Kampala: The National Resistance Movement (NRM) has unveiled the official campaign portrait of its presidential candidate, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni ahead of the general elections scheduled for January 2021. The Party Secretary-General, Justine Kasule Lumumba while addressing the press at the Party Head offices in Kampala, said that the forthcoming campaigns shall be run under the theme, “Securing the Future” which is best explained under the four core principles of the NRM i.e. Patriotism, Pan Africanism, Socio-economic transformation and Democracy.
“As NRM, we would like to unveil to Ugandans the official portrait of our Presidential candidate for the 2021 general elections,” Hon. Lumumba revealed. When asked about the missing name ‘Tibuhaburwa’ on the portrait of the candidate, the Secretary-General responded that as soon as the due process of upholding name by Electoral commission is done, his new name shall be adopted.
On the same event, Lumumba disclosed to the media that the party shall present its Presidential candidate to the independent electoral commission for nomination on the 2nd of November this year. The SG also noted that the party had submitted a total of 5 million signatures to the National Electoral Commission for the verification in accordance with the legal regime obtaining in the country. “I want to thank the NRM fraternity for the strong show of support. I also want to inform our sister political parties that this is a clear signal for the 2021 national elections,” she said.
Lumumba congratulated all the NRM flagbearers upon their successful nomination by the Independent Electoral Commission. She also in a special way, congratulated all the flagbearers who were declared unopposed. “To the party, this is a clear indication of the massive support that the party enjoys among the Ugandan population. It shows trust and confidence that Ugandans have in us,” Lumumba added.
Implementation of Sugar Act crucial: Speaker Kadaga
Speaker Rebecca Kadaga is committed to ensuring that there is funding that is needed for the implementation of the Sugar Act 2020. According to the Speaker, a board of directors should be appointed according to the law which needs funding for adequate implementation. “We are going to ensure that during this budget cycle, we make a provision for some money to start the board and the other activities,” said Kadaga.
The Speaker made this commitment while on a visit to Smart Start Industries (EA) Ltd in Masindi district. The industry processes sugarcane into spirit related products. The Speaker was accompanied on the visit by the Kyabazinga of Busoga, HRH William Gabula Nadiope IV. The visit was intended boost trade relations between Busoga and Bunyoro sub-regions.
Kadaga said there is need to seek markets for Uganda’s sugarcane farmers and sugar processors beyond the East African region. She also called for removal of tariff barriers and also tapping into the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) region. “We also need to promote value addition to our sugarcane and look into other by-products so that we can enter the market with processed goods,” Kadaga added.
The Speaker added that Parliament will support the Ministry of Energy to come up with regulations that will aim at promoting the use of bio-fuels which would in turn will improve the drive for environmental conservation.
I don’t fear anyone, says anti-corruption unit boss Nakalema
The State House Anti-Corruption Unit head Lt Col Edith Nakalema has said she is ready to deal with all corrupt leaders who think they are untouchables. Nakalema said she was ready to assist the newly appointed Leadership Code Tribunal to quickly reach out to the ‘hard-to-reach people or leaders, saying speed in investigating and prosecuting suspects was one of her principles, which she said had yielded positive results since she assumed office in December 2018.
Nakalema was speaking to the newly-appointed members of the Tribunal during an induction training session at their offices at Padre Pio House, Kampala. “I am a soldier and I do not fear anyone. I swore and I am ready to die on duty because I do not fear any of the so-called untouchables. We shall touch them on your behalf, just refer these individuals to me,” she said.
Nakalema also said the unit had set up a 24-hour team that receives complaints from the public. “As a unit we are well-connected to the public right from the grassroots and it makes our work easy.”
According to Nakalema, one of the shortcomings in inquiries into the cases was dragging and delaying investigations. This, she said, forces the public to lose morale and hope of achieving justice.
