NRM Primaries: I Never Sent my Relatives to Contest, Says Museveni

President Yoweri Museveni has denied sending his relatives to contest in the NRM Party Primaries. 

Museveni in his dossier to the NRM EC Chairperson Dr Tanga Odoi dated September 15, 2020, said that he is not responsible for the chaotic elections caused by his relatives, adding that he didn't send them to contest nor did they even consult him. 

"Especially the young people may not know the core principles and practices of the NRM. I never sent any of those relatives to contest in those areas or anywhere nor did they even consult me," Museveni said in his letter responding to alleged vote rigging in the districts of Isingiro, Kazo, Sembabule and Kiruhura. 

In Sembabule, elections were postponed to a latter date (September 28th) following violence that broke out during campaigns. In Mawogola North, Museveni’s younger brother Godfrey Aine Kaguta also known as Sodo is contesting against Shartis Musherure, a daughter to Foreign Affairs minister Sam Kahamba Kutesa and another candidate Salim Kisekka.

Sodo is said to be riding on his relationship with Museveni to subdue his opponents. During his campaigns, he claimed that Museveni is fully behind his candidature. However, Museveni has refuted the utterances saying that he did not even support his wife, Janet Museveni until she became a flag bearer for Ruhaama County in 2015.

"I even opposed Janet Museveni when she went to stand in Ruhaama. It was only when a huge delegation of elders from Ruhaama invaded me at Rwakituura, in support of her candidature, but I relented. Even then, I never campaigned for her in the Primaries. It was only after becoming a flag bearer, that I campaigned for her. Africa, Uganda patriotism, Pan-africanism, social economic transformation and democracy for our prosperity, strategic security as Africans not relatives," Museveni said.