Battle of women lights up Samia Bugwe MP by-elections
Jan 06, 2008
IT is a battle of two women and one man that is lighting an otherwise dull MP by-election race in Busia, as it enters the final lap. Aggrey Awori, one of the best parliamentary legislators since the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government came to power, had unofficially turned Samia Bugwe Nort
By Joshua Kato
IT is a battle of two women and one man that is lighting an otherwise dull MP by-election race in Busia, as it enters the final lap. Aggrey Awori, one of the best parliamentary legislators since the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government came to power, had unofficially turned Samia Bugwe North constituency in Busia district, into his own.
Awori rolled through the 1996 and 2001 elections easily. he was the mahogany of this area. But then he made one mistake, according to voters. While he shook parliament with his well-calculated and researched debates, he forgot about his constituency. Gradually, he lost his political clout in the area.
“He used to disappear for months and return occasionally. He was no longer in touch with the population. We became tired of him,†says Samuel Ochieng, a taxi driver at the border town.
Awori lost the seat to Stephen Wasike Mugeni in 2006. He went to court and managed to technically overturn the results because Mugeni had not resigned his job as treasurer Busia Town Council, as the law stipulates.
After a long court process, a by-election is now set for tomorrow (January 8). The leading three candidates are Forum for Democratic Change (FDC)’s Kevina Taaka, Sarah Mwebaza Mugeni (NRM) and Nathan Wabwire (Independent). The other candidate is Democratic Party (DP)’s Godfrey Osenda.
Samia Bugwe is located at the Ugandan border with Kenya. It is a busy centre of activity, especially around the customs at the border post. Other than rural peripheral areas around Busitema on the highway from Kampala, the major activity in Bugwe is petty trade. The youth and old engage in trade across the border, while some women engage in prostitution.
Politically, Busia was traditionally a Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) stronghold. It is thus not surprising that Awori, a former UPC hero, was doing well.
But even before this, Awori had, in the late 1980s and early 1990s, operated a bloody guerrilla campaign against the NRM government. His rebels used to cross from Kenya and kill local councillors in the area.
But, at the moment, NRM is dominating the district since the other two MPs and the district chairman are NRM supporters. In 2001, Simon Mayende (NRM) was MP for Samia Bugwe South, but he was defeated by Gabriel Opio (NRM) in 2006.
The Woman MP is Rose Munyira (NRM). With Mugeni winning in 2006, NRM for the first time in eight years, had control of the border district. However, Awori’s court case meant that Mugeni was removed from Parliament, hence the ongoing by-elections.
Stephen Wasike, Mugeni’s dangerous substitute.
Mugeni introduced his wife, Sarah Mwebaza Mugeni to the seat. She went through the primaries and won. Her candidature was later qualified by NRM secretary general Amama Mbabazi and his deputy, Dorothy Hyuha. Mrs Mugeni is a charismatic speaker by all standards. “Vote for me for development.
Don’t vote those people who will just antagonise the Government,†she said during a rally at Busia Taxi Park recently.
However, one of the factors that might affect the NRM camp, is that they are still divided.
Although most of them are divided in favour of Taaka, some have a liking for Wabwire.
There was a meeting amongst NRM leaders about selecting one candidate from the contestants. It was at first agreed that Wabwire and John Mulimba pull out for Mrs Mugeni. However, on second thoughts, Wabwire was seen as an equally-strong candidate for the seat.
Both Mrs Mugeni and Wabwire were allowed to stay in the race, as their popularity was being gauged.
It is likely that one of them might pull out for the other in the later stages of the race. But Mulimba has already pulled out in favour of Wabwire.
The other problem is that most of the NRM leaders in the district were left out when these plans were being made. Among these is the NRM district chairman, Barasa Ogajo.
Because of this, they have not actively participated in the campaigns. It was such disorganisation that cost NRM the Bugweri seat and nearly cost them the seat in Kamuli and Kalungu.
