Lulume’s long and tough journey to Parliament
THE saying goes: ‘Once beaten twice shy.’ Having contested twice for the MP post and lost, many people expected Democratic Party (DP) member Dr. Lulume Bayiga to quit politics, but he did not give up.
By Joel Ogwang
THE saying goes: ‘Once beaten twice shy.’ Having contested twice for the MP post and lost, many people expected Democratic Party (DP) member Dr. Lulume Bayiga to quit politics, but he did not give up.
“I believe in myself,†the new Buikwe South MP elect says. His first attempt at the post was in 2001 when he lost to Anthony Mukasa of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party. “But I know NRM rigged the elections. I was already popular,†he boasts.
A two-year commonwealth scholarship gave Lulume a break from the painful loss in 2002. He did a Master’s degree in policing studies in Zimbabwe. “I got a book prize for the best student. I became a policy analyst.†Lulume bounced back to politics in 2006.
“That time, I was sure of victory,†he says. Lulume polled 13,026 votes and Mukasa who polled 13,690 votes, took the day. But, this time round, the DP acting secretary general did not take it lying down.
The titanic by-election
Upon losing, Lulume dragged Mukasa to court, citing bribery of voters. The case was heard in the High Court and when Mukasa lost the case and appealed, it was heard in the Court of Appeal.
Mukasa still lost the case, but never gave up on appealing. The Supreme Court finally brought the case to rest. It found merit in Lulume’s claims, annulling Mukasa’s election. This called for a by-election.
The Electoral Commission set April 30 as polling day in 100-gazetted polling stations. Four candidates; Lulume, Mukasa as well as independent candidates Allan Gitta and Abdallah Kimbowa, vied for the seat. But, like in the previous elections, the battle was between Lulume and Mukasa.
A total of 45,538 voters, out of Buikwe’s 60,000 population, went to the polling stations in an exercise that cost sh70m.
This was the climax of three weeks of the campaigns that also attracted the participation of President Yoweri Museveni, his vice, Prof. Gilbert Bukenya and NRM secretary general Amama Mbabazi, as they campaigned for Mukasa.
“I am going to shake the mango tree for the Buikwe population to eat,†was Lulume’s campaign slogan. He also got a boost from DP president Ssebaana Kizito and party spokesperson Betty Nambooze as well as Kiiza Besigye (FDC) and Ken Lukyamuzi (CP).
Lulume polled 12,500 votes (58.8%) and Mukasa, 8,359 (39.3%). Kimbowa and Gitta polled 219 (1%) and 171 (0.8%) votes, respectively. “I couldn’t get a better birthday gift (May 1) than the election victory,â€" he said.
Lulume’s supporters christened him enkumbi, (hoe). However, Mukasa alleges some DP officials were arrested distributing items to voters. But it remains to be seen if he will follow Lulume’s previous exploits and go to court.
Lulume has been argumentative all his life. He owes it to his debating instinct from primary school days. By the time Lulume joined Makerere, he was a strong supporter of DP. In 1995, he was among the pioneers of the Uganda Young Democrats (UYD), a political pressure group.
“We formed UYD to give youths a bigger voice in the national politics,†he explains. In 1998, Lulume was elected DP vice-chairman in Mukono. He wanted to contest for the Mukono LC5 seat even before he was 35 years.
“Sam Kisense, the returning officer, failed me on the pretext that I was late for the nominations,†he says. However, his popularity continued to grow. But, this was later to affect his career. While his first posting by the health ministry was Masaka, he was posted to Apac very soon.
“I realised the change was a political manoeuvre to get rid of me in Mukono,†he says. “I was becoming a threat to the NRM.â€
His attempts to have the transfer revoked were futile. This marked a turning point in his career. Lulume quit public service for politics.
But the passion to practise, what took him six years to learn, prevailed. He has, until recently, been a private medical practitioner at Nsambya general clinic. He is the deputy director of the health centre.
Inherent career?
“I come from a family of politicians,†Lulume says. “My great-grandfathers were respected leaders in society.â€
“I am a self-made politician. I admire Bill Clinton, the former US president, because he has a modest background,†Lulume says. “Once he makes a decision, you cannot change it,†his close friend reveals. At 38, Lulume has a bright future.
Asked whether he is eyeing the DP presidency, he says: “Where there’s a good president, there’s a better one. I will cross the river when the time comes.†He, however, says DP has many capable leaders.
Prospects for Buikwe
Heightening Buikwe’s voice is top on Lulume’s agenda. “The people must have the ability to navigate politically so that the Government can act on their needs,†he says.
He wants better roads, improved health and education services, trade boom and improvement in the agricultural sector. “Getting a pupil to pass in Division One in Buikwe would be a miracle. This is unfortunate and must change.â€
The stage is now set, but will Lulume deliver in five years, where Mukasa failed in 10 years? Only time will tell.
