Nankabirwa to Kadaga: Respect My Right to Free Expression

Government Chief Whip and Kiboga Woman MP, Ruth Nankabirwa has denied involvement in any acts of intimidation and harassment of NRM supporters in the run-up to Thursday’s elections of the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) members.

Speaking hours after Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, accused her of harassing and threatening her (Kadaga) supporters; Nankabirwa pleaded innocence but said that she used her right to free expression to campaign for a candidate she thought would work better at CEC.

“I didn’t threaten anybody and I did not move away from my constituency in Kiboga, I stayed at my home, how did I threaten anybody? I want to hear her words towards reconciliation,” Nankabirwa said.

Kadaga in a tweet that she later pulled down had accused state agencies of harassing and blackmailing NRM supporters to vote against her.

Kadaga beat the state minister for Lands, Persis Namuganza to retain her position as the second National Vice Chairperson (Female) for the NRM-Party during polls held on Thursday.

Namuganza had built her campaign on the ills that sailed through Parliament against the ruling party under Kadaga’s stewardship. She singled out a motion MPs passed to show displeasure against President Yoweri as one of the reasons Kadaga should be ejected from CEC.

Kadaga polled 6,776 votes against Namuganza’s 3,882 votes to retain her seat.