The party should have learnt from those previous experiences. With most of the efforts being put on Wabwire, if Mrs Mugeni does not pull out of the race, she might turn out to be just another spoiler.
But according to her husband, she is going all the way. “Even if they do not support my wife, she has got what it takes to win the seat,†observes deposed MP Mugeni.
However, according to the Busia district chairman, Patrick Were, NRM will overcome all these differences and win. “We have been moving around all the sub-counties and are sure that we are going to win, come January 8,†he says.
Certainly, if either of the two finally steps down, NRM has higher chances of winning the race.
However, failure to decide on one final candidate will cost NRM a seat, which they fought so hard to get from Awori.
Taaka
FDC’s Taaka is a charismatic woman. She talks louder than the other candidates. She is a fire brand and according to her supporters, she gives hope.
It is because of this that many FDC strongmen in the east are supporting her. Taaka and FDC as a party are riding on the successes in Bugweri, where FDC’s Abdul Katuntu defeated NRM’s Kirunda Kivejinja. At most of her rallies, Taaka reminds voters about what happened in Bugweri.
Traditionally, it would not be a big problem for an opposition candidate to win the Samia Bugwe North constituency. This area has largely been an opposition stronghold, which is why Aggrey Awori won it several times.
Besides, it has numerous urban settings, notably Busia Town Council, Busitema trading centre and Kayoro at the border. And urban areas tend to support the opposition.
Taaka has support from FDC stalwarts from eastern Uganda, including Nandala Mafabi, Alice Alaso, Francis Epetait and others who have been moving on the trail with her.
It is not clear if FDC President Col Kizza Besigye will visit the area, but even if he does not, Taaka and the group in Busia have what it takes to win this race. If the NRM fails to put their house in order, Taaka has the ability to win.
The issues
The rallies have not been as exciting as the previous ones. All candidates agree that mobilising people for a rally is a big problem. “We are tired of politics.
These people just waste our time promising heaven on earth, only to disappear after we have voted for them,†observed Charles Mangeni, a newspaper vendor in Busia town. Nonetheless, the issues at hand are being raised and the candidates are responding to them.
There are mainly three issues other than politics that are steering the campaigns. These are the social, economical and infrastructural problems facing Busia. Socially, universal primary education (UPE) has not registered as much success in Busia as it has in many parts of the country.
It is, therefore, not surprising that all candidates are pointing it out as their main issue. But because of several reasons, many pupils under the UPE programme are not in school. According to Taaka: “Children must be given food at school.
They should also be given books, just like UPC did in the 1960s. Vote me and I will make sure that your children get these things.†On the same issue, however, the NRM official candidate Mrs Mugeni, promised to not only lobby, but also find ways of implementing or furthering government programmes like UPE.
Economically, Busia being a border town and perhaps one of the largest centres for the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), has some discontented people. “The tax collectors are harsh on us.
That is why I will vote for any candidate who has plans of stopping this harshness,†says Edward Were, a trader in the town. All candidates are pledging to have a cleaner revenue collection system.
Residents also argue that since URA collects billions of shillings in Busia, some of it should be spent on developing infrastructure in the area. And obviously the candidates are laying out their promises on this issue.
“I will lobby that some of the funds collected are returned to develop this area,†Taaka said during a rally at Busia Taxi Park recently.
Mrs Mugeni already has plans for the same, since her husband had a big plan to help Busia Town Council share in the revenue collections. Come tomorrow, the people will make the final decision.
IT is a battle of two women and one man that is lighting an otherwise dull MP by-election race in Busia, as it enters the final lap. Aggrey Awori, one of the best parliamentary legislators since the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government came to power, had unofficially turned Samia Bugwe North constituency in Busia district, into his own.
Awori rolled through the 1996 and 2001 elections easily. he was the mahogany of this area. But then he made one mistake, according to voters. While he shook parliament with his well-calculated and researched debates, he forgot about his constituency. Gradually, he lost his political clout in the area.
