NRM versus DP: Who will take Buikwe?
Apr 16, 2008
THE battle for the Buikwe South MP seat is on. As it was in 2006, the two main contenders are the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) Anthony Mukasa and the Democratic Party deputy secretary general, Dr. Lulume Bayiga.
By Joshua Kato
THE battle for the Buikwe South MP seat is on. As it was in 2006, the two main contenders are the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) Anthony Mukasa and the Democratic Party deputy secretary general, Dr. Lulume Bayiga.
The seat fell vacant after Bayiga successfully petitioned court over the conduct of the 2006 elections. Four candidates are taking part in the race, with DP and NRM as the leading contenders. The other two Allan Gitta and Abdallah Kimbowa are independents .
Area profile and issues
Located on the southern end of Mukono district, its borderlines include several islands in Lake Victoria. Buikwe has a voting population of around 60,000. It borders Buikwe North, which is currently held by Onyango Kakooba.
Farming and fishing are the main economic activities. The infrastructure is not good; the road from Lugazi to Buikwe and from Buikwe town to the various landing sites are impassable. As a result, transportation of both fish from the landing sites and passengers is a big problem. It is no wonder, all candidates are promising to repair the roads.
Mukasa, has vowed to implement his party manifesto, which among other things, include Bonna Baggagawale. “I will, through our manifesto, help develop agriculture and fishing,†Mukasa says.
For years now, the area has been demanding a district status. Buikwe wants to join with the islands of Buvuma to form a separate district from Mukono. Among the leaders of this crusade is Anthony Mukasa and his friend, Buvuma MP, William Nsubuga. The move has already been supported by sub-county chairmen and the rest of the population. Certainly, any of the candidates who will prove to them that he will make Buikwe a district will earn the votes.
Political-climate
Buikwe South has consistently voted for an NRM candidate. Anthony Mukasa has been MP for two terms. During the last presidential elections, President Museveni took the constituency with about 70% of the votes cast. This gives NRM an edge in the by-elections. Most of the local leaders in the constituency are NRM.
Notable absentees in the race are the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) that had earlier promised to put up a candidate, only to turn around and claim to support Bayiga. This is the second by-election in a row, after Bukholi North, where the FDC has no candidate. The other notable absentee is the Uganda People`s Congress (UPC) who in the 6th Parliament, held Buikwe North under former MP Wagonda Muguli. Overall, Buikwe is an NRM stronghold, but this does not mean any other party cannot win it, especially with a strong person like Bayiga.
Anthony Mukasa (NRM)
He has been the MP and this would have been his second term in office, if his election was not annulled. Mukasa lost the seat when court found him guilty of bribing voters during the 2006 race.
He stands a chance of winning because his party, the NRM, has a big following in the area.
This is the 10th MP by-election since 2006. Of the nine so far held, NRM has won six while FDC has won two. UPC one, and DP none.
If one is to go by the way NRM campaign strategists conducted the last two by-elections in Bukholi and Samia Bugwe, Mukasa is assured of a win. In both races, the NRM appeared to be more united.
Another assurance for Mukasa is, that all the MPs in Mukono district, belong to NRM.
He however, has to contend with some minor opposition from within, since two of the independent candidates claim to be NRM supporters. However, on a visit to the constituency last week, the NRM secretary general, Amama Mbabazi, asked the voters to vote Mukasa.
Bayiga Lulume-DP
Dr. Bayiga Lulume is a good speaker who, on his own, can win the seat. Bayiga, a private practicing doctor and consultant has been in politics since his university days in the mid-1990s.
He is among the pioneer members of the Uganda Youth Democrats (UYD) and has been one of its developers for the last 15 years.
Bayiga lost the 2006 election by less than 1,000 votes, which gives him a good standing. Bayiga argues that he still has his voters and since the 1,000 votes were garnered through irregularities, he is sure of victory.
Although he had some differences with some fellow party members, during his tenure as acting secretary General of DP, it is unlikely that these differences will be dragged into the race.
Most of the UYD diehard campaigners will descend on Buikwe to campaign for him. “I have been through this many times and I know this is my time,†Bayiga says.
So far, Bayiga has been assisted and escorted by Mukono DP chairman, Donald Muguluma. Other party officials like Betty Nambooze who also comes from Mukono North may also join Bayiga on the campaign trail.
Bayiga is also riding on the back of ‘fighting for Buganda’s property.’ In Buikwe, there is an ongoing conflict between the Government of Buganda and Mukono district over the ownership of various landing sites like Katosi.
The others
Allan Gitta, a Makerere University student and son of Mukono district secretary for finance, Nankabirwa, is viewed as one who is trying to build a political base.
