Angupale Swadic, a runner-up in the NRM party primaries for Arua Municipality by-election on Sunday evening made it public that he was backing the party flag bearer, Nusura Tiperu, just three days to polling day.
Speaking at a public rally, Angupale disclosed that the primaries were marred by several irregularities that cost him the party flag but promised to rally behind Tiperu and help her win the race.
“I was cheated but as a young cadre of this party, I find NRM bigger than me and I shall fully support Tiperu. I call upon all my supporters to rally behind her,” Angupale, who finished 2nd in the primaries told a highly jubiliating audience at River Oli Divisional grounds.
The National Resistance Movement (NRM) said in a statement that the reconciliation is an outcome from the series of meetings the NRM Secretary General and her team have held within and outside Arua Municipality for the last two weeks.
Angupale had since the primaries gone silent and causing alot of public speculation that he was indirectly campaigning for an independent candidate, Ejiku Robert, which he has since refuted.
He however expressed dismay over the increasing hypocrisy among the party members adding that some NRM cadres within Tiperu’s camp were opposed to his reconciliation move.
Angupale added that the decision to reconcile with Tiperu was jointly taken with his task force headed by a young business tycoon and campaign sponsor, Hamza Ham who also attended the rally and addressed the gathering.
The NRM party said that the cohesion between Tiperu and Angupale “is a big boost to the NRM and this news has left many opposition camps paralysed”.
“NRM congratulates Mr. Angupale for taking such a mature decision and we pledge our commitment to continue working with him closely,” the party said.
Arua Municipality goes to polls on Wednesday. The Parliamentary seat for the constituency was declared vacant after the assassination of former MP, Ibrahim Abiriga this year.
The strongest candidates in the race so far are NRM’s Tiperu, FDC’s Bruce Musema and Independent candidate, Kassiano Wadri who is former MP for Terego county.