Who will get MP seat in Buganda?
Jan 30, 2006
As the battle for parliamentary seats gets hotter, each of the candidates is doing everything in his or her power to win the hearts of voters. While in some constituencies in Buganda the outcome appears to be obvious, there are eight hot spots where the hopefuls must fight to the last minute.
By Joshua Kato
As the battle for parliamentary seats gets hotter, each of the candidates is doing everything in his or her power to win the hearts of voters. While in some constituencies in Buganda the outcome appears to be obvious, there are eight hot spots where the hopefuls must fight to the last minute.
In summary, there are 72 constituencies in Buganda. The National Resistance Movement (NRM) has fielded candidates in all the 72 constituencies, while Democratic Party (DP) has candidates in 55, Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) in 25 and Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) in only six. A look at the constituencies witnessing hot contests reveals signs of battles for the mighty.
Mukono North
Here, the battle is between Peter Bakaluba Mukasa, the official NRM candidate, and Betty Nambooze who is backed by both DP and FDC. Bakaluba, the incumbent, has performed fairly well compared to other MPs. He has several schools in the constituency to which he admits several children free of charge.
He has bought his personal road construction machinery that he is using to grade roads in his constituency. He has also helped women’s groups.
Betty Nambooze was until a few years ago the chief law enforcement officer in Mukono town. She is one of the most famous radio talk show guests and presenters. It was because of this that she was elected DP’s publicity secretary. Nambooze and Bakaluba have got a personal conflict that goes back a few years. It is said that when Nambooze was in charge of law enforcement in the town, she ordered the demolition of a wall surrounding Bakaluba’s house. On the other hand, Nambooze accuses Bakaluba of causing her arrest and detention in Luzira over corruption charges. This is what will make the contest more interesting.
Kyadondo North (Wakiso District)
Here, the major contest is between the incumbent and NRM candidate Sitenda Ssebalu and Sam Njuba of FDC. Njuba represented the area as MP and CA Delegate before Ssebalu came to the scene. He is Vice President of FDC and head of the party’s campaigns in Buganda. Although Njuba has held this seat before, Sebalu has created himself a name as a man of the people. He opened up a radio station on which his constituents place announcements for free. He bought trucks and vans that eased transport for his people in times of problems like burial or taking the sick to hospitals.
Njuba’s main advantage is that the constituency is near Kampala. Given the fact that the opposition is strong in Kampala, this makes the race tighter
Bukoto Mid-West (Masaka)
The Minister of State for Internal Affairs, Kezimbira Miyingo, is tussling it out with Isaac Ssejjoba who is standing as an independent candidate in a battle that threatens the core of the NRM in that area. Both candidates are NRM supporters. Ssejjoba tussled it out with Miyingo in the NRM primaries whose results were contested before the Minister was declared the party flag bearer in the constituency. Ssejjoba was first announced as the winner, prompting protests from Miyingo who said he was the rightful winner. A re-run was arranged before Miyingo was declared winner.
Bukomansimbi (Masaka)
The incumbent, Kagimu Kiwanuka, defected to NRM a few months ago. He will have to tussle it out with Hajji Iddi Kisiki Lubyayi, his predecessor. Lubyayi had a short stint in Parliament before he was thrown out for lack of proper academic qualifications. Kagimu, son of late DP President Benedict Kiwanuka, was until a year ago a staunch DP supporter. He however crossed to NRM sighting pressure from his constituents. He argued that as much as he wanted to be a member of DP, his people were predominantly NRM. Kagimu captured the seat after Lubyayi’s papers were contested. In the mist is Tomusange Kayinja, a CBS journalist and now standing for DP.
