Vivian Kobusigye Kalule has been declared the NRM Mukono District women’s chairperson after her only rival, Catherine Birungi, withdrew from the race during the party primaries on Friday.
The primaries, held at the NRM district offices, were organised to select the party’s women’s leadership team, including the chairperson, vice-chairperson, publicity secretary and treasurer.
The contest for the chairperson’s position had attracted Birungi, the Kyampisi Sub-county women’s chairperson, and Kobusigye, who heads the women’s leadership in Nama Sub-county.
Women’s chairpersons from Mukono’s 18 sub-counties started arriving at the venue at about 9:00am to participate in the exercise. Birungi was reportedly backed by Juliet Nasuuna Kalule, the NRM women’s leader in Buganda, while Kobusigye entered the race with her own support base.
According to sources at the venue, Nasuuna later left after reportedly assessing the level of support for Birungi among the delegates, despite being expected to participate in the voting process.
The candidates and their proposed executive committees were subsequently nominated. At about 11:00am, Mukono NRM registrar Stephen Nakabaale explained the voting procedures to the delegates before the exercise was briefly interrupted by tensions surrounding the participation of district councillor Nakanwangi, who represents persons with disabilities.
Before the delegates moved into the NRM boardroom, the candidates outlined their priorities, including strengthening women’s leadership at the grassroots, working with Local Council structures to address women’s concerns and ensuring that women benefit from Government programmes.
Inside the boardroom, Nakabaale urged Birungi and Kobusigye to consider reconciliation in the interest of party unity. Birungi subsequently rose and announced her withdrawal from the race, saying she had decided to step aside in the interest of the NRM and the people of Mukono North.
She urged Kobusigye to remain focused on promoting the interests of women and strengthening the party. Her withdrawal was met with applause from the delegates and other NRM members present.
Some members, however, criticised Nasuuna and other party leaders, accusing them of attempting to interfere with the electoral process. Nakabaale later declared Kobusigye unopposed as the NRM’s Mukono District women’s chairperson, together with her proposed executive committee.
Addressing the gathering after the declaration, Mukono NRM district administrator Seruga Matovu called for unity among the women and urged them to put aside the disagreements that had characterised the morning’s proceedings.
Matovu urged the newly selected leaders and delegates to work together to mobilise support for the party ahead of the forthcoming elections. He said the party needed a united women’s leadership to strengthen its grassroots structures and mobilise voters. The primaries ended without a vote being conducted for the district women’s chairperson after Birungi withdrew from the contest-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
