SEMBABULE.
With less than a month to the January 15 General Election, the National Unity Flag bear in Mawogola North Parliamentary race Eddi Ssematte has withdrawn his candidature.
Ssematta who had been viewed as a key challenger to ruling National Resistance Movement flag bearer Godfrey Aine Sodo citing threats on his life and lack of resources to facilitate his campaigns in the remaining days.
But some NUP leaders in Sembabule say Ssematta’s claims are baseless and it is possible that he was bought out by ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) .
“ The ground was good for him to win this election and the issue of intimidation or lack of money shouldn’t arise. Let him tell the truth that he was given Shs200million to withdraw from the race,” a NUP leader in Sembabule said
But Ssematta dismissed all these during a press conference in Masaka on Saturday.
With Ssematta’s exit, it is now Jet Tumwebaze(Ind) , President Museveni’s younger brother Sodo Aine Kaguta (NRM) and Allen Kigonya of Democratic Party who are remaining in the race .Sodo secured the NRM flag without any contest after the incumbent MP Shartis Kuteesa ,a daughter of former Foreign Minister Sam Kuteesa stepped aside in his favour – but Tumwebaze insists Sodo could have been subjected to vote and it is the reason he is contesting as NRM-leaning independent.