Museveni calls off cabinet meeting, parliament seating

By  Stephen Wandera Ouma

President Yoweri Mueveni has called off cabinet meeting and also directed Speaker to Parliament to call off plenary to allow minister and legislator participate in National Resistance Movement (NRM) local council elections. Cabinet always convened every Monday to discuss policies and other matters of national interest.

“I am alerting and requesting all the NRM members to go to the village centres in their respective local areas by 10am on Tuesday the 6th of May, 2025, to do two things: Take part in the baraza that will verify the members of the NRM that have been registered in the NRM registers. And also take part in the elections of the NRM LCI flag-bearer for LCI chairmanship and also elect the village NRM structures,” reads a press statement on Saturday May 4th, 20225.

It further stated, “The two activities, register verification and electing LCI NRM flag- bearers and the NRM structures-should strictly take place between 10am and 2pm. The NRM Electoral commission will give you the details. I will personally be in the Rwakitura village and Maama will be in Ntungamo Ireenga to take part in the verification of our respective NRM, village registers.  I will, however, not line behind any candidate for election because as chairman of the NRM, I welcome any choice of our members. I cannot and should not, therefore, take sides.”

Adding,, “To ensure that the leaders participate, there will be no cabinet meeting on Monday, the 5th of May, 2025 and I have also agreed with the Rt. Hon. Speaker that there will be no Parliamentary sitting on Tuesday, the 6th of May 2025.”

Meanwhile the NRM Electoral Commission has dispatched a team that will conduct exercise in the 72,000 NRM polling stations.   

The dispatched zonal supervisors together with party Registrars from the district to the village level are expected to deliver free, fair and credible election results “without fail.” ‎‎

According to Hon. Jacqueline Kyatuhaire, the NRM Deputy National Treasurer who represented the Secretary-General, the Tuesday elections will be handled well in line with the set rules and regulations.  ‎‎

She called upon the supervisors and registrars to refrain from taking orders and instructions from politicians rather follow set rules from the Secretariat.  ‎

“The politicians are willing and ready to use you for their selfish gains. Please stand your ground and do the right thing,” Hon.Kyatuhaire said.  ‎

She urged the supervisors and Registrars to do due diligence throughout the exercise for the good of the NRM family.  ‎

“We must restore faith and trust of our members in the NRM processes, now that we have a clean digital voters’ register that will be tested for the first time,” Kyatuhaire said.  ‎

The NRM Electoral Commission Chairperson, Dr. Tanga Odoi urged the supervisors to be promoters of internal democracy by respecting the will and decisions of people through their vote. 

‎”Maintain all kinds of discipline, be good time Keepers and collaborate closely with your team leaders, provide timely feedback, and address any gaps with urgency. With everyone’s cooperation, we are confident of a successful outcome in these elections,” Dr Tanga said.  ‎‎

Your role is to observe and update the national Secretariat for necessary interventions. You have no other role in the voting, counting and declaration of results other than observation and guidance,” Dr Odoi guided.  ‎‎

Hon. Emmanuel Dombo, the party director in charge of information and publicity said the party National Chairperson and all members of the Central Executive Committee will have interests in the coming village elections because they have a direct impact on their positions.  ‎

“Do not disappoint the Secretariat and party members by presiding over a sham exercise,” Dombo said.  ‎

The Director of Mobilisation Hon. Rosemary Seninde cautioned the concerned persons against corruption and misuse of power and authority during the election exercise. 

‎”The role you have assumed is big and tempting because some politicians are determined to buy victory at whatever cost. So be professional,” Seninde said. 

‎Hajjat Medina Naham, the Director of Finance and Administration called for humility and discipline.  ‎”You are our ambassadors. I want you to go with discipline. Go with humility, and go with focus. Listen to people and forward their issues for redress. Follow the process, or the procedures diligently and avoid shortcuts. Because when you are in a situation where you are in a crisis, when you take shortcuts, you cut short the future of our party,” Naham said. 

The Training exercise was also attended and addressed by other members of the NRM Secretariat’s Top leadership.