By URN
The National Resistance Movement -NRM has said all aspirants for district chairpersons and Members of Parliament must have certificates showing that they tested negative of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) before they are nominated.
Speaking to reporters at the NRM Electoral Commission headquarters at Plot 13 Kyadondo Road, Dr Tanga Odoi, its chairman said they are going to ensure that the Presidential directive is enforced. Last week the President said all political aspirants must first test for the virus before they go to the population to canvass for votes.
“If you want to clean yourself, come with a COVID-19 certificate that you are clean. We can’t endorse you yet you are not going to be in parliament. These things are real; COVID is real, we must thank the government for caring for us. If the President said people should test what’s wrong with testing? For me every after three days I go and test because I don’t know who is sick,” said Dr Odoi.
This development comes at a time when Uganda has confirmed its fifh COVID-19 death in less than two weeks. It also comes at a time when two senior employees at the NRM secretariat tested positive of the highly contagious virus.
Meanwhile, 2054 aspirants have expressed interest in contesting for LCV and Member of Parliament positions on the NRM ticket. According to Dr. Odoi, by the close of business on Thursday last week, 584 women had expressed interest in contesting for woman Member of Parliament position, 1112 expressed interest in contesting for constituency seats while 312 expressed interest in contesting for LCV chairperson seats.
