Will Okwir Rwaboni bounce back?
Feb 16, 2011
THE Burahya county seat in Kabarole district became competitive after Major Okwir Rwaboni picked nomination forms to take part in the election.
By Hope Mafaranga
THE Burahya county seat in Kabarole district became competitive after Major Okwir Rwaboni picked nomination forms to take part in the election.
Okwir is taking on the incumbent, Steven Kagwera, the NRM flag-bearer and a Forum for Democratic Change diehard, Christopher Kayonga.
Okwir’s entry became a nightmare for Kagwera, who had at first not printed posters for his campaign.
“If Okwir had not contested, Kagwera would not have campaigned, because he knew he would go through unopposed. But now Okwir is his main threat,†Denis Ateeyi of Kyanyawara village said.
Okwir, a former youth MP in the Sixth Parliament, said if elected, he would improve the health and education sectors and upgrade feeder roads.
“Our roads are impassable and when it rains all bridges break down and the sub-counties of Kichwamba, Hakilabe Kasenda and Rutete are cut off from the rest of Kabarole district. If I am elected, this will be my first priority,†Okwir told New Vision on Tuesday.
Okwir promised to extend water to Kasenda and Rutete sub-counties, saying people drink dirty water from crater lakes, which has increased bilharzia and other water-borne diseases.
People in the area say Okwir is likely to get a sympathy vote from those who admired his late brother, Brigadier Noble Mayombo and his late father, the Rev. Can. James Rwaboni.
Rwaboni criticises his opponents for branding him FDC, saying they had resorted to “cheap politicsâ€.
“In 1985, I took part in the fight which brought the flag to power, which he (Kagwera) is fighting to retain. Therefore, the flag cannot exist without a gun.â€
But Kagwera says he has worked for Burahya and fought poverty at the household level.
He boasts of distributing goats and cows to all women groups and youth and contributing to building churches, mosques and other communal projects.
Meanwhile, independent aspirant Kayonga says he implemented the FDC manifesto to fight corruption and poverty.
“Being independent does not mean that I am FDC. My commitment is to unite Ugandans and liberate them from poverty and diseases,†he said.
THE Burahya county seat in Kabarole district became competitive after Major Okwir Rwaboni picked nomination forms to take part in the election.
Okwir is taking on the incumbent, Steven Kagwera, the NRM flag-bearer and a Forum for Democratic Change diehard, Christopher Kayonga.
Okwir’s entry became a nightmare for Kagwera, who had at first not printed posters for his campaign.
“If Okwir had not contested, Kagwera would not have campaigned, because he knew he would go through unopposed. But now Okwir is his main threat,†Denis Ateeyi of Kyanyawara village said.
Okwir, a former youth MP in the Sixth Parliament, said if elected, he would improve the health and education sectors and upgrade feeder roads.
“Our roads are impassable and when it rains all bridges break down and the sub-counties of Kichwamba, Hakilabe Kasenda and Rutete are cut off from the rest of Kabarole district. If I am elected, this will be my first priority,†Okwir told New Vision on Tuesday.
Okwir promised to extend water to Kasenda and Rutete sub-counties, saying people drink dirty water from crater lakes, which has increased bilharzia and other water-borne diseases.
People in the area say Okwir is likely to get a sympathy vote from those who admired his late brother, Brigadier Noble Mayombo and his late father, the Rev. Can. James Rwaboni.
Rwaboni criticises his opponents for branding him FDC, saying they had resorted to “cheap politicsâ€.
“In 1985, I took part in the fight which brought the flag to power, which he (Kagwera) is fighting to retain. Therefore, the flag cannot exist without a gun.â€
But Kagwera says he has worked for Burahya and fought poverty at the household level.
He boasts of distributing goats and cows to all women groups and youth and contributing to building churches, mosques and other communal projects.
Meanwhile, independent aspirant Kayonga says he implemented the FDC manifesto to fight corruption and poverty.
“Being independent does not mean that I am FDC. My commitment is to unite Ugandans and liberate them from poverty and diseases,†he said.