Musumba touts 'friendship' with Museveni ahead of by-election

Mar 31, 2017

“I want to assure you, voting for Musumba is paramount because once I’m in Parliament, Museveni will know you are clever people"

President Yoweri Museveni and FDC's Salamu Musumba display their party signs at centenary celebrations for Kamuli Catholic Parish in December 2011.

The FDC vice president, Proscovia Salaamu Musumba has asked the electorate in Kamuli Municipality to vote for her so that they benefit more from the NRM government and President Museveni. 

Musumba called upon them to throw aside the ruling party NRM's candidate, Rehema Watongola , adding that electing an opposition MP attracts more benefits from the ruling government which translates into steady development. 

She made the comments while canvassing votes of Kasoigo ward, where she bragged about being Museveni's "buddy", having been part of the team that escorted the President in 2014 to the Vatican to request the Pope to visit Uganda.

"I want to assure you, voting for Musumba is paramount because once I'm in Parliament, Museveni will know you are clever people. He will shower Kamuli with development projects like there's no tomorrow," Musumba said. 

She rapped at those who claim to be NRM diehards but have never gotten a handshake with Museveni whenever they meet at functions. 

"I have never missed Museveni's handshake, and but many of you shout NRM juu have never got it. Who of you knows NRM more than me? " she asked, while at Buwenge Mpya Zone, drawing thunderous clapping and cheers from supporters. 

alaamu usumba cuddles a baby while campaigning in ukapere one on ednesday hoto by om webayangaSalaamu Musumba cuddles a baby while campaigning in Bukapere Zone on Wednesday. Photo by Tom Gwebayanga

 

She warned the people of Kamuli not to repeat the bad history of electing leaders who become throwaways, adding that much as they many love and vote the NRM's Watongola, saying it's ironic that they are ready for another by-election. 

Watongola's candidacy has divided the NRM camp into two; one led by David Kulaba the former NRM youth mobilizer and Tom Bulogo known to be a core member of Speaker Rebecca Kadaga's campaign task force. 

She asked residents to trust her like they did in 2013, when she was elected LC5 Chairperson. 

"I lobbied for the tarmac roads under construction, the health and education services became better and here I am, send me to Parliament for more," she added. 

In Buwanume Ward, Watongola asked for the voters' mandate again to send her back to Parliament in order to fulfil the pledges she made. 

"Now that I was nominated, bear with me that I will never be ejected. Vote for me because a new MP will not work," she said, while at Buwanume Primary School. 

ehema atongola soliciting for votes in uwanume hoto by om webayangaRehema Watongola soliciting for votes in Buwanume. Photo by Tom Gwebayanga

 

She added that she's a down to earth lady who embraces all categories of people including the poor, the elite, the semi illiterates and illiterates, and that's why she's the voters' darling. 

The independent Proscovia Naikoba Kanakutanda, who fell out with Musumba was in Mandwa ward, where she warned voters against the Musumba and Watongola whom she labelled commedians. 

"Musumba is a quarrelsome woman while Watongola has no papers. Vote for me and by the close of the term, Musumba will be tired of quarrelling while Watongola will have gotten the papers," she said, sending the crowd into laughter. 

Samuel Walugyo, who campaigned in Busota and Mandwa wards warned the voters against voting Watongola, saying that they will have inserted their hands in the hole that housed the poisonous snake that recently bit them.

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