OVER 244 people have so far applied for the various National Resistance Movement national positions to be filled next week.
The most competitive among the posts is the second most powerful position of Secretary General.
The Vice-President Prof. Gilbert Balibaseka Bukenya, security minister Amama Mbabazi (incumbent), trade minister Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire, Academician Prof. Elijah Mushemeza and Lwemiya MP Theodore Ssekikubo hav their eyes on it. Moses Mulondo examines the candidates
Prof. Gilbert Balibaseka Bukenya Bukenya was born on May 8, 1949, in Lwantama village in Kakiri sub-county, in Busiro County of Wakiso.
He went against the odds stacked against him as a child in humble circumstances, to make his way to the Makerere University Medical School in 1971.
A Busiro North legislator since 1996, chairman of the movement parliamentary caucus (1999), minister in charge of the presidency (2001), Vice President since 2003 and NRM vice-chairman for Buganda since 2005, Bukenya is believed to have accumulated enough political experience to head the party.
In 2005, his work on HIV/AIDS was recognised and awarded an honorary doctor of Science by Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Ohio .
In 2007, Prof. Bukenya received the prestigious US Congressional Gold Medal Award for his work on the poverty alleviation programme the Prosperity for All.
In 2005, Bukenya won a special Uganda Investment Authority award for spearheading the growing of upland rice and contributing to food security and poverty eradication in rural Uganda.
The vice-President initiated the upland project in February 2004. Starting with 4,000 farmers in eleven districts, it has expanded to over 30,000 farmers in 32 districts of Uganda.
Last year, the USA Wall Street journal carried a special report on Bukenya’s upland rice initiative as an indicator of emerging exemplary revolutionary leadership on the African continent.
When asked by Sunday Vision why he entered the race for NRM secretary general, Bukenya said: “Yes, I have a prime mission of taking our NRM to the ordinary people.
The present political situation does not require us to take anything for granted.”
He wants to utilise his mobilisation skills and his attachment to the ordinary people to build the NRM as a mass party.
“The upland rice scheme and the cottage industry project are some of the quick examples I can point out.
NRM requires a secretary general with that kind of background, not only to retain its popularity but also to gain more support,” Bukenya argued.
Amama Mbabazi He was born on January 16, 1949 in Mparo village, Rukiga county in Kabale district.
Mbabazi got a law degree from Makerere University in 1975. He joined the struggle against Idi Amin in the 1970s. Between 1986 and 1991, he served as Director General of the External Security Organisation (ESO).
In 1994, he represented Kinkizi West in the Constituent Assembly and served as the chairman of the NRM delegates caucus.
Subsequently, he served as state minister for foreign affairs in charge of regional co-operation.
In 2004, he was appointed Uganda’s acting Attorney General and Minister of Justice. He held that portfolio until he was appointed Minister of Defence in 2006. He was later appointed security minister.
In a recent interview with New Vision on his intention to be re-elected, Mbabazi said, “I am a team player. I belong to the party. The party has policies on how we should conduct ourselves on picking office-bearers and when contesting for party offices.”
“I won’t behave as if I am asking for votes from all and sundry in the media, including from other political parties like some people are doing.
It should be done from within the party,” Mbabazi argued.
Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire He was born in Bushenyi district on December 29, 1950. He obtained a degree in Social Sciences from Makerere University.
He then worked as a foreign service officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1976 until 1980. In 1981, he joined the National Resistance Army (NRA), where he served as the Chief Political Commissar from 1981 until 1984.
Prior to the NRA capturing power in 1986, he served as commissioner for internal affairs in the interim administration in the areas under NRA.
Between 1986 and 1992, he served as state minister for internal affairs, presidential assistant for security and was appointed Director General of the External Security Organisation (ESO) in 1992.
He represented Ruhinda county in the Constituent Assembly and served as state minister for security until1995.
Between 1999 and 2001, he
served as presidential assistant on Democratic Republic of the Congo affairs.
In 2001, he was appointed state minister for regional co-operation, a position he held until 2003, when he was made lands, water and environment minister.
In 2006, he was appointed local government minister and later trade tourism and industry minister.
