| KAMPALA & LUWEERO
The government is investigating Maj. Kakooza Mutale, the senior Presidential Advisor on Political Affairs, on allegations that he has instructed people in Luwero to burn their NRM registration certificates.
Government spokesman Dr. James Nsaba Buturo told Daily Monitor yesterday that Mutale will be punished if the reports are found to be true.
Investigations are underway to verify whether what was reported not only by you (Daily Monitor) but even other sections is true, Dr Buturo said. If the investigations prove that it is true then appropriate action will be taken.
The controversial advisor has come out openly to challenge the governments plans to campaign for a return to a multi-party system.
The Daily Monitor reported on Saturday that Mutale had ordered residents of Luweero district not to register with the NRM and urged those that had already registered to burn their cards.
Museveni is the chairman of the NRM, which was registered as a political party on October 31, 2003 under the Political Parties and Organisations Act.
Buturo said yesterday that Mutale was a known member of the Movement who was well aware of its position on the question of opening up.
In March 2003 the Movement National Executive Committee (NEC) and the National Conference (NC) sitting in Kyankwanzi and Kampala respectively endorsed the opening up and also authorised the transformation of the Movement into an organisation or political party. The decision to open up is due to be endorsed in a referendum planned for July 28.
Mutale remains opposed to opening up and has vowed to continue opposing the move.
Buturo said Mutales orders were not in conformity with the values and standards of democracy. He, however, said that Mutales alleged orders have to be proved to be true by the investigation before government can make substantive comments or take action.
We cannot make a statement based on reports in the media, he said.
Opondo in doubt
The Movement and NRM spokesperson, Mr Ofwono Opondo, said he did not believe the reports that Mutale had instructed Luweero residents to destroy their NRM certificates.
He added, however, that if they are true, then Mutale would be going against the law.
Under the Political Parties and Organisations Act [PPOA] it is an offence to disfigure, destroy or burn a symbol, cards or any other recognised material of an opponent or other political party or organisation, Opondo said.
Opondo said he believed the reports to be the work of people bent on putting Mutale on a collision course with the Movement and particularly President Museveni.
Nadduli not happy
But the Luweero Chairman, Al Hajji Abdu Nadduli, told Daily Monitor on Friday that he had written a letter to the National Political Commissar, Dr Crispus Kiyonga to complain about Mutales activities. Nadduli threatened to arrest the officer.
But Mutale appeared unfazed in his campaign. Fresh reports from Kikyusa and Kamira sub-counties in Luweero district suggested that he was planning an operation to search for NRM party cards issued out so far.
Mutale has reportedly given the area residents up to Friday this week to burn all the cards they have so far received. The residents who spoke to the Daily Monitor from Wobulenzi town on their way to Kampala yesterday alleged that Mutale sounded determined to implement his decision.
The move comes barely days after he directed the same residents never to register with NRM under the new multi-party political arrangement.
Simon Mugerwa, a resident of Buzibwera in Kikyusa Sub County, told the Daily Monitor from Wobulenzi town yesterday morning that the situation was becoming more tense and that the residents were getting more confused with what to do.
Mutales most recent remarks came on Saturday as he drove to his Matembe institute for a weekend. He was reportedly travelling in a white double cabin pick-up truck with a few soldiers on board.
He stopped in Kamira and told a few people who braved to get closer to him that they should not vote for the return the multi-party politics in the forthcoming referendum, Mugerwa said.
Mutale reportedly gave them up to Friday, July 1, to burn all their NRM cards and warned that he would mount an operation to search for those who had not complied.
We have asked the district Movement chairperson to come and return their cards for temporary safe custody other than risking our lives, another resident said.
But when contacted, the district movement chairperson, Mr. Daniel Mwebaza, said he had been to the area a day after the RDC, Mr Geoffrey Kyomukama, went there and assured the residents of protection.
We have the appropriate measures in place so our people shouldnt worry, Mwebaza said.
Officials threaten
The officials concerned with the registration of the NRM party members in the two-affected sub-counties have threatened to lay down the tools if the government doesnt guarantee their security while on duty. We are risking our lives with even no pay. We are giving the government just days to clear their stand or else we shall abandon duty, said one of the registration officials who declined to be named.
But Mwebaza said Mutale would cause no harm to anybody.
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