By Najibu Mulema
Elections for NRM candidates to be forwarded for approval by parliament were yesterday halted after chaos erupted over disagreements on the number of candidates to be considered.
The party MPs were suggesting that seven candidates should be elected to represent the party yet the electoral commission insisted on its decision to count only six slots.
By the time tallying was stopped, former Ntungamo Municipality MP Yona Musinguzi was leading on Western ticket, former Kakuuto MP Mathias Kasamba was leading on central ticket, Paul Musamali was leading on Eastern ticket while National Youth Council Chairperson Lillian Aber was leading via Northern.
For Special interest groups, youth, PWDs and Workers were merged and Ambrose Murangira, a deaf man from Ibanda was leading. On the slot of women, Mary Mugyenyi was leading while Sarah Kagingo was leading on Kampala slot.
Due to disagreements, a vote recount was ordered and a fresh election is going to take place today at 2pm.
Also of contention was the decision to follow regional balance which majority MPs were opposed to. Indeed, Former Butaleja MP Emmanuel Dombo quit the race citing unfairness in the process bringing the total of those who quit the race to 10.
So this time round voting is not going to be based on regional balance but rather one will have to vote 6 candidates of his choice with two women inclusive.
najibmule@gmail.com
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