THE saying goes: ‘Once beaten twice shy.’ Having contested twice for the MP post and lost, many people expected Democratic Party (DP) member Dr. Lulume Bayiga to quit politics, but he did not give up.
“I believe in myself,†the new Buikwe South MP elect says. His first attempt at the post was in 2001 when he lost to Anthony Mukasa of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party. “But I know NRM rigged the elections. I was already popular,†he boasts.
A two-year commonwealth scholarship gave Lulume a break from the painful loss in 2002. He did a Master’s degree in policing studies in Zimbabwe. “I got a book prize for the best student. I became a policy analyst.†Lulume bounced back to politics in 2006.
“That time, I was sure of victory,†he says. Lulume polled 13,026 votes and Mukasa who polled 13,690 votes, took the day. But, this time round, the DP acting secretary general did not take it lying down.
The titanic by-election
Upon losing, Lulume dragged Mukasa to court, citing bribery of voters. The case was heard in the High Court and when Mukasa lost the case and appealed, it was heard in the Court of Appeal.
Mukasa still lost the case, but never gave up on appealing. The Supreme Court finally brought the case to rest. It found merit in Lulume’s claims, annulling Mukasa’s election. This called for a by-election.
The Electoral Commission set April 30 as polling day in 100-gazetted polling stations. Four candidates; Lulume, Mukasa as well as independent candidates Allan Gitta and Abdallah Kimbowa, vied for the seat. But, like in the previous elections, the battle was between Lulume and Mukasa.
A total of 45,538 voters, out of Buikwe’s 60,000 population, went to the polling stations in an exercise that cost sh70m.
This was the climax of three weeks of the campaigns that also attracted the participation of President Yoweri Museveni, his vice, Prof. Gilbert Bukenya and NRM secretary general Amama Mbabazi, as they campaigned for Mukasa.
“I am going to shake the mango tree for the Buikwe population to eat,†was Lulume’s campaign slogan. He also got a boost from DP president Ssebaana Kizito and party spokesperson Betty Nambooze as well as Kiiza Besigye (FDC) and Ken Lukyamuzi (CP).
Lulume polled 12,500 votes (58.8%) and Mukasa, 8,359 (39.3%). Kimbowa and Gitta polled 219 (1%) and 171 (0.8%) votes, respectively. “I couldn’t get a better birthday gift (May 1) than the election victory,â€" he said.
Lulume’s supporters christened him enkumbi, (hoe). However, Mukasa alleges some DP officials were arrested distributing items to voters. But it remains to be seen if he will follow Lulume’s previous exploits and go to court.
Lulume has been argumentative all his life. He owes it to his debating instinct from primary school days. By the time Lulume joined Makerere, he was a strong supporter of DP. In 1995, he was among the pioneers of the Uganda Young Democrats (UYD), a political pressure group.
“We formed UYD to give youths a bigger voice in the national politics,†he explains. In 1998, Lulume was elected DP vice-chairman in Mukono. He wanted to contest for the Mukono LC5 seat even before he was 35 years.
“Sam Kisense, the returning officer, failed me on the pretext that I was late for the nominations,†he says. However, his popularity continued to grow. But, this was later to affect his career. While his first posting by the health ministry was Masaka, he was posted to Apac very soon.
“I realised the change was a political manoeuvre to get rid of me in Mukono,†he says. “I was becoming a threat to the NRM.â€
His attempts to have the transfer revoked were futile. This marked a turning point in his career. Lulume quit public service for politics.
But the passion to practise, what took him six years to learn, prevailed. He has, until recently, been a private medical practitioner at Nsambya general clinic. He is the deputy director of the health centre.
Inherent career?
“I come from a family of politicians,†Lulume says. “My great-grandfathers were respected leaders in society.â€
“I am a self-made politician. I admire Bill Clinton, the former US president, because he has a modest background,†Lulume says. “Once he makes a decision, you cannot change it,†his close friend reveals. At 38, Lulume has a bright future.
Asked whether he is eyeing the DP presidency, he says: “Where there’s a good president, there’s a better one. I will cross the river when the time comes.†He, however, says DP has many capable leaders.
Prospects for Buikwe
Heightening Buikwe’s voice is top on Lulume’s agenda. “The people must have the ability to navigate politically so that the Government can act on their needs,†he says.
He wants better roads, improved health and education services, trade boom and improvement in the agricultural sector. “Getting a pupil to pass in Division One in Buikwe would be a miracle. This is unfortunate and must change.â€
The stage is now set, but will Lulume deliver in five years, where Mukasa failed in 10 years? Only time will tell.