Nsambu is NRM candidate for Bukoto south

   By DISMUS BUREGYEYA

The campaigns for the Parliamentary by-elections in Bukoto south constituency, Lwengo district, have intensified as the NRM party is battling to market the former MP for Bukoto east in Masaka district, Alintuma Nsambu.

 The seat fell vacant after the area MP, Hajji Muyanja Mbabali (NRM) was disqualified by court because his academic documents were not genuine.

Nsambu the former ICT state minister, who lost the Bukoto east Parliamentary seat to Florence Namayanja (DP) in the 2011 elections, swept the Bukoto south NRM party primary elections with a commanding 10404 votes (74%).

 David Bbaale Mukasa was second with 1765 votes followed by the Kampala based lawyer Achillies Lubega who got 1527 votes.

The former Makerere guild president, Robert Lutaalo got 238 votes while Joseph Ssabayiki trailed with 95 votes.

However, the NRM party is now facing the challenge of addressing its candidates who lost the race after they vowed to return to the race as independent candidates.

 Lubega and Ssabayiki complained that the party Electoral Commission (EC) staff favoured Nsambu. "The election was openly rigged to favour Nsambu and our outcry was ignored, now we are going to contest as independent candidates," Ssabayiki said.

   Bbaale Mukasa said the polling agents for other candidates were rejected which provided a fertile ground for Nsambu.
The NRM party EC supervisor, Prof. Elijah Mushemeza said the complaints raised were minor and could not reverse the victory of Nsambu.

 Nsambu who recently procured residence in Nzizi village, Kingo sub-county in Lwengo, had earlier woed the majority of the NRM party leaders in the district to his side which made the election a walkover for him.

  However the DP candidate and former area MP, Mathias Nsubuga welcomed the victory of Nsambu saying he is a weak candidate.

 Supporters of MP Namayanja from Bukoto east in Masaka went to Bukoto south to campaign for Nsubuga.
Led by Namayanja's political assistant identified as Dick Lukyamuzi, they have pitched camp in Kinoni trading centre.
   Others aspirants for the seat include Joseph Ssemanda and Dan Katula Mubiru.