Youth dominate Bujenje parliamentary race, focus on skilling

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The parliamentary race for Bujenje County in Masindi district is intensifying, with a strong showing by youthful candidates who are placing skills development, service delivery and youth empowerment at the centre of their campaigns.

Six contenders are seeking to represent the county, each presenting their vision to voters.

The candidates are incumbent MP Kenneth Kiiza Nyendwoha (NRM), Wycliff Kasaija National Unity Platform (NUP), Wilson Tugume (Independent), Fred Safari (Independent), Phillip Kyamanywa (Independent) and former MP Rtd. Lt. Patrick Paddy Kasumba (Independent).

At 29, Wilson Tugume, who holds a bachelor’s degree in public administration and a postgraduate diploma in project planning, says his strength lies in his deep local roots.

“I was born in Bujenje, and I grew up and studied here. I know the problems affecting Bujenje,” Tugume said, pledging to lobby for a technical school to equip young people with practical skills. Fred Safari, 31, a graduate in conservation biology, is focusing on training and digital inclusion.

“The biggest population in Bujenje are the youth, but facing major challenges. If voted, I will introduce training programmes for the youth,” Safari said, adding that digital literacy will be a priority. For Phillip Kyamanywa, 33, a law graduate, health, education and land rights top his agenda.

He noted that learners walk long distances to access secondary schools and promised to “sensitise people to know their land rights so as to combat land-grabbing.” Incumbent MP Kenneth Kiiza Nyendwoha pointed to achievements during his term, including piped water projects worth sh4.5b and having surveyed 90% of villages for electricity.

He said his next focus will be sub-counties without health centres III and seed schools. “All these achievements had not been made until I was voted in,” Nyendwoha said. Former MP Patrick Paddy Kasumba emphasised improved service delivery, electricity expansion, the welfare of sugarcane farmers and poverty alleviation programmes, such as the Parish Development Model and Emyooga.

Wycliff Kasaija (NUP) highlighted youth unemployment and land grabbing, pledging to skill youth and women while improving health, education and roads.

Bujenje County, one of the largest in Masindi with two town councils and four sub-counties, faces gaps in education and health infrastructure.

Bulima town council has no secondary school or health centre III, while learners in Bwijanga trek over 10km to school.

“Many of our children don’t study beyond Primary Seven due to lack of accessible and affordable secondary schools in our area,” said James Asaba of Ntooma village.

Residents also want MPs to lobby for central government takeover of the vast road network, follow up on Kikingura Memorial School that President Museveni pledged in 2016, and push for the construction of the Ikoba-Ntooma-Kyankwazi-Rwensororo road, a historic route linking Masindi and Kyankwanzi across River Kafu. ‹‹ Bujenje County, in Masindi, with two town councils and four subcounties, faces gaps in education and health infrastructure.