I WON`T FIGHT INDEPENDENTS

UNITY: (L-R) S. Kundra, the chair of the Indian community, Mr Museveni, Mr Sanjay, his wife Alpa and Mr Ruparelia at the function. COURTESY PHOTO

President Museveni will continue to work and support independent political candidates and leaders at the various levels because the ruling NRM party elections were not free and fair.

Party primaries meant to pick party flag bearers in the last general elections were marred by irregularities causing several candidates who had contested and lost, to run as independents.

The President said while some NRM party members argue that the party should not deal with independent MPs, that position would count “if the NRM elections didn’t have issues.”

Ideal situation
“Once we clean up the party elections, then we shall be able to say no to independents,” he said. “Last party elections had some problems and some members say they were not free and fair.”

The 9th Parliament has at least 43 independent MPs most of whom are NRM party supporters but either lost party primaries or declined to participate, citing unfairness in the party elections.

“I cannot fight independent MPs and we should work together until our party elections are free and fair,” he said. The President was recently speaking at the victory celebrations for Tororo Municipality MP Sanjay Tanna in Kampala.

Although subscribing to the NRM party, Mr Tanna ran as an independent, retaining his seat against NRM’s Yeri Ofwono of the NRM. Mr Museveni said despite calls from some NRM members in Tororo that he denounces Mr Tanna, he had endorsed the MP “because he is my son”.

Mr Tanna said he won the elections because the President did not fight him as had been requested by sections of the NRM leadership.

The President’s remarks will stoke the debate on the place of independents, especially in Parliament, coming days after they were blocked from heading crucial House committees.

Fight in House
The NRM caucus recently blocked attempts to let independent MPs head the legal and parliamentary affairs committees of the House. The opposition has also criticised attempts by the independent MPs to form a bloc headed by MP Amooti Otada and deputised by Mr Tanna.

The Government Chief Whip John Nasasira, who leads the NRM caucus, yesterday said the party was “finding a way of working with the independents”.

“Some members said independents gave us hell in the campaigns,” he said, “but we have to find a way of working with them without them losing their independence.”
He denied reports that the party was planning to sign a memorandum of understanding with the independents.

Asked why independent MPs such as JC Miyingo (Higher education), Asuman Kiyingi (Regional Cooperation) and Alex Onzima (Local Government) had been appointed ministers, Mr Nasasira said, “That is a different matter and will be dealt with.”

Over 70 MPs were sent packing from the 8th Parliament after the Constitutional Court ruled that they erred in contesting for re-election on tickets other than those they used to get into the House.

In the case filed against former West Budama MP William Oketcho, the judges held that the MPs should have resigned before switching political platforms.

To probe
Also at Mr Sanjay’s party, the President said he would investigate claims of denial of work permits to Asians. The Indian Association had complained to the President that their applications for work permits were being rejected.

They also told the President to help clean up the land registry because land titles were disappearing and the office was a repository of corrupt officials.

Leading Indian industrialists Sudhir Ruparelia, S.C. Sharma of Mehta Group, Mr Ishwer- Madhvani, Kishore Jobanputra of Nytil and Mr S. Lalani of Roofings attended the function in which their association demanded the government helps reduce hindrances to investment.

“I don’t know much about immigration but lands…Oh! We are trying to computerise that office but the thieves are in charge and they are resisting change,” the President said, “Aha… I can see this young lady (Sarah Achieng Opendi) is now the new lands minister. We are going to change things in that office.”

Mr Museveni sent the audience into laughter when he faulted Ugandans for saying Indians “are bad” because they never allowed their girls to marry local men.
“Is there a shortage of women in Uganda or men among the Indians?” he asked as the crowd burst into laughter, “There is cultural incompatibility and why do you want to cause chaos in families?”

He said the Indians don’t eat meat and that could make love sour in such marriages. “Marriage is not the issue; it’s a private affair, if you agree that is your business. What is important is that we build the economy.”

He promised to meet the Indians sometime in August to hear more of their grievances but promised to ensure there is enough electricity and the East African market for them.