NRM Elections: Oulanyah Targets Buganda Youth Vote

A contribution of $500 (Shs 1.8 million) towards the medical expenses of a bedridden NRM youth leader is all that the deputy Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oulanyah needed to be assured of a block vote from the Buganda region youths ahead of the NRM elections.

Oulanyah wants to replace Sam Engola on the ruling party’s supreme decision making organ, the Central Executive Committee (CEC) as vice chairman for northern Uganda.

Last week, Oulanyah met the party’s youth leaders from Buganda region at Pope Paul Memorial Hotel, Ndeeba near Kampala where they told him about their colleague, Daniel Kafeero Zaake, the Buwama Sub County NRM Youth League chairman who is hospitalized at Mulago where he was rushed after being involved in a nasty motor accident.

Oulanyah readily contributed $500 towards his medical expenses before speaking to them about his vision to strengthen the NRM structures “for them to be able to perform oversight work in government service delivery and there by taking ownership to improve the current status where structures are for electioneering.”

He told the meeting that he intends to use his membership to CEC to push for accessibility to affordable credit to boost entrepreneurship among the youths in addition to making agriculture attractive for the different categories of NRM special interest groups like Women, people with disabilities and veterans.

This, he said, will reduce pressure on urban centers where many people run to in search of opportunities.

“Our endorsement of Oulanyah is twofold; one, his relationship, character and personality that is endearing; making him easily accessible to the youth, and two, we associate with his message to make CEC louder on the issues that affect the youth,” said Ibrahim Kitatta, the national vice chairman of NRM Youth League in charge of central region.

Elections for NRM national leaders are expected to be held on August 7 -8.