On Monday this week, James Okori did something whose occurrence had been widely anticipated by a number of people when he dragged NRM to court challenging its newly adopted primary elections guidelines.
Okori wants Court to quash the said guidelines for being too restrictive on aspiring NRM candidates, among other reasons. He also wants Court to compel NRM to allow aspirants to pick nomination forms without paying the nomination fees which are exhorbitant in his view.
Now as it turns out, majority of students whose opinion Campusbee has sought have expressed a common view that someone working behind shadows is behind the law suit that the KIU student brought against NRM.
Ivan, a 3rd year engineering student from Makerere says it is inconcievable that Okori sued NRM on his own volition. “Someone must be behind him. Someone like JPAM.” Says Ivan, in reference to Amama Mbabazi the former prime minister.
Shanice, an IT student at UCU voiced a similar opinion, asserting that the guidelines have been shown to be a major thorn in one particular person’s political ambitions – the former prime minister Amama Mbabazi.
Abdu, a law student at IUIU main campus has a different opinion, however. “Just because the chap is a student does not mean he has no mature ambitions or principles. I think James is a genuinely interested member of NRM who felt appalled by the guidelines hence taking matters to Court.”
Intent on dispelling the rumours swirling about that he is merely a pseudo-litigant, James Okori has exclusively opened up to Campusbee about what drove him into suing the NRM party over its contested primaries election guidelines.
The KIU student has strongly distanced himself from allegations that he is acting on orders from one of the NRM bigwigs who recently fell out with the party. Okori says contrary to the “silly allegations,” he was compelled to sue by a number of factors.
“Many of my friends in NRM who had similar intentions to contest for elective office on the NRM ticket have been discouraged because of the nomination fees. It is as if only the rich are allowed to be members of NRM.
I feel concerned as a staunch NRM supporter and member that my party which is built on an all-inclusive foundation has put in place exhorbitant nomination fees for aspiring candidates, something which portends to alienate a number of individuals with modest pockets who had plans of representing their constituencies on the NRM ticket. The fees are simply too restrictive!”
In Okori’s view, as a member who intends to stand for parliamentary elections in his Busiro South constituency on the NRM ticket, “being required to purchase an expression of interest, moreover at a ridiculous fee of UGX 2,000,000/=, is unacceptable. Lets not forget that I will later have to spend more money to campaign before the primaries are conducted, after which I will still need more funds for the general campaigns in 2016 while running for the Member of Parliament seat. Sente naazijjawa?” He adds in vernacular.
Okori says he is disturbed that many of the recommendations contained in a report that NRM made after the 2011 general elections have not been implemented. “For example, it was recommended that tribunals be set up to hear complaints such as those arising from internal NRM election irregularities but am not aware of any such tribunal that has been setup despite the fact that President Museveni and former prime minister Amama Mbabazi endorsed that report. Where, then, should I have run to?”
Asked whether he does not fear for his safety after suing the ruling party, a confidently speaking Okori replied that “I am ready for anything.”
Contrary to media reports early this week, the party has insisted that the nomination fees are still in place. Manning the reception, Swabrin Masaba, who identified himself as the Logistics and Supplies manager at the NRM secretariat at Kyadondo said the only thing that changed is that an aspirant can now access the regulations before paying nomination fees.
Reacting to the lawsuit, Richard Todwong the former minister without portfolio and NRM’s chief political mobiliser rubbished Okori’s suit as “time wasting”. “Let him just come and pick nomination forms. The regulations where endorsed by Central Executive Committee, the top organ of the party. Court has no jurisdiction to determine for us nomination fees.”
The case is to be heard on Thursday 23rd July 10:00am by the High Court Civil Division at Twed Towers before Judge Yasin Nyanzi.
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