NRM New Generation Members Reject Roadmap, Give Dr. Tanga Odoi Seven Day Ultimatum
A section of National Resistance Movement (NRM) members, both young and old, have voiced their dissatisfaction with the recently released party roadmap, calling for urgent reforms to strengthen internal democracy.
Friday in kampala, the group, under the leadership of Dr. Donkim Mordecai Mtombali, the Head of Operations at NRM, has raised concerns over the prolonged delays in electing party structures and the selection of members whose election process remains unclear.
The team has been accompanied by other colleagues, including Mbabali Shaffick, the General Secretary of the New Generation, who emphasized the need to acknowledge Article 41, Clause 1 of the NRM party constitution.
According to him, the article clearly stipulates that party structures must be elected through a transparent process, reinforcing their demand for internal democracy.
Citing the party’s constitution, they insist that all leadership positions must be filled through elections rather than appointments. Their discontent is particularly directed at the roadmap unveiled by Dr. Tanga Odoi, which they claim does not align with democratic principles within the party.
The group has now issued a seven day ultimatum to Dr. Tanga Odoi to revise the roadmap and agree to their demands. They warn that if their concerns are not addressed, they will mobilize Ugandans from all corners of the country to storm the NRM headquarters, take over leadership, and elect new office bearers for all positions.
The new generation members are also calling on President Yoweri Museveni, the NRM National Chairman, to champion democracy within the party by ensuring that all leadership positions, from the national chairperson down to LC1 level, are subjected to proper elections.
They, however, propose that the current Deputy National Chairman, Al Hajji Moses Kigongo, should retain his position without contestation due to his long-standing service and experience.
Their grievances stem from reports that President Museveni was endorsed as the party’s sole candidate in exchange for securing positions for certain secretariat members. The new generation members argue that such decisions undermine the party’s democratic principles.
They are also demanding that leaders representing specific regions must seek election from those regions rather than being imposed from elsewhere. Additionally, they are calling for the immediate convening of a National Delegates Conference to elect new party leaders, emphasizing that the last such conference was held nearly a decade ago at Namboole Stadium.
With growing tensions within the ruling party, all eyes are now on the NRM leadership to address these concerns within the given deadline. Whether their demands will be met remains to be seen, but the push for reforms signals a new wave of activism within Uganda’s dominant political party.
