NRM woos Naggayi as Museveni moves to fish more opposition bigwigs

NRM says it is ready to welcome Kampala Woman MP Nabilah Naggayi Sempala of main opposition FDC after her party rejected her nomination forms for Kampala mayor.

On July 15, Naggayi returned her nomination forms for the Kampala mayoral race to the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) head office at Najjanankumbi in Kampala.

But FDC Electoral Commission (EC) chairperson Boniface Toterebuka Bamwenda told her the deadline for return of the forms was July 14.

Naggayi insisted the party had not issued any deadline for mayoral and presidential nominations. She added that the party had no flag bearer for the seat.

A scuffle ensued between her supporters and those of incumbent mayor Erias Lukwago who has considerable backing in the party.

NRM READY TO WELCOME FDC’S NABILAH NAGGAYI

But as Naggayi and FDC were still fighting, the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) sympathised with Naggayi.

Its Vice Chairperson for Eastern Uganda Capt Mike Mukula said he was concerned that FDC had barred Naggayi from contesting on the opposition party’s ticket.

“I would like to inform her that she is welcome to NRM with other FDC members who have not picked the forms to contest for the parliamentary seats,” wrote Mukula.

NRM FISHING MORE OPPOSITION MEMBERS

Meanwhile, Mukula insisted the NRM would soon unveil more opposition politicians who have defected to the ruling party.

The NRM campaigner said he had received numerous calls from various opposition members on the day Mugisha Muntu’s Alliance for National Transfromation (ANT) Buganda coordinator Pauline Namagembe crossed.

“Since unveiling the group that crossed to NRM on Monday, many opposition politicians have called to inform that they are willing to join us,” Mukula told local media.

“I can’t mention names for now but what I can assure you is that many more are joining the NRM.”

He praised the party’s mobilisation teams for doing a good job by fishing opposition to the NRM fold.

More inter-party defections characterise the electoral season as politicians strategise to win positions.