The National Resistance Movement (NRM) office in Rukungiri District has officially concluded its nomination exercise for Chairpersons and Councilors at the Sub-county level. The exercise, which ran from August 5 to August 9, saw over 750 candidates nominated for the upcoming elections scheduled for August 14.
According to Katurebe Elias, the Assistant NRM Registrar for Rukungiri, the process began with the expression of interest, where candidates picked up nomination forms from July 28 to August 4. The subsequent nomination period allowed candidates to formally register their intent to run.
Elias emphasized the importance of verifying candidates’ qualifications through the “yellow book,” a crucial document that lists eligible party members. Only those whose names appeared in the yellow book were duly nominated and allowed to campaign from August 10 to 13.
However, the nomination exercise was not without its challenges. Elias noted that some candidates were disqualified due to their names not appearing in the yellow book or lacking a letter of endorsement from the NRM chairperson at the village level.
“We tried to explain the situation to those affected,” he said, highlighting the difficulties faced by individuals who failed to identify themselves as NRM members. This disqualification impacted their ability to participate in the elections, leading to some frustrations among the would-be candidates.
In a parallel development, the elderly members of the NRM in Rukungiri conducted their elections to form an executive committee. This election took place peacefully at the Rukungiri Main Stadium and was aimed at selecting a committee of five members, including a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson, general secretary Publicity Secretary and Finance
Mzee Jackson Ndyanimanya was elected as the Chairperson, while Sister Mille Mbabazi Jovia took on the role of Vice Chairperson.
Byaruhanga George Ruraka, who was elected as the Publicity Secretary and Kyabatu Fredrick elected as Finance secretary, expressed satisfaction with the fairness of the process.
They thanked all participants and district leadership for their unwavering support, particularly acknowledging Major Gen Jim Muhwezi. They urged their peers to work tirelessly to represent the interests of older citizens in the upcoming general elections adding that their voices matter, and they must ensure older persons ideas are heard.