Abdallah Kimbowa will struggle for votes. But Gitta thinks he stands a chance. “The problems of Buikwe need young blood like me," he says.
THE battle for the Buikwe South MP seat is on. As it was in 2006, the two main contenders are the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) Anthony Mukasa and the Democratic Party deputy secretary general, Dr. Lulume Bayiga.
The seat fell vacant after Bayiga successfully petitioned court over the conduct of the 2006 elections. Four candidates are taking part in the race, with DP and NRM as the leading contenders. The other two Allan Gitta and Abdallah Kimbowa are independents .
Area profile and issues
Located on the southern end of Mukono district, its borderlines include several islands in Lake Victoria. Buikwe has a voting population of around 60,000. It borders Buikwe North, which is currently held by Onyango Kakooba.
Farming and fishing are the main economic activities. The infrastructure is not good; the road from Lugazi to Buikwe and from Buikwe town to the various landing sites are impassable. As a result, transportation of both fish from the landing sites and passengers is a big problem. It is no wonder, all candidates are promising to repair the roads.
Mukasa, has vowed to implement his party manifesto, which among other things, include Bonna Baggagawale. “I will, through our manifesto, help develop agriculture and fishing,†Mukasa says.
For years now, the area has been demanding a district status. Buikwe wants to join with the islands of Buvuma to form a separate district from Mukono. Among the leaders of this crusade is Anthony Mukasa and his friend, Buvuma MP, William Nsubuga. The move has already been supported by sub-county chairmen and the rest of the population. Certainly, any of the candidates who will prove to them that he will make Buikwe a district will earn the votes.
Political-climate
Buikwe South has consistently voted for an NRM candidate. Anthony Mukasa has been MP for two terms. During the last presidential elections, President Museveni took the constituency with about 70% of the votes cast. This gives NRM an edge in the by-elections. Most of the local leaders in the constituency are NRM.
Notable absentees in the race are the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) that had earlier promised to put up a candidate, only to turn around and claim to support Bayiga. This is the second by-election in a row, after Bukholi North, where the FDC has no candidate. The other notable absentee is the Uganda People`s Congress (UPC) who in the 6th Parliament, held Buikwe North under former MP Wagonda Muguli. Overall, Buikwe is an NRM stronghold, but this does not mean any other party cannot win it, especially with a strong person like Bayiga.
Anthony Mukasa (NRM)
He has been the MP and this would have been his second term in office, if his election was not annulled. Mukasa lost the seat when court found him guilty of bribing voters during the 2006 race.
He stands a chance of winning because his party, the NRM, has a big following in the area.
This is the 10th MP by-election since 2006. Of the nine so far held, NRM has won six while FDC has won two. UPC one, and DP none.
If one is to go by the way NRM campaign strategists conducted the last two by-elections in Bukholi and Samia Bugwe, Mukasa is assured of a win. In both races, the NRM appeared to be more united.
Another assurance for Mukasa is, that all the MPs in Mukono district, belong to NRM.
He however, has to contend with some minor opposition from within, since two of the independent candidates claim to be NRM supporters. However, on a visit to the constituency last week, the NRM secretary general, Amama Mbabazi, asked the voters to vote Mukasa.
Bayiga Lulume-DP
Dr. Bayiga Lulume is a good speaker who, on his own, can win the seat. Bayiga, a private practicing doctor and consultant has been in politics since his university days in the mid-1990s.
He is among the pioneer members of the Uganda Youth Democrats (UYD) and has been one of its developers for the last 15 years.
Bayiga lost the 2006 election by less than 1,000 votes, which gives him a good standing. Bayiga argues that he still has his voters and since the 1,000 votes were garnered through irregularities, he is sure of victory.
Although he had some differences with some fellow party members, during his tenure as acting secretary General of DP, it is unlikely that these differences will be dragged into the race.
Most of the UYD diehard campaigners will descend on Buikwe to campaign for him. “I have been through this many times and I know this is my time,†Bayiga says.
So far, Bayiga has been assisted and escorted by Mukono DP chairman, Donald Muguluma. Other party officials like Betty Nambooze who also comes from Mukono North may also join Bayiga on the campaign trail.
Bayiga is also riding on the back of ‘fighting for Buganda’s property.’ In Buikwe, there is an ongoing conflict between the Government of Buganda and Mukono district over the ownership of various landing sites like Katosi.
The others
Allan Gitta, a Makerere University student and son of Mukono district secretary for finance, Nankabirwa, is viewed as one who is trying to build a political base.
Abdallah Kimbowa will struggle for votes. But Gitta thinks he stands a chance. “The problems of Buikwe need young blood like me," he says.