All mayoral candidates vow to win
Feb 22, 2011
EACH of the four main contenders for the Kampala mayoral position has vowed to win today’s elections decisively, saying they have more supporters than their competitors.
By Cyprian Musoke and Brian Mayanja
EACH of the four main contenders for the Kampala mayoral position has vowed to win today’s elections decisively, saying they have more supporters than their competitors.
Kampalans go to the polls today to elect a mayor among the six contenders — Kampala Central MP Erias Lukwago, Peter Sematimba (NRM), Michael Mabikke (Social Democratic Party) and Francis Babu (independent). Others are Emmanuel Tumusiime (Forum for Integrity in Leadership) and Sandra Ngabo (Independent).
Lukwago who is not running under any party ticket said he must win the elections with or without vote rigging. “The prospects are that if my votes are not stolen, I will win with 85%. But even when stolen, I will win with 75%. The rigging will only affect the margin with which I will win,†Lukwago said.
He said if elected, he would set up a commission to investigate fraud in Kampala City Council and closely monitor the work of private contracts in order to tackle corruption.
Basing on opinion polls conducted by Sematimba’s camp last month, Sematimba vowed to “sweep†the votes by over 70%.
Speaking to the press at his home in Rubaga, Sematimba said the many votes that were given to the NRM presidential candidate, Yoweri Museveni, indicated that people in Kampala still trust the NRM leadership.
“This is the first time NRM won Kampala with a big margin. It indicates that people are looking for someone who will help them develop. I am very sure even in the mayoral race that victory is on our side,†he said.
Ssematimba said his main priorities include cleaning the city, improving traffic flow and increasing business opportunities and jobs. Others are giving out free bursaries to private schools in Kampala and increasing revenue collection.
Independent candidate Francis Babu said his first task when elected in office would be to audit the accounts of KCC in order to weed out corruption.
Babu who predicted to win by 51% said his first assignment would be to work on the drainage systems, fix potholes and streamline the city’s budget.
Michael Mabikke said he would win by 67%, adding that his areas of priority would be fixing potholes, improving drainage and planting flowers to beautify the city.
“Once elected into office, you will not have drainage problems within three years. There will be no murram roads and potholes in the whole city within five years,†Mabikke pledged.
He said unlike other candidates, he is the only one with “unquestionable†academic documents.
Independent mayoral aspirant, Sandra Ngabo, said for Kampala to improve, it must be run as a business entity and not as a political city.
The city, she added, had been messed up because of politicians who are after votes and not providing services. “Running it as a political city for many years has led to congestion, recruiting non competent employees and high levels of corruption,†Ngabo added.
Tumusiime said he would win with not less than 60%. He said he would focus on improving the sewerage system and curbing corruption.
Additional reporting by Juliet Waiswa, Henry Ssekanjako and Florence Nakaayi
EACH of the four main contenders for the Kampala mayoral position has vowed to win today’s elections decisively, saying they have more supporters than their competitors.
Kampalans go to the polls today to elect a mayor among the six contenders — Kampala Central MP Erias Lukwago, Peter Sematimba (NRM), Michael Mabikke (Social Democratic Party) and Francis Babu (independent). Others are Emmanuel Tumusiime (Forum for Integrity in Leadership) and Sandra Ngabo (Independent).
Lukwago who is not running under any party ticket said he must win the elections with or without vote rigging. “The prospects are that if my votes are not stolen, I will win with 85%. But even when stolen, I will win with 75%. The rigging will only affect the margin with which I will win,†Lukwago said.
He said if elected, he would set up a commission to investigate fraud in Kampala City Council and closely monitor the work of private contracts in order to tackle corruption.
Basing on opinion polls conducted by Sematimba’s camp last month, Sematimba vowed to “sweep†the votes by over 70%.
Speaking to the press at his home in Rubaga, Sematimba said the many votes that were given to the NRM presidential candidate, Yoweri Museveni, indicated that people in Kampala still trust the NRM leadership.
“This is the first time NRM won Kampala with a big margin. It indicates that people are looking for someone who will help them develop. I am very sure even in the mayoral race that victory is on our side,†he said.
Ssematimba said his main priorities include cleaning the city, improving traffic flow and increasing business opportunities and jobs. Others are giving out free bursaries to private schools in Kampala and increasing revenue collection.
Independent candidate Francis Babu said his first task when elected in office would be to audit the accounts of KCC in order to weed out corruption.
Babu who predicted to win by 51% said his first assignment would be to work on the drainage systems, fix potholes and streamline the city’s budget.
Michael Mabikke said he would win by 67%, adding that his areas of priority would be fixing potholes, improving drainage and planting flowers to beautify the city.
“Once elected into office, you will not have drainage problems within three years. There will be no murram roads and potholes in the whole city within five years,†Mabikke pledged.
He said unlike other candidates, he is the only one with “unquestionable†academic documents.
Independent mayoral aspirant, Sandra Ngabo, said for Kampala to improve, it must be run as a business entity and not as a political city.
The city, she added, had been messed up because of politicians who are after votes and not providing services. “Running it as a political city for many years has led to congestion, recruiting non competent employees and high levels of corruption,†Ngabo added.
Tumusiime said he would win with not less than 60%. He said he would focus on improving the sewerage system and curbing corruption.
Additional reporting by Juliet Waiswa, Henry Ssekanjako and Florence Nakaayi