The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) youth leaders from Eastern Uganda are calling on party leadership to urgently intervene in what they describe as selective distribution of motorcycles and funds meant to facilitate mobilisation of election activities ahead of the January 15 general elections.
The youth leaders accuse the National NRM Youth Chairperson, Mr Collins Tanga, of sidelining youth leaders who did not support him during the NRM party structure elections last year. They claim that the distribution of motorcycles and funds, intended for vote mobilisation for President Yoweri Museveni and other NRM flag bearers in respective districts, was unfair.
“We called on the NRM Secretary General, Richard Todwong, to institute an inquiry into the matter. The distribution favoured individuals who voted for Mr Tanga in the recently concluded party elections,” said Nimrod Kakayi, the NRM Youth Youth Youth Youth, Namisindwa District.
Each district and city youth chairperson was expected to receive one motorcycle and Shs8 million for the exercise, but some reportedly didn’t get theirs. The affected youth leaders cited Busoga, Teso, and Bugisu regions as examples where the distribution was allegedly unfair.
“This is not a privilege of the national chairperson; it’s an entitlement of district and city NRM youth league chairpersons,” said Ibrahim Ngobi, the NRM Youth League Chairperson for Jinja City.
The youth leaders also expressed concern over a separate issue involving the position of Vice Chairperson of the NRM Youth League for Eastern Uganda. Samuel Omaria, the NRM Chairperson for Soroti West City Division, alleged that Tanga is working with a disqualified individual, Rakibu Kiyimba, who was removed from the position by the NRM tribunal due to age limits.
“The tribunal found that Mr Kiyimba was above the age limit of 35 and ruled that I assume the position of Vice Chairperson for Eastern Uganda with effect from October 14 last year. I have written several complaints to the NRM Electoral Commission and the party, but no action has been taken. Mr Collins has continued to work with an impersonator,” Omaria said.
In response, Tanga defended the distribution, saying motorcycles went to active mobilisers, not just chairpersons.
“When I lobbied for the motorcycles, I lobbied for active mobilisers within the Youth League structure at district level. Whether one is a sub-county chairperson or a publicist, as long as they were actively mobilising for the President, they qualified,” he said.
Tanga dismissed claims of cash handouts, saying there were only motorcycles meant to enhance mobility.
“Each motorcycle is meant to carry three youth mobilisers to polling stations to ensure the safety of President Museveni’s votes,” he said.
Tanga also refuted allegations that he gave motorcycles to those who supported him during the Youth League party elections, citing examples of chairpersons from Busia, Butaleja, and Bulambuli districts who didn’t publicly support him but still received motorcycles for mobilisation.
On the issue of who is the legitimate Vice Chairperson of the NRM Youth League for Eastern Uganda, Tanga said the matter is still before court.