Butambala (Mpigi)
The incumbent, Lubega Kaddunabbi, is representing NRM. He is being challenged by Moses Kasibante of DP. The irony here is that both Kasibante and Kaddunabbi have got links to Buganda Kingdom. Kaddunabbi is son to the new Speaker of Buganda Lukiiko, Mzee Kaddunabbi Lubega, while Moses Kasibante is a journalist at Central Broadcasting Service (CBS) radio, owned by Buganda Kingdom. Kaddunabbi captured the seat from Faisal Kikulukunyu, who wanted to stand again but was persuaded out of the race in favour of Kaddunabbi. However, some of Kikulukunyu’s supporters do not want to support Kaddunabbi which might affect his campaign. Kasibante’s disadvantage is standing in a dominantly Muslim area. Butambala is 80% Muslim and it is unlikely that it will vote for a non-Muslim. The other contestant, Michael Kayemba, might turn into a mere participant.
Kassanda South (Mubende)
The incumbent, Nyombi Thembo, is the Minister of State for Primary Education. He is facing former area MP, Dr. Patrick Kabayo, who is standing as an independent candidate, and Mukalazi Kubuuka of the FDC. Thembo captured the seat from Kabayo three years ago after the latter resigned to go for other duties. This being a predominantly NRM area, Thembo might have an edge over his two rivals.
Mityana South (Mityana)
The incumbent, Nshimye Sebutulo, is the Minister of State Minister for Regional Cooperation. He is pitied against CBS radio presenter Kaddumukasa Kironde, an independent candidate. Nshimye has performed fairly well. He has been a regular at the grassroots, visiting all kinds of groups including women, youth and farmers. Kaddumukasa on the other hand is riding on the popularity he gained as a news anchor and host of popular talk shows. Kaddu has done reasonable mobilisation on the ground. However, it remains to be seen if this will swing the votes in his favour.
Buikwe North
The incumbent, Wagonda Muguli, is standing on the UPC ticket. Muguli joined Parliament in 2001 as a sympathiser of the Movement but later changed his support to UPC. He is being challenged by former MP Onyango Kakoba, who is standing on the NRM ticket.
Other hot seats in Buganda These include Katikamu South where incumbent Dr. Khidu Makubuya is facing three challengers; Busiro East where the incumbent Michael Sebalu is challenged by Sarah Nakawuki of FDC; Buikwe South where the incumbent Anthony Mukasa is tussling it out with DP’s Lulume Bayiga.
As the battle for parliamentary seats gets hotter, each of the candidates is doing everything in his or her power to win the hearts of voters. While in some constituencies in Buganda the outcome appears to be obvious, there are eight hot spots where the hopefuls must fight to the last minute.
In summary, there are 72 constituencies in Buganda. The National Resistance Movement (NRM) has fielded candidates in all the 72 constituencies, while Democratic Party (DP) has candidates in 55, Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) in 25 and Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) in only six. A look at the constituencies witnessing hot contests reveals signs of battles for the mighty.
Mukono North
Here, the battle is between Peter Bakaluba Mukasa, the official NRM candidate, and Betty Nambooze who is backed by both DP and FDC. Bakaluba, the incumbent, has performed fairly well compared to other MPs. He has several schools in the constituency to which he admits several children free of charge.
He has bought his personal road construction machinery that he is using to grade roads in his constituency. He has also helped women’s groups.
Betty Nambooze was until a few years ago the chief law enforcement officer in Mukono town. She is one of the most famous radio talk show guests and presenters. It was because of this that she was elected DP’s publicity secretary. Nambooze and Bakaluba have got a personal conflict that goes back a few years. It is said that when Nambooze was in charge of law enforcement in the town, she ordered the demolition of a wall surrounding Bakaluba’s house. On the other hand, Nambooze accuses Bakaluba of causing her arrest and detention in Luzira over corruption charges. This is what will make the contest more interesting.
Kyadondo North (Wakiso District)
Here, the major contest is between the incumbent and NRM candidate Sitenda Ssebalu and Sam Njuba of FDC. Njuba represented the area as MP and CA Delegate before Ssebalu came to the scene. He is Vice President of FDC and head of the party’s campaigns in Buganda. Although Njuba has held this seat before, Sebalu has created himself a name as a man of the people. He opened up a radio station on which his constituents place announcements for free. He bought trucks and vans that eased transport for his people in times of problems like burial or taking the sick to hospitals.
