Gomba NRM Village Candidates Cry Foul Over MP Abandonment

Candidates seeking leadership roles as LC1 chairpersons under the National Resistance Movement (NRM) in Gomba District have voiced strong disappointment, claiming their elected Members of Parliament have failed to provide crucial support during the ongoing village election campaigns. The candidates, spearheaded by Abel Wasswa Mukatuliki, the LC1 Chairperson of Kanoni Village, stated that not a single NRM MP from the district has joined their efforts since the campaign period began.

This perceived abandonment leaves the NRM candidates facing formidable opposition from the National Unity Platform (NUP), particularly in areas like Kanoni where NUP enjoys significant backing, according to Mukatuliki. He highlighted the reciprocal nature of political support, recalling how NRM village leaders actively mobilized communities and contributed to the MPs’ electoral victories in the past.

“We have always stood with our MPs during their campaigns. We mobilised people, organised meetings and worked hard to help them win. But now that we need their support, none of them has shown up,” Mukatuliki lamented, suggesting that their dedication is only valued during parliamentary electoral cycles.

The village leaders feel undervalued, asserting that MPs often disappear after elections, with phone calls frequently going unanswered. Mukatuliki warned of potential repercussions in future elections, indicating that if this pattern of neglect persists, village leaders might reconsider their commitment to mobilizing support for MPs.

“If the government does not change the election schedule and MPs are elected before LC1 leaders again, we will not mobilise for them. We have realised that we are only used when they need us,” he stated. In light of the MPs’ absence, Mukatuliki appealed directly to President Yoweri Museveni, the NRM’s National Chairman, to intervene and offer much-needed support to the party’s village chairperson candidates in Gomba.

The urgency stems from the NUP’s apparent significant investment in the current village elections, with the opposition party determined to secure multiple LC1 positions across the district. The village elections are scheduled for July 28th and are anticipated to be highly contested throughout Gomba.

This situation was reported by Nile Post.