Pressure has forced the opposition Democratic Party, DP to withdraw its candidate from the Kyadondo East parliamentary by election, leaving five contestants.
With about two weeks left to the Election Day, Norbert Mao, the party president announced that Lillian Babirye Kamoome’s candidature has been withdrawn to favor another opposition political party candidate, yet to be mentioned.
According to Mao, with over five non NRM candidates in the race, they had given the ruling party lee way to winning the seat. He says they are now willing to support any party apart from NRM, which is willing to accept their terms. He explains that they want to face the NRM candidate as a united force.
“DP fielded its 2016 candidate, Lillian Babirye Kamoome to contest in the by election. A flag bearer represents the party. Amidst all the pressures she faced, we stood with her. We salute her courage, and commitment to the foundational principles of our party. After consultations with key party leaders, and our candidate, we have asked her to step down and she has agreed to do so” Mao told the press in Kampala this morning.
Mao added that the party administration has taken time to explain to her campaign team who will in turn explain to her few supporters, why this is the best course of action.
The five candidates now left in the race are musician Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine, FDC’s Apollo Kantinti, FDC-leaning candidate Muwada Nkunyingi contesting as an Independent, National Resistance Movement (NRM) party’s Sitenda Ssebalu, a former MP of the same constituency, and Sowedi Kayongo (Independent).
The biggest competition is between Independent candidate Bobi Wine and FDC’s Kantinti, though both risk losing to NRM candidate Sebalu.
Mao says by tomorrow noon, the party will have announced which party to support in the race. It is to be remembered, that Bobi Wine sought their support from the start, but was bounced, the singer would later receive support from rebel DP faction of Truth and Justice.
“Our gesture is intended to allow for serious consultations and talks among the democracy seeking forces that should enable us to arrive at a consensus. We are giving this effort exactly 24 hours. We are allowing until 12 noon, tomorrow Wednesday 14th June 2017 for these talks to bear fruit Mao added.
He explains that regardless of the outcome of these talks, DP will make an official announcement on the way forward on the Kyadondo East by election.
