Months to the start of the scientific campaigns, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) cadres have called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to sensitize the general public on the mode of the new scientific campaigns that are slated to start in September.
The NRM cadres under their umbrella body, “Team Thorough YKM 2021” (TTYKM2021) brings together all NRM party coordinators, campaign managers and mobilisers at various levels.
While addressing journalists at their offices in Kololo this week, the national chairman of the group, John Mugisha said the national electoral body should come out and sensitize political parties and all Ugandans on the new system of campaigning.
“We also do not know how effectively we are going to reach out to our members and other Ugandans through the proposed scientific campaigns,” Mugisha noted.
Mugisha maintained that they do not blame EC for proposing the use of scientific campaigns, but only need to be guided on how it’s going to be used.
“We all agree that things are not normal. COVID-19 is with us and we can’t blame anyone for anything because the country has to continue running. We only want EC to respond to people’s concerns and have a listening ear, to have a free, fair and credible election,” he said.
Mugisha said that all issues which affected Uganda in the past regimes were always as a result of elections.
“President Yoweri Museveni and his NRA team came and changed the trend of things and Ugandans have been enjoying peace for over 30years now. That is why we want the EC to guide and engage all political players and voters on what to do to avoid endless complaints,” he said.
He also revealed that they (NRM) have already instituted an IT centre at their offices in Kololo, Kampala in preparation for the scientific campaigns.
Team Thorough, was launched in 2015 by President Yoweri Museveni to beef up the NRM campaign team in 2016 general elections.
The group promotes NRM’s agenda and galvanizing support for NRM.
“We are ready for the scientific campaigns but we are only waiting for guidance from the EC and our mother party on how to operate. This centre will help us reach our coordinators countrywide from village to national level. We are only waiting for the party chairman to release the party roadmap,” he added.
Responding to opposition MPs fronting a declaration of a state of emergency, the team’s said there’s no need for a state of emergency.
“I think the opposition is just not prepared. They should use the Inter-Party Organisation Dialogue (IPOD) to address their grievances than calling for a state of emergency,” Mugisha said.
They also requested the EC to allow parties to meet their coordinators in town halls, following the ministry of health standard operating procedures.
The deputy national coordinator in charge of administration, Patrick Okello said the EC has to guide people on their role and what to do during the scientific campaigns.
He also noted that they are already meeting their coordinators through social media. “We have given all our coordinators phones and we engage through social media,” he added.
