Ministers lose parliamentary seats
Feb 20, 2011
THE Cabinet has suffered a big blow after provisional results indicated that several top government ministers were trounced in Friday’s general elections.
By Mary Karugaba
THE Cabinet has suffered a big blow after provisional results indicated that several top government ministers were trounced in Friday’s general elections.
Some of the ministers suffered double tragedy after Parliament sent them packing last week after the constitutional court ruled that they were in the House illegally.
The list surprisingly shows that some of the longest serving ministers have also been thrown out. Most of the ministers lost to individuals who are new on the political scene. Others still lost despite standing as independents. Some of the ministers were still trailing by press time.
The Lands ministry has lost its senior minister, Omara Atubo. Atub, who came on an Independent ticket but later crossed to NRM was among the 77 MPs that were sent out of the House by the Constitutional Court. He lost to Rev. Jacinto Ogwal.
In Budadiri West, despite heavy deployment and clashes, Forum for Democratic Change strongman Nandala Mafabi trounced his rival Beatrice Wabudeya. She is the Minister for Presidency.
The clashes left Mafabi wounded and a journalist shot and injured. The journalist is currently admitted in Mbale Hospital.
Wabudeya moved from her Sironko Woman MP seat and went for a constituency represented by Mafabi for years.
In Bugwere County, it was another battle between Internal Affairs minister Kirunda Kivenjinja and Abdul Katuntu.
At the end, provisional results indicated that Katuntu had won.
After being announced winner, Katuntu declared himself the lion of Bugwere.
“I will never be trounced by an elderly politician like Kivejinja. I am 44 and cannot be beaten by a man of 80 plus years,†Katuntu bragged.
From Busia Municipality, provisional results also indicated that ICT minister Aggrey Awori (picture left) lost to an FDC lady Kervina Taaka.
Taaka scored 5,172 votes against Awori’s 4,326. Awori, after loosing the Samia Bugwe North MP seat in 2006 crossed to NRM party, where he has been an ex-official member. During primaries, he transferred his allegency and contested for Busia Municipality, where he won as NRM flag bearer.
His colleague and also senior minister Gabriel Opio from Samia Bugwe South lost his seat to an independent, Julius Maganda. Maganda got 22,030 votes while Opio got 20,051.
Trade state minister and also Bulamogi MP Nelson George Gagawala Wambuzi has been kicked out.
Gagawala, who was seeking a fourth term for Bulamogi constituency was kicked out by Kenneth Lubogo an independent. Lubogo scored 23,136 (46.67%) while Gagawala 21,898(43.67%).
From Vura County, provisional results show that transport state minister Simon Ejua, has lost his seat.
State Minister for Fisheries Fred Mukisa lost to FDC strongman and spokesperson Wafula Ogutu.
Mukisa is also among the MPs, who have suffered double tragedy after being thrown out of Parliament by the Constitutional Court. Oguttu got 16,226 votes while Mukisa (independent) got 10,498.
In Kibuuku, MP Saleh Kamba bounced back after beating his rival Jennipher Namuyangu, the state minister for water in a hot contested election.
Namuyangu was defeated in the primaries and decided to stand as independent. Kamba collected 23,855 votes while Namuyangu collected 21,893 votes.
From Kabale, provisional results indicate that state minister for tourism Serapio Rukunda has lost to his contender Andrew Baryayanga.
From Kisoro, Ethics minister Nsaba Buturo, who stood as an independent after losing in primaries was also reported to have lost to Kwizera Wagahugu.
Additional reporting by George Bita, Elizabeth Agiro, Donald Kirya, Moses Bikala, Richard Drasimaku, Richard Adrama, Doreen Musingo and Hajusu Egesa
THE Cabinet has suffered a big blow after provisional results indicated that several top government ministers were trounced in Friday’s general elections.
Some of the ministers suffered double tragedy after Parliament sent them packing last week after the constitutional court ruled that they were in the House illegally.
The list surprisingly shows that some of the longest serving ministers have also been thrown out. Most of the ministers lost to individuals who are new on the political scene. Others still lost despite standing as independents. Some of the ministers were still trailing by press time.
The Lands ministry has lost its senior minister, Omara Atubo. Atub, who came on an Independent ticket but later crossed to NRM was among the 77 MPs that were sent out of the House by the Constitutional Court. He lost to Rev. Jacinto Ogwal.
In Budadiri West, despite heavy deployment and clashes, Forum for Democratic Change strongman Nandala Mafabi trounced his rival Beatrice Wabudeya. She is the Minister for Presidency.
The clashes left Mafabi wounded and a journalist shot and injured. The journalist is currently admitted in Mbale Hospital.
Wabudeya moved from her Sironko Woman MP seat and went for a constituency represented by Mafabi for years.
In Bugwere County, it was another battle between Internal Affairs minister Kirunda Kivenjinja and Abdul Katuntu.
At the end, provisional results indicated that Katuntu had won.
After being announced winner, Katuntu declared himself the lion of Bugwere.
“I will never be trounced by an elderly politician like Kivejinja. I am 44 and cannot be beaten by a man of 80 plus years,†Katuntu bragged.
From Busia Municipality, provisional results also indicated that ICT minister Aggrey Awori (picture left) lost to an FDC lady Kervina Taaka.
Taaka scored 5,172 votes against Awori’s 4,326. Awori, after loosing the Samia Bugwe North MP seat in 2006 crossed to NRM party, where he has been an ex-official member. During primaries, he transferred his allegency and contested for Busia Municipality, where he won as NRM flag bearer.
His colleague and also senior minister Gabriel Opio from Samia Bugwe South lost his seat to an independent, Julius Maganda. Maganda got 22,030 votes while Opio got 20,051.
Trade state minister and also Bulamogi MP Nelson George Gagawala Wambuzi has been kicked out.
Gagawala, who was seeking a fourth term for Bulamogi constituency was kicked out by Kenneth Lubogo an independent. Lubogo scored 23,136 (46.67%) while Gagawala 21,898(43.67%).
From Vura County, provisional results show that transport state minister Simon Ejua, has lost his seat.
State Minister for Fisheries Fred Mukisa lost to FDC strongman and spokesperson Wafula Ogutu.
Mukisa is also among the MPs, who have suffered double tragedy after being thrown out of Parliament by the Constitutional Court. Oguttu got 16,226 votes while Mukisa (independent) got 10,498.
In Kibuuku, MP Saleh Kamba bounced back after beating his rival Jennipher Namuyangu, the state minister for water in a hot contested election.
Namuyangu was defeated in the primaries and decided to stand as independent. Kamba collected 23,855 votes while Namuyangu collected 21,893 votes.
From Kabale, provisional results indicate that state minister for tourism Serapio Rukunda has lost to his contender Andrew Baryayanga.
From Kisoro, Ethics minister Nsaba Buturo, who stood as an independent after losing in primaries was also reported to have lost to Kwizera Wagahugu.
Additional reporting by George Bita, Elizabeth Agiro, Donald Kirya, Moses Bikala, Richard Drasimaku, Richard Adrama, Doreen Musingo and Hajusu Egesa