By Angel Lubowa
Kampala
As national nominations for Uganda Mps cones around the corner, its worth understanding thst political societies will never satisfy politicians wholly the world ove.
Thats why even in the most developed political democracies like the United States of America, United Kingdom or even in Israel if you want, you will always find independents.
Uganda’s parliament, even at its abnormally bigger size of 529 elected members from constituencies cannott absorb thousands of politicians who are dying to be elected to the House.
This practically means that parties of Uganda NRM and NUP for that matter, will disappoint very many members as they navigate their primaries.
Perhaps parties ought to reduce temptations by ensuring capabilities, support and other traits as they award cards to reduce the high numbers of their members who would wish to contest as independents.
A weak member who is eliminated at the party primaries level may not wish to challenge the status quo as a member who feels he is better than the party pick or who feels he was cheated during party primary elections.
Today the resulrant of the non application of the above is the controversial politicking in key NUP constituencies of Busiro East where a local semi educated Mathias Walukagga was preffered over a tested and competent lawyer, Hon Medard Ssehona , Mityana district where Hon Joy Bagala was dropped in favor of a little known film artist Proscovia Nabbosa , Makindye West where the incumbent Hon Allan Ssewanyana was cross matched with Zahara
Luyirika .
The same is teue in Lwemiyaga county where NRM’s Hon Theodore Ssekikubo feels less studied Rt Brig.Gen Emmanuel Rwashande cheated him and the country shall be entertained to their rivalries which are unstoppable.
Be it as it may be, NUP and NRM should not forget that at the end of the day, they will need numbers to perform in the House.
Such members can better be full time party members but can also surface as independents party leaning members other than total independents who will never like to associate with parties which dropped them squarely.
In Busiro East for example, NUP would be better off with Ssegona if he came as an independent assuming he beats Walukagga but sumpasizing with NUP than having an NRM MP .
Similarly in Lwemiyaga NRM is better off with Hon Ssekikubo as a leaning MP in the event of Rwashande loss than a NUP or FDC MP.
This is in the most unfortunate circumstances, the normal way being Rwashande and Walukagga’s winning as anticipated by their parties on the eve of awarding tickets.
But to achieve this, parties must not over isolated members who may choose to contest as independents.
They relatively remain their members of a necessity.
NUP’s preference of Walukagga should not make Ssegona an outright evil before the eyes of the party.
What if such a total party reject turn out be the mustard seed?
That’s why the old man with a hat is starting to make a vague concessions with his own NRM losers.
Addressing NRM primaries losers at Arua state Lodge, president Museveni though discouraged independents, he certainly left some bit of room for them.
He stopped them but allowed them literally.
” where there are NRM and opposition candidates, I wouldn’t advise you to come as an independent. Because if you do and things go wrong, you will be the one to blame.Even where there are only NRM’s, I would prefer you use the law, so that you don’t confuse our people’ the President cautioned.
During past campaigns, Museveni would go to a rally and announce the official party flag bearer but would also flash the NRM independent where he knew such independent was stronger.
During the Arua meeting, Museveni knowing some members will not draw back, he closed the doors but left windows open especially if it was safer for his party.
Suffice it to say that the so called law by parties to stop independents from coming as independents is not legally binding according to Uganda’s electoral laws.
It’s high time therefore that parties learnt how to bring their children together at any given time of challenges for quicker alliance if things turn out differently after elections.
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