Erasmus Shalihaxwe
The National Unity Democratic Organisation’s (NUDO) Secretary General, Joseph Kauandenge said he is still waiting on the party leadership to set a new date for the elective congress, which was called off a week ago.
NUDO was set to elect new leaders during the weekend of 13 to 14 July but the party’s national executive committee called the congress off to avoid a physical brawl between attendees.
Supporters of one aspiring candidate, Barry Rukoro, prevented the congress from moving forward after Rukoro’s disqualification from the presidential race.
According to Kauandenge, the national executive committee has not yet decided on the new congress date.
Kauandenge, who a few months ago, dropped out of the race for the party’s presidential position, has also announced on Wednesday that he will not stand to be on the party’s Parliament list at the congress.
He said that when he took the Oath of Office as a Member of Parliament in 2020, he did so knowing that he would advance the interests and aspirations of others through Nudo.
However, after examining past events that have plagued the party, he concluded that the internal dynamics of the party have become so ”contaminated” that it will be impossible for him to effectively represent the interests of the people under the cloud of personality politics, which often borders on lies, fabrications, and insults.
“Thus, I hereby take this rather difficult and yet appropriate decision to protect my own sanity and mental health to inform all Nudo members that I will not avail myself to stand as a candidate on the Nudo Parliamentary list in the upcoming November National Assembly Elections because I’m at war with my conscience and my conscience has won this battle.
I’m fully aware of the many calls I have received to stand on top of that parliamentary list from you as members, but let me rather disappoint you by not standing as opposed to standing on that list in an environment that is so toxic and at best not conducive for one to excel in one’s role as a leader,’’ he said.
He expressed regret that many people in the party are preoccupied and are rushing to be on the parliamentary list.
‘’It is not about serving the people; rather, it’s about salaries and perks that one stands to get once elected to parliament,’’ said Kauandenge.
