The Minister for ICT and National Guidance, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, has warned the National Resistance Movement (NRM) leaders in the greater Ankole region against supporting the opposition, saying it would frustrate the party’s ideology.
Baryomunsi made these remarks while speaking at the symposium of NRM University leaders’ Ankole chapter in Bushenyi town at the weekend. The minister noted that some NRM leaders support the opposition against their party candidates, which has given rise to opposition among the youth in the region.
“The tendency of NUP (National Unity Platform) and other opposition political parties to go to universities and other institutions of higher learning and win elections has stopped today. I will begin with nine universities in greater Ankole because NRM is not topsoil to be in Kampala but at the grassroots, making young people understand our ideologies, “he said.
Baryomunsi said the NRM will focus on nationalistic standards to address the challenges facing youth, such as unemployment through creating avenues such as Emyooga and youth funds to fight poverty at the household level.
“The party secretariat is yet to have a database, especially of young people at the universities so that you can benefit from the available opportunities. We are going to do a census next and you have been crucified for supporting NRM, why can’t you benefit from such projects?” he wondered.
The head of national NRM students’ mobilizers, Dr. Nicholas Marvin Ahumuza, said opposition political parties’ invading universities and other institutions of higher learning is a big challenge to the party’s future.
“The chapter is faced with many challenges ranging from a lack of NRM ideologies, lack of support from party stakeholders and the party secretariat and patriotism training to boost our minds. We only see the party leaders during elections when other parties are holding meetings with their people but ours are in offices,” he said.
The NRM party has been dealt a couple of blows, especially with university guild elections, as students, especially around Kampala, usually prefer to be led by candidates from opposition camps.