba;
Further aware that our party cherishes democracy and accords citizens the opportunity to participate in activities that enable them to choose their leaders in accordance with the party constitution and the laws of Uganda. And having further witnessed the present various occurrences in which our district party chairperson undermines the party constitution;
Do hereby petition your office for intervention as here under;
Earlier before and after NRM party primary nominations and with evidence, the Bushenyi District Party Chairman has;
1. Failure to pray an impartial role during internal NRM party elections: The Chairman has engaged in highly divisive politics that are threatening to tear our party apart by openly parading, campaigning and imposing certain candidates on the electorate while discriminating against the other candidates on similar positions. This is contrary to NRM constitution rule 4, paragraphs (a) and (k) fourth schedule on the prohibited conduct of members/leaders which states;
(a) “a member or a leader of NRM shall not engage in the formation of cliques or factions within NRM or any of its organs or institutions or in any way be part of or associated with any cliques or factions or engage in any intrigue within NRM”
(k) practice favoritism or nepotism by giving preferential treatment or any personal advantage or gain for himself that of his or her relation, friend or agent, ethnic grouping or area of origin.
2. Disrespect for party leaders and candidates participating in party primary elections: The Chairman has been engaged in propaganda and use of abusive and demeaning language on some candidates participating in party primaries at different levels, and on party elected leaders. This is contrary to rule 4, paragraph (i) Fourth Schedule of NRM Party Constitution. The Party Chairperson has moved village-to-village using abusive language and attacking NRM leaders who do not share a common position on people/candidates he supports in the ongoing NRM primary elections. For Example, on 22th August 2020 at Kamukonko Village, Buyanja parish, Kyeizoba Sub county, Hassan Bassajjabalaba at a village rally he convened told electorates that one of the NRM candidates Mrs. Annet Katusiime Mugisha did not study S.4 and even staked 100,000,000 shillings to whoever produces her results yet Katusiime Annet Mugisha is a duly nominated candidate with the NRM electoral commission. This is not only undermining the party organs but also killing internal party cohesion and grossly affecting the general support of the party in the district.
3. Openly involving himself in voter bribery while supporting a section of party candidates against others. The party chairperson has moved village to village, across the entire district distributing two million shilling (Ugx 2,000,000) per village directing party members to support NRM candidates of his choice and demonizing other candidates before their electorate. This is contrary to discipline, good order and conduct of NRM revolutionary party. This denies members opportunity to make right and informed choices. We understand that these are internal party elections and that the district party chairman is duty bound to account for all party candidates participating in internal elections, from which the party is supposed to get a winner who will carry the party flag in the general elections. This conduct will lead into party members participating in the general elections as independents.
4. Conducting open rallies in different areas with massive gatherings against the Presidential directives and Standard operating procedures as laid out by the ministry of health concerning the COVID 19 pandemic. This increases the vulnerability levels of our people towards contracting COVID 19. Such actions are less expected of our party leadership and discredits the reputation of our party in the district.
5. Financing illegal activities and undermining elected leaders: The NRM Party Chairman funded activities to censure the District Chairperson Jafari Basajabalaba that later flopped.
6. Dividing the Muslim community, siege and closure of Basajabalaba Mosque: The District NRM chairperson Hassan Basajabalaba has created sharp divisions amongst the Moslem Community in Bushenyi district having influenced the closure of the main Moslem mosque in Ishaka that is still under siege. This is least expected of a party leader who should be an arbiter, a father and center of unity in our district.
7. Refusal/failure to vote/endorse NRM leaders in the recent district delegates conferences: In the recent party delegates conference that was
held in Bushenyi: The NRM district chairperson despite him participating in the delegates conference did not cast any vote to any of the leaders including endorsement of our beloved President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni as the party flagbearer.
His actions are further creating doubt in his leadership capabilities.
8. Promoting electoral violence in the district and using hooligans to engage in violence against party candidates: The Chairman has recruited a group of hooligans who he sponsors to engage in violent activities.
These acts are further dividing the party and undermining party cohesion. They have already engaged themselves in election violence which has left four people badly injured and currently hospitalized in Mbarara in critical conditions.
These actions and conduct are detrimental to good behavior, unity and continuity of our party and threatens our highly projected performance of our National Party Presidential Flag bearer and the NRM party in general.
Aware of the current developments in various political parties where we are witnessing massive defections, the present actions of the District Party Chairperson create a favorable ground for opposition parties to penetrate and cause disharmony in the party with a target of further division and recruitment to their own parties.
As members of NRM in Bushenyi, we are committed to remaining solid and building our party further stronger.
We would like therefore to pray that;
a) As a National Party Chairperson, call our District Chairperson to order and refrain him from partial and selective participation in NRM primary elections as a leader for he is dividing our party.
b) Invoke the NRM constitutional provisions Schedule 4 Rule 5, paragraph (c) and (d) to provide remedy for the gross harm and impunity so far caused to our party.
“a member who commits a breach of this code shall; in case of a breach of paragraphs c), f), u), k) and p) of rule 4 be liable to a suspension not exceeding 6 months”.
c) Security agencies should apprehend the criminal gangs under the District Chairman’s sponsorship.
Mr. Chairman, the current situation in Bushenyi NRM party warrants immediate action. There is already gross harm on the reputation of our members who have been abused and intimidated which is affecting their persons as well as their public image.
Many of them have shown interest in serving their party as well as their country in different positions of leadership.
The interests of the party must at all times stand above any of our interests in conformity with our party constitution.
We wish to retaliate our commitment towards building a strong party in Bushenyi district.
Looking forward for your timely response to save our party.