Opposition Democratic Party (DP) and opposition candidate for Busia district LCV by-election, Deo Hasubi Njoki has declined the government appointment to serve on the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC).
Njoki made the announcement during the party’s weekly press conference at the party headquarters in Kampala.
He said that while he would have loved so much to serve on the Uganda Human Rights Commission since he would not only be serving government but his country by carrying on an oversight role against government on matters of humam rights protection, accepting the appointment would let down his party and supporters.
“I must say, I thank the appointing authority for considering me to serve on the UHRC a body I would love to serve on. But I received the appointment letter on 8th November just a day after closure of nominations in Busia,” Njoki said.
“I wasn’t a candidate of myself but sponsored by the party and the entire opposition. The response I have received from the members of the public has given me more hope and courage that there are many people that have hope in me and would feel disappointed if I took over the offer,” Njoki said.
He said that the general public and the people of Busia should desist from fake reports that he has abandoned the race.
“I am not taking up Museveni’s offer despite the lots of benefits that it comes with at a personal level,”Njoki noted.
“If I take up the offer, there would be no opportunity for any other candidate to be nominated. I would be selfish to take up the appointment. I have therefore chosen to serve the people of Busia and from here, I am heading for campaigns starting from Majanje,” Njoki told reporters.
The party President Norbert Mao has appreciated Njoki for overcoming Miseveni’s temptations and having maintained a strong back bone.
This comes a day after Mao threatened that DP would have no choice but denounce Njoki in the event that he accepted the appointment to UHRC. He said that for Njoki to take up the government job would be treachery.