KAMPALA – Former Tororo Municipality MP Sanjay Tanna has petitioned the National Resistance Movement (NRM), accusing Capt Mike Mukula of using racist sentiments against him as two battle for the position for the party vice chairperson for eastern region.
Tanna, Mukula, Ekongot John Robert, Christine Harriet Akello and Christopher Buyera are vying for the position
Mr Tanna, who is of Asian origin, on Tuesday petitioned the NRM electoral body, accusing Capt Mukula of playing the racial card against him in the eyes of the party members.
In the petition he said Capt Mukula is deliberately uttering sectarian messages while meeting party members.
“I have noted with concern the deliberate utterances of sectarian messages to NRM members by candidate Mike Mukula as evidenced by way of video clips and radio talk shows. He is trying to portray me as a foreigner and pilling all forms of prejudicial innuendos against my person,” reads the petition in part.
Mr Tanna also noted in the petition that Capt Mukula’s actions are contrary to the NRM party constitution that seeks to be national, broad-based, inclusive and non-sectarian, among others.
He said Capt Mukula’s actions also violate the national Constitution that prohibit any form of discrimination.
“The purpose of this letter is to petition your office and express our protest and dissatisfaction in the conduct of candidate Mukula and invite your attention to Section 15 (14) of the NRM constitutional provision on discipline and ethics,” the petition adds.
He called for disciplinary proceedings against Capt Mukula to act “as a deterrent to him never to make such sectarian utterances not only during the CEC members’ campaign but also in future.”
In one of the clips making rounds on social media, Mr Mukula is heard saying foreigners are free to engage in trade but they should not directly engage in matters of domestic politics of the country.
In the telephone interview, Capt Mukula stood by the remarks, arguing that his emphasis was on non-indigenous Ugandans supporting the economy by doing business and creating jobs and not engaging in domestic politics.
However, he denied ever mentioning Tanna anywhere.
