Adjumani Woman MP Jesca Ababiku has dismissed claims that independent candidate Ben Anyama was forced to withdraw from the Adjumani West by-election, saying evidence presented to local leaders indicates that he stepped down voluntarily.
Anyama withdrew from the race following discussions with President Yoweri Museveni, who is also the National Resistance Movement (NRM) chairman.
Speaking to journalists in Adjumani on Saturday, Ms Ababiku said a letter presented to local leaders indicated that Anyama had voluntarily surrendered his candidature, with some of his supporters also signing the document.
“There were talks that he was forced by the President. The information which has been shared today, with the letter as evidence, is that he surrendered voluntarily,” Ms Ababiku said.
She said unless Anyama comes out to state otherwise, she believed the decision was made with his consent after he listened to the President.
“As a cadre, as a disciplined leader, he got denominated voluntarily with his consent. Some of his supporters also signed,” she said.
Ms Ababiku described Anyama as a good leader who could continue contributing to the development of Adjumani and supporting the NRM in other ways.
“He is a leader who can wait for tomorrow, who can still support NRM in other ways, but also support the development of Adjumani. He is a good leader,” she said.
Ms Ababiku has been mobilising support for the NRM flag bearer, James Leku Pilli, ahead of the September 17 by-election, urging voters in Adjumani West to unite behind him.
She said the campaign should focus less on political divisions and more on the development needs of residents, including improved public services.
“As people of Adjumani, we need to focus more on development than concentrating on division. We need to write our legacy, and we cannot write our legacy on division,” she said.
Ms Ababiku said she was optimistic that political differences in the district would eventually give way to unity, enabling residents and leaders to work together for the development of Adjumani.
Her mobilisation is part of the NRM’s village-to-village campaign aimed at consolidating support for Mr Leku ahead of the by-election.
NRM senior manager for communications Rogers Mulindwa said the party’s priority was to ensure that the election did not deepen existing divisions in the district.
He said political differences were normal during elections but urged residents to take the lead in rebuilding unity.
“Our target as a party is to leave Adjumani more united than we have ever found it,” Mr Mulindwa said.
He said the NRM could provide guidance and support, but the responsibility for reconciliation ultimately rested with the people of Adjumani.
“The Adjumani people must take the lead. We can only give them some support and advise them on certain issues, but they have the key role in making Adjumani more united,” he said.
Mr Mulindwa urged candidates, their supporters and residents to respect one another and ensure that the election does not create lasting divisions among families and local leaders.
“These elections must not escalate conflicts in this district. They must not dig the rifts deeper. They must not leave families disgruntled or divide the leadership here,” he said.
He said the NRM campaign was progressing well, with mobilisation teams covering the five sub-counties ahead of President Museveni’s scheduled visit to Adjumani on Tuesday.
Mr Mulindwa urged residents from across the district, including those outside Adjumani West, to turn up for the President’s visit.
He said Mr Museveni’s message of peace and discipline would reinforce the party’s call for unity ahead of the by-election.
Ms Ababiku welcomed the President’s planned visit, saying residents were ready to receive him and would use the opportunity to present a memorandum outlining challenges facing the district.
“We are more ready because this is an NRM-rooted district, but also we love the President and he has done a lot,” she said.
The Adjumani West by-election is scheduled for September 17, with Mr Leku among the candidates seeking to succeed the late General Moses Ali.
