The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon Thomas Tayebwa, has called on National Resistance Movement (NRM) leaders in Kasese District to uphold discipline, avoid internal wrangles and concentrate on mobilising support for President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and all party flag bearers ahead of next year’s elections.
Tayebwa, who was accompanied by Al-Hajji Moses Kigongo, the NRM First National Vice Chairperson, and Eng Jonard Asiimwe, the Vice Chairperson for Western Uganda, spent the day meeting NRM opinion leaders in Kasese as part of an assessment of the party’s performance and mobilisation efforts.
He praised the district’s progress under the NRM government, revealing that Kasese District and Kasese Municipality receive over Shs 100 billion annually from the national budget.
“More than Shs 65 billion has so far been injected into the Parish Development Model (PDM), while over 118,000 youth have benefited from Emyooga livelihood funds”. He said.
He further noted ongoing piped water projects and other government pledges currently under implementation.
“The NRM’s performance in Kasese is impressive. These are tangible gains that must be protected by voting massively for President Museveni and all NRM flag bearers come January,” Tayebwa said.
He cautioned local leaders against engaging in identity politics, describing it as “backward and non-developmental”, and urged them to remain united in spreading the NRM message.
He also expressed confidence that with intensified mobilisation, the party would register a landslide victory, noting that President Museveni’s vote share in Kasese rose to 58% in 2021, up from 2016.
Later in the evening, Tayebwa attended a thanksgiving ceremony for Patrick Musinguzi, the NRM flag bearer for Kashari North Constituency in Mbarara District. Together with Eng Jonard Asiimwe, he rallied party supporters to preach unity and respect the official flag.
“One of the major concerns raised by the people is about candidates who lost in the primaries choosing to run as independents. If we are to perform excellently as a party, we must move forward as one united force,” Tayebwa said.
He revealed that the party is already engaging such candidates, encouraging them to step down and support the official flag bearers.
“Running as independents undermines the meaning of the party flag. We should be strengthening it, not weakening it,” he added.
Tayebwa concluded by appealing to voters and party supporters to “embrace one another and speak the language of unity because building bridges begins with us.”