Njuba’s main advantage is that the constituency is near Kampala. Given the fact that the opposition is strong in Kampala, this makes the race tighter
Bukoto Mid-West (Masaka)
The Minister of State for Internal Affairs, Kezimbira Miyingo, is tussling it out with Isaac Ssejjoba who is standing as an independent candidate in a battle that threatens the core of the NRM in that area. Both candidates are NRM supporters. Ssejjoba tussled it out with Miyingo in the NRM primaries whose results were contested before the Minister was declared the party flag bearer in the constituency. Ssejjoba was first announced as the winner, prompting protests from Miyingo who said he was the rightful winner. A re-run was arranged before Miyingo was declared winner.
Bukomansimbi (Masaka)
The incumbent, Kagimu Kiwanuka, defected to NRM a few months ago. He will have to tussle it out with Hajji Iddi Kisiki Lubyayi, his predecessor. Lubyayi had a short stint in Parliament before he was thrown out for lack of proper academic qualifications. Kagimu, son of late DP President Benedict Kiwanuka, was until a year ago a staunch DP supporter. He however crossed to NRM sighting pressure from his constituents. He argued that as much as he wanted to be a member of DP, his people were predominantly NRM. Kagimu captured the seat after Lubyayi’s papers were contested. In the mist is Tomusange Kayinja, a CBS journalist and now standing for DP.
Butambala (Mpigi)
The incumbent, Lubega Kaddunabbi, is representing NRM. He is being challenged by Moses Kasibante of DP. The irony here is that both Kasibante and Kaddunabbi have got links to Buganda Kingdom. Kaddunabbi is son to the new Speaker of Buganda Lukiiko, Mzee Kaddunabbi Lubega, while Moses Kasibante is a journalist at Central Broadcasting Service (CBS) radio, owned by Buganda Kingdom. Kaddunabbi captured the seat from Faisal Kikulukunyu, who wanted to stand again but was persuaded out of the race in favour of Kaddunabbi. However, some of Kikulukunyu’s supporters do not want to support Kaddunabbi which might affect his campaign. Kasibante’s disadvantage is standing in a dominantly Muslim area. Butambala is 80% Muslim and it is unlikely that it will vote for a non-Muslim. The other contestant, Michael Kayemba, might turn into a mere participant.
Kassanda South (Mubende)
The incumbent, Nyombi Thembo, is the Minister of State for Primary Education. He is facing former area MP, Dr. Patrick Kabayo, who is standing as an independent candidate, and Mukalazi Kubuuka of the FDC. Thembo captured the seat from Kabayo three years ago after the latter resigned to go for other duties. This being a predominantly NRM area, Thembo might have an edge over his two rivals.
Mityana South (Mityana)
The incumbent, Nshimye Sebutulo, is the Minister of State Minister for Regional Cooperation. He is pitied against CBS radio presenter Kaddumukasa Kironde, an independent candidate. Nshimye has performed fairly well. He has been a regular at the grassroots, visiting all kinds of groups including women, youth and farmers. Kaddumukasa on the other hand is riding on the popularity he gained as a news anchor and host of popular talk shows. Kaddu has done reasonable mobilisation on the ground. However, it remains to be seen if this will swing the votes in his favour.
Buikwe North
The incumbent, Wagonda Muguli, is standing on the UPC ticket. Muguli joined Parliament in 2001 as a sympathiser of the Movement but later changed his support to UPC. He is being challenged by former MP Onyango Kakoba, who is standing on the NRM ticket.
Other hot seats in Buganda These include Katikamu South where incumbent Dr. Khidu Makubuya is facing three challengers; Busiro East where the incumbent Michael Sebalu is challenged by Sarah Nakawuki of FDC; Buikwe South where the incumbent Anthony Mukasa is tussling it out with DP’s Lulume Bayiga.