Summary:
- Baryayanga dismissed Bahati’s endorsement as a panicked move, arguing that it was improperly conducted.
KABALE: The 39th NRM Liberation Day celebrations in Kabale Municipality on Sunday turned into a war of words between Kabale District NRM Chairman David Bahati and former Kabale Municipality MP Andrew Baryayanga Aja, who is vying for the same seat.
Speaking at the celebration held at Kabale Main stadium on Sunday, Bahati, also the MP for Ndorwa West County and State Minister for Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives accused Baryayanga of stirring division among party members. He further disowned Baryayanga, claiming he is not yet a registered member of the National Resistance Movement (NRM).
“You are not even registered, yet you’re saying so much. The NRM Secretary General is here, and you’re running around causing confusion. This is not how NRM operates,” Bahati said. “We are celebrating 39 years of the NRM under President Museveni because of discipline. You must exercise discipline.”
Bahati urged NRM supporters to embrace the party’s four core principles: Patriotism, Pan-Africanism, Socio-economic Transformation, and Democracy.
“We need unity among party members. You cannot be a bishop without first being baptized. NRM is a large party, and it needs leaders who are experienced and have been tested in the struggle within the party,” Bahati elaborated.
CUE IN MINISTER BAHATI…ON NRM……RR//
Bahati was endorsed as the sole candidate for the position of Kabale District NRM Party Chairman during the celebrations. However, Enock Barata, the NRM Secretariat’s Director of Legal Affairs, who represented NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong as the chief guest, clarified that Bahati would still need to be voted into the position.
In response, Baryayanga dismissed Bahati’s endorsement as a panicked move, arguing that it was improperly conducted.
“This wasn’t a decision by the NRM District Executive Committee, as required. It was merely an announcement made during the Liberation Day celebrations,” Baryayanga said.
He criticized Bahati for failing to unite NRM supporters in Kabale, attributing the party’s diminished influence in the region to his leadership. Currently, Kabale District has only two NRM Members of Parliament, with the majority of seats held by opposition and independent candidates.
“NRM has lost its glory in Kabale because Bahati wants to act as the sole king. Instead of uniting supporters, he has fostered division, strengthening the opposition. I pledge to bring equality to the party and restore its lost glory,” Baryayanga vowed.
CUE IN BARYAYANGA…..ON ENDORSEMENT………RR/ENG//
