Rubirizi voter pleads with Muntu to save them from irate wives

RUBIRIZI - The overriding assumption among Ugandans is that presidential campaigns provide a platform where candidates wrestle with weighty political and economic questions of governance.

Not that, but other issues are trivial; however, the media, due to underlying biases, inadvertently take centre stage when it ranks certain topics as pertinent.

Then boom! You are at a rally dissecting fiscal policy, and out of the crowd rises a seemingly battered or concerned husband, asking what plans you have to end Gender Based Violence (GBV) once you are elected President.

For a moment, the question seemed to catch Muntu off guard. "Are women beating their men?” he asked. (All Photos by Stuart Yiga)

Picture yourself in the candidate’s shoes. How would you assure this supporter without fumbling or shuttling towards a minder or calling a time-out to craft a polished reply?

This was exactly the situation Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) flag bearer, Maj. Gen (Rtd) Gregory Mugisha Muntu was faced on Friday, October 3, 2025, during a rally at Nyakasharu playground in Rubirizi Town Council.

For a moment, the question seemed to catch Muntu off guard. "Are women beating their men?” he asked.

Prompting a burst of laughter from the crowd that in chorus, answered in the affirmative.
Still laughing, Muntu replied, “This matter needs to be researched. When I get to office, we have female leaders in our party, woman leaders, we shall bring in experts to investigate it in a way that we explain it and have a harmonious relationship between husbands and their wives. Because the family is the foundation of any country.”

“That is why it is terrifying to hear that women are battering their husbands. We shall investigate it. I am not sure whether I can offer an answer right now,” he added.

However, he hypothesised that the trend could be linked to the economic turmoil facing many families.

He argued that his quest to build a government focused on improving the fortunes of citizens was ultimately aimed at addressing such challenges, among others. He then turned to the women in the audience, asking for their views on how they could help de-escalate “bedroom wars” between married couples.

Voter asks Muntu for handout

And yet, that was far from the only shocker of the day. Earlier, at a campaign stop in Kyambura, Katerera county, Muntu had been left shocked when a youth going by the moniker Pastor Lucky, asked whether he had brought them anything besides the good message.

“We have a trending system here called ‘speak as you work’ (gamba n’okora). As the people of Katerera or Rubirizi District, what are you going to do for us now? That we shall base on vote for you?” Lucky inquired in Runyankore/Rukiga dialect.

“So…you want me to give you money, or what exactly? Lucky, did you mean that I should say I would put a project in Katerera?” the general sought clarification.
Before reiterating, “I am not one to dish out handouts. If that’s what you expect, then I have already lost Katerera’s votes.”

Arguing that even if he wanted, at most, it is impossible to satisfy all in a country that boasts of over 10,595 parishes and 2,184 sub-counties.

“If someone is contesting for the country’s top seat and says he has money to put projects in each sub-county, to pull that off, that person must steal public funds.  It can’t be from his personal money,” he stated.

“If you want people who steal public funds and hand it to you, I have no problem with it. But if you want leaders who will put systems in place to enhance self-sufficiency, then vote for truthful people, like me,” Muntu emphasised.

According to him, the commercialisation of politics has been fueled by MPs, some of whom spend up to Sh1 billion to secure a parliamentary seat. However, Muntu warned that there will be a time for payback for those who fall for such handouts.

“Do you think such a person can represent you effectively? Because once they make it to parliament, their focus will be on recouping the money they spent on you,” he concluded.