Mercy Nalugo & Emmanuel Gyezaho
Kampala
Two top officials of the ruling NRM confessed yesterday that some of the partys big people are wary of losing elections and resort to ballot theft.
Deputy spokesperson Ofwono Opondo yesterday told reporters in Kampala that some senior party officials rely on gerrymandering during primaries in a desperate effort to clinch the NRM ticket.
He said partially influenced the partys National Executive Councils (Nec) decision on Tuesday to adopt the adult suffrage system for electing flag bearers.
But the delegates resolved by unanimous decision to exempt the partys presidential candidate from seeking the endorsement of all party card holders through universal adult suffrage, a move that would meant that President Musevenis candidature for the next presidential election in 2011 will be decided by the partys national conference acting as an electoral college.
However, Mr Opondo said there was evidence to suggest that the old system of electing party candidates through electoral colleges was easily manipulated at primaries.
It is true some of our big people in the NRM rig elections, he said, adding that some NRM party officials facilitate independents and opposition candidates to trounce the partys official candidates.
He, however, did not offer any substantive evidence to back his claims.
Bushenyi Woman MP Mary Karoro Okurut said compelling candidates to seek the endorsement of all party card holders would go a long way in fighting ballot theft in the run up to the 2011 general election.
Kampala
Two top officials of the ruling NRM confessed yesterday that some of the partys big people are wary of losing elections and resort to ballot theft.
Deputy spokesperson Ofwono Opondo yesterday told reporters in Kampala that some senior party officials rely on gerrymandering during primaries in a desperate effort to clinch the NRM ticket.
He said partially influenced the partys National Executive Councils (Nec) decision on Tuesday to adopt the adult suffrage system for electing flag bearers.
But the delegates resolved by unanimous decision to exempt the partys presidential candidate from seeking the endorsement of all party card holders through universal adult suffrage, a move that would meant that President Musevenis candidature for the next presidential election in 2011 will be decided by the partys national conference acting as an electoral college.
However, Mr Opondo said there was evidence to suggest that the old system of electing party candidates through electoral colleges was easily manipulated at primaries.
It is true some of our big people in the NRM rig elections, he said, adding that some NRM party officials facilitate independents and opposition candidates to trounce the partys official candidates.
He, however, did not offer any substantive evidence to back his claims.
Bushenyi Woman MP Mary Karoro Okurut said compelling candidates to seek the endorsement of all party card holders would go a long way in fighting ballot theft in the run up to the 2011 general election.
