SG Lumumba Pleads with President Museveni to Intervene in NRM Bickering

National Resistance Movement (NRM) Secretary General Justine Kasule Lumumba has called upon the party’s chairman President Yoweri Museveni to intervene in a long running row between her and the party’s Electoral Commission chairperson Dr Tanga Odoi.

Lumumba said the rift between Odoi and herself has affected her effectiveness as the party's most senior technocrat.

Lumumba said she is no longer able to do party work effectively.

Addressing the press at the party’s headquarters,  Lumumba revealed that the bickering between Odoi and herself has lasted over three years now.

She said the row began almost as soon as they assumed office after former NRM SG Amama Mbabazi was forced out.

Mbabazi was forced to relinquish his position after he decided to contest for the leadership of the NRM party and later presidency of the country in the 2016 national elections.

Now Lumumba said the bickering between the NRM heavyweights is starting to affect grassroots members too.

Lumumba said that she has put up with a lot of abuse from Dr Odoi while attempting to carry out party work.

She called upon party chairman to intervene and restore calm and order in the organisation.

Lumumba claimed that Odoi's insubordinate actions have encouraged even party members to sometimes act against the interests of the party.

Dr Odoi has previously accused Lumumba of not being transparent and denying him facilitation to carry out party work.

Lumumba's sharply worded public utterances come at a time when party cohesion is especially important with Bugiri municipality by-elections on the horizon.