President Yoweri Museveni has condemned judicial officials who grant bail to people accused of committing capital offences.
“Murder, rape, defilement and terrorism suspects are being released on bail by the judges. This is not proper as some of them have disappeared and compelled the Police to hunt for them,” he said.
The President, therefore, tasked Members of Parliament to work towards the amendment of the national constitution and block the bail for suspected criminals who are accused of committing capital offences. He challenged Parliament to assist wananchi over the issue of bail for such offences noting that judicial officials have abused the facility in the current constitution which stipulates that they may use their discretion to grant bail to various applicants.
Mr. Museveni made the remarks yesterday at State House, Entebbe during the closing of the Extra-ordinary National Executive Council meeting of the National Resistance Movement (NRM). The one-day meeting overwhelmingly endorsed the nominees for appointment to the NRM Secretariat. It also endorsed the appointments to the NRM Electoral Commission and elected members of the Central Executive Committee (CEC).
The National Executive Council meeting endorsed the appointment of Justine Lumumba as the Secretary General. The others endorsed were Richard Todwong as Deputy Secretary General, Rose Namayanja as National Treasurer and Kenneth Omona as Deputy National Treasurer.
NEC also endorsed Makerere University lecturer Dr. Tanga Odoi for appointment as Chairperson of the NRM Electoral Commission with Mr. John Arimpa Kigyagi was approved as Vice Chairperson while Ms. Jane Babiiha Alisemera was endorsed as a member of the NRM Electoral Commission.
The 13 people who were nominated to compete for 5 seats as members of the Central Executive Committee saw Hon. Kahinda Otafiire emerge the overall winner with 508 votes. Rt. Hon. Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda secured 450 votes, Hon. Huda Oleru got 399 votes, Hon. Crispus Kiyonga had 367 and Hon. Dorothy Hyuha received 283 votes.
The remaining 8 candidates were voted as follows: Rt. Hon. Amama Mbabazi got 111 votes; Hon. Amelia Kyambadde 274; Hon. Katongole Perminder Singh-221; Mr. Michael Sekamatte 37; Prof. Edward Rugumayo 80; Hon. Samson Ilukori 85; Mr. Haruna Sebbi 57 and Mr. Ngoma Ngime 86.
In his comments President Museveni expressed happiness that the grand-parents, parents and children were under one roof of NRM. He was confident that the 57,000 branches of NRM in the country would be linked. He revealed that the Secretariat would be working on NRM matters for 12 hours daily adding that opposition MPs in Uganda had now become an endangered species. He attributed this to the active linkage with the Secretariat and the commitment to boost house hold incomes. He revealed that the Government was fully committed to promoting infrastructure development and reminded NEC members that wananchi want their problems to be solved. He further stressed that infrastructure development, household income and security were the crucial issues that the NRM Government was addressing.
President Museveni reiterated again that he would be very rough with officials who delay the implementation of industrial projects citing a recent incident where investors in the palm oil project were being frustrated by some officials.
He revealed that new Ministers would be appointed to replace those that had now got new appointments in NRM. He wished members of the National Executive Council a prosperous 2015.
In his maiden remarks, the new Chairperson of the NRM Electoral Commission, Dr. Tanga Odoi who handed over the election results to President Museveni urged members to carry the Party higher than they have found it.
The Secretary General of NRM, Justine Lumumba, thanked the members for their trust. She said that they have a duty to make a national network from the center to the grassroots. She revealed that they would channel all the energy to build NRM.
On behalf of the newly elected officials, Hon. Kahinda Otafiire thanked his colleagues for the trust bestowed upon them. He said they would sustain their leaders especially the sole candidate for the Presidency. He said that they were committed to ensuring that the experienced driver maintained the steering wheel.
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