The NRM Parliamentary Caucus has unanimously supported the Chobe Resolution by the Party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) to have the National Party Chairman and President Yoweri Museveni contest again as a sole candidate in the 2021 election and beyond.
This was revealed by Roger Mulindwa, NRM Secretariat spokesperson in a statement following Sunday meeting in the ongoing 8day Kyankwanzi retreat. Mulindwa said that the NRM caucus has endorsed Museveni as NRM sole candidate for 2021 and even beyond.
In the statement, he said that the position by the NRM legislators was taken shortly after the presentation by the Party Secretary General Rt. Hon. Justine Kasule Lumumba on the topic “Towards 2021: Milestones & Strategies for the NRM Party.” During her address, SG Lumumba read out to members the Chobe resolutions.
Unlike in 2015, where Museveni’s sole candidature was fronted by now State minister for Investment, Evelyn Anite, the 2021 sole candidate motion was presented by Hellen Asamo, MP representing PWDs in Eastern Region.
Asamo said Uganda needs President Museveni now more than ever before for his firm guidance and mentorship of the Party Membership. According to Mulindwa, Asamo’s position was unanimously seconded before the Legislators took a break. The MPs are this afternoon expected to debate on CEC’s proposal of lining up for the Party internal elections.
Before NRM CEC passed Museveni’s 2021 sole candidature, NRM district chairpersons for Eastern and Karamoja regions had on January 25, 2019, held a private meeting at Resort Hotel in Mbale district that passed 13 resolutions that among them include returning President Museveni as the sole NRM Presidential candidate for 2021 elections.
The conference was attended by NRM district chairpersons of Eastern and Karamoja regions, and top NRM CEC members that included; NRM Secretary General Justine Kasule Lumumba, Vice-chairperson Eastern region, Capt Mike Mukula, the Vice-Chairperson Karamoja, Simon Peter Aleper and the chairperson Women League, Lydia Wanyoto.
Architect of Museveni’s 2021 Sole Candidature
It is Grace Hellen Asamo, MP representing Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Eastern Region who beat the rest to table a motion to allow President Yoweri Museveni return as the NRM party’s sole candidate for 2021 general election.
According to the NRM Secretariat Spokesperson, Roger Mulindwa, Asamo tabled the motion on Sunday in Kyankwanzi shortly after Party Secretary General Justine Kasule Lumumba had read out the Party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) Chobe resolution that among others included endorsing Museveni as party sole candidate. NRM caucus is currently having a one weeklong retreat that started last Thursday.
In her motion, Asamo said that, “Uganda needs President Museveni now more than ever before for his firm guidance and mentorship of the Party Membership.”
In 2015, Museveni’s sole candidature for 2016 election was fronted by then Youth MP for Northern Uganda, Evelyn Anite now State minister for Investment.
ASAMO’s PROFILE
Born on April 24, 1964 in Soroti district, Asamo went to Soroti P/S before joining Nkoma SS for UCE. She later joined the Institute of Teacher Education in Kyambogo for Grade III Teaching Certificate before upgrading to a diploma in education in 1996. She graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education in 2006.
Asamo is a teacher by profession having taught in several schools such as Nakatunya P/S from 1992-1997, Moroto SDA P/S in 1997 before being elevated to deputy head teacher. She also taught in Soroti P/S and served as deputy head teacher of Moroto Army School.
She also served acting Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director of the National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda (NUDIPU), an indigenous umbrella NGO of PWDs, formed in November 1987.
Asamo has been in parliament since 2011 and is currently Vice chairperson of Equal Opportunities Committee and member of the Committee on Gender, Labour and Social Development.