Musumba Fights to Secure FDC EALA Slot

FDC Vice President Salaamu Musumba is fighting to eliminate one of the candidates vying for the East African Legislative Assembly seat for which she is also a candidate.
 
Though there are six other candidates vying for the EALA seat, Musumba has zeroed in on Anita Among, a lecturer with Makerere University Business School and Kampala International University.
 
Musumba claims Among, also a member of the FDC fundraising committee, is bribing voters ahead of Tuesday’s party primaries for the EALA elections.
However, the party has to overcome a hurdle at the East African Court of Justice, where its lawyers are seeking an injunction to nullify earlier nominations by other political parties including NRM, DP and UPC.
 
The Vice President claims that Among is being sponsored by the ruling National Resistance Movement. At the party National Executive Committee meeting held on Thursday last week, Musumba insisted some members were beneficiaries of the bribery. However, no one came up to support her accusations against Among.
 
Speaking on phone to Uganda Radio Network, Musumba said she could not reveal the names today since elections are on Tuesday and does not want to tip off the perpetrators.
 
She has now vowed to bring a book with names of people who she says took the money whose sum is still unknown.
 
Text messages sent out to party members, titled “FDC Decides” read: Will you join NRM to sell your vote, right and conscience? Uphold FDC values, the struggle continues. By concerned party member.
 
Among’s messages on the other hand read: Dear comrades, you are kindly reminded to vote for Anita Among for FDC and the country’s representative. An approachable and flexible servant. Value your vote, God bless.
 
Among has denied the bribery allegations saying she is being targeted because she is a down to earth person who speaks to all party members and openly interacts with NRM members.
 
She also defends her finances saying she earns her money as a lecturer and a member of the party fundraising committee.
 
//Cue in: “Its because am down to…
 Cue out:…money comes to my pocket.”//
 
The FDC Secretary General Alice Alaso describes the fighting as unfortunate. She says if Musumba has any queries, she has to write to Alaso who will then forward the matter to the disciplinary committee.
 
URN reporter was shown a copy of a petition allegedly written by Musumba and copied to the party President, the Central Executive committee, the disciplinary committee and the secretary general. She had given the party organs 24 hours to peruse through her petition and take action against Among.
 
Alaso says the party has institutional mechanisms which will handle the matter. She argues that the ongoing quarrels, insults against each other and gossip are a sign that the party is active.
 
//Cue in: “It’s very unfortunate …
 Cue out:…a lot of activity going.”//
 
Some party members who preferred anonymity argue that Musumba’s allegations are baseless and she is only doing this because she knows she is losing the fight she started.
 
Others say Musumba’s arrogance and open insults against top party officials is what has caused her isolation.
 
Party spokesperson Wafula Oguttu says they are going to elect two candidates, one female and a male or both females for the seat. Ingrid Turinawe, the FDC women league chairperson, Musumba and Among are the female candidates vying for the EALA seat. The other candidates are Augustine Ruzindana and John Kazoora. Lous Arumadri, the sixth candidate, is being dropped after allegations of forgery.