Reports Leo Odera Omolo
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has returned nomination forms for the post of NRM chairman and for party flag-bearer in the 2011 presidential elections.,the government owned NEWVISION has reported.
The presidential assistant on political affairs, Moses Byaruhanga, on Monday handed over the forms to the NRM electoral commissioner, Lydia Wanyoto, at the party headquarters on Plot 10, Kyaddondo Road. Her colleague Israel Kayonde was also present.
Wanyoto quickly perused through the forms, signed and stamped both the original and duplicate copy that is returned to the candidate.
“The documents of aspirants for the different party positions will be forwarded to the central executive committee and the national conference. We thank candidate Yoweri Museveni for showing interest,” Wanyoto said.
The forms required aspirants to show their academic qualifications, voters’ card number and NRM party membership card number, among other things. They needed endorsement of at least 20 members of the delegates’ conference.
“Although we were required to get 20 signatures, we have got from the whole country. All delegates support candidate Museveni,” Byaruhanga said.
He explained that President Museveni’s interest in the top posts of the party was in response to a request by the NRM national executive committee (NEC) and district conferences that urged him to stand again for a fourth term.
“Candidate Museveni was urged by NEC and district conferences to offer his candidature to lead the party for the next five years and to become the party’s flag-bearer because he is capable. It is not his personal interest, but he is responding to that request. He could have done other things,” Byaruhanga added.
The NRM will hold its special organs conference on September 6 and 7, while its national conference is slated for September 11 and 12 at Namboole stadium.
Other aspirants for the post of NRM national chairman are former State House aides; Dr. Elizabeth Nabatanzi and Capt. Daudi Maguru.
President Museveni, 65, over the weekend spoke about his desire to be re-elected party leader and presidential candidate.
“I have returned my papers for nomination and now I can say, please vote for me,” Museveni told leaders of people with disabilities, women and youth leagues at Kamukuzi in Mbarara Municipality on Saturday.
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