KAMPALA, UGANDA – Former parliamentary candidates from across Uganda’s political divide have formed a new pressure and advocacy group, the *National Forum for Former Parliamentary Candidates*, aimed at uniting all losers of the parliamentary race regardless of party affiliation.
The Forum brings together candidates from the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), People Power / National Unity Platform (NUP), Patriotic Front, Alliance for National Transformation (ANT), Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), Democratic Party (DP), National Resistance Movement (NRM) among others.
According to Mr. Tugume Boniface, former candidate for Igara West Constituency in Bushenyi District, the Forum has already attracted more than *1,000 members* countrywide.
Tugume says they will embark on general regional visits starting with the Eastern Region to meet all former parliamentary candidates, recruit them, understand the reasons why they failed and find lasting solutions.
“We want to get all candidates who lost starting from the local council levels and bring them on board to see how we can build a strong country,” Tugume said.
Mr Tugume Boniface.
ACCUSATIONS OF UNFAIR PRIMARIES AND ELECTION IRREGULARITIES:
Members of the Forum told this website that they intend to unite all candidates from all parties, regardless of political background.
Some members accused their own parties of unfairness during the nomination process. “Some parties were selling cards, while others had godfathers in their parties who hindered capable people from getting party cards,” one member said.
The candidates also cited serious irregularities in the general election, including vote rigging, voter bribery, voter intimidation and ballot stuffing.
“KISANJA NO SLEEP, NO MORE CORRUPTION”:
The Forum says it is inspired by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s call for “Kisanja No Sleep, No More Corruption.”
“It’s time to work hard and together. If someone wins and gets office in Kampala he just sleeps and forgets voters, but we won’t allow that. We are ready to fight corruption and ensure people don’t sleep on jobs. We must fight for standard and improved service delivery,” the candidates said in a joint statement.
They added that it is time to work together to ensure that the manifesto of the country is fulfilled.
BURDEN OF VOTERS AND MINDSET CHANGE:
The former candidates said they still carry a heavy burden as thousands of voters who supported them continue to call them for help, especially for school fees for their children.
“We have a burden where people keep calling us asking for school fees for their children, so we need to ensure there is a mindset change so that we help people benefit from Government programs,” they lamented.
The Forum said its members, who still command thousands of supporters behind them, are ready to work with government despite their different party backgrounds and get involved in programs such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga to help their communities benefit.
“We have people who believe that we are their leaders, so we must get involved in government programs such as PDM because behind us we have thousands of people who supported us. We are ready to work with government despite political party backgrounds,” they said.
The Patron for the National Forum for Former Parliamentary Candidates is *Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire*, Member of Parliament for Ruhinda County and Minister for Water and Environment.
The Forum says its regional tour will begin soon in Eastern Uganda.
End.