“He used to disappear for months and return occasionally. He was no longer in touch with the population. We became tired of him,†says Samuel Ochieng, a taxi driver at the border town.
Awori lost the seat to Stephen Wasike Mugeni in 2006. He went to court and managed to technically overturn the results because Mugeni had not resigned his job as treasurer Busia Town Council, as the law stipulates.
After a long court process, a by-election is now set for tomorrow (January 8). The leading three candidates are Forum for Democratic Change (FDC)’s Kevina Taaka, Sarah Mwebaza Mugeni (NRM) and Nathan Wabwire (Independent). The other candidate is Democratic Party (DP)’s Godfrey Osenda.
Samia Bugwe is located at the Ugandan border with Kenya. It is a busy centre of activity, especially around the customs at the border post. Other than rural peripheral areas around Busitema on the highway from Kampala, the major activity in Bugwe is petty trade. The youth and old engage in trade across the border, while some women engage in prostitution.
Politically, Busia was traditionally a Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) stronghold. It is thus not surprising that Awori, a former UPC hero, was doing well.
But even before this, Awori had, in the late 1980s and early 1990s, operated a bloody guerrilla campaign against the NRM government. His rebels used to cross from Kenya and kill local councillors in the area.
But, at the moment, NRM is dominating the district since the other two MPs and the district chairman are NRM supporters. In 2001, Simon Mayende (NRM) was MP for Samia Bugwe South, but he was defeated by Gabriel Opio (NRM) in 2006.
The Woman MP is Rose Munyira (NRM). With Mugeni winning in 2006, NRM for the first time in eight years, had control of the border district. However, Awori’s court case meant that Mugeni was removed from Parliament, hence the ongoing by-elections.
Stephen Wasike, Mugeni’s dangerous substitute.
Mugeni introduced his wife, Sarah Mwebaza Mugeni to the seat. She went through the primaries and won. Her candidature was later qualified by NRM secretary general Amama Mbabazi and his deputy, Dorothy Hyuha. Mrs Mugeni is a charismatic speaker by all standards. “Vote for me for development.
Don’t vote those people who will just antagonise the Government,†she said during a rally at Busia Taxi Park recently.
However, one of the factors that might affect the NRM camp, is that they are still divided.
Although most of them are divided in favour of Taaka, some have a liking for Wabwire.
There was a meeting amongst NRM leaders about selecting one candidate from the contestants. It was at first agreed that Wabwire and John Mulimba pull out for Mrs Mugeni. However, on second thoughts, Wabwire was seen as an equally-strong candidate for the seat.
Both Mrs Mugeni and Wabwire were allowed to stay in the race, as their popularity was being gauged.
It is likely that one of them might pull out for the other in the later stages of the race. But Mulimba has already pulled out in favour of Wabwire.
The other problem is that most of the NRM leaders in the district were left out when these plans were being made. Among these is the NRM district chairman, Barasa Ogajo.
Because of this, they have not actively participated in the campaigns. It was such disorganisation that cost NRM the Bugweri seat and nearly cost them the seat in Kamuli and Kalungu.
The party should have learnt from those previous experiences. With most of the efforts being put on Wabwire, if Mrs Mugeni does not pull out of the race, she might turn out to be just another spoiler.
But according to her husband, she is going all the way. “Even if they do not support my wife, she has got what it takes to win the seat,†observes deposed MP Mugeni.
However, according to the Busia district chairman, Patrick Were, NRM will overcome all these differences and win. “We have been moving around all the sub-counties and are sure that we are going to win, come January 8,†he says.
Certainly, if either of the two finally steps down, NRM has higher chances of winning the race.
However, failure to decide on one final candidate will cost NRM a seat, which they fought so hard to get from Awori.
Taaka
FDC’s Taaka is a charismatic woman. She talks louder than the other candidates. She is a fire brand and according to her supporters, she gives hope.
It is because of this that many FDC strongmen in the east are supporting her. Taaka and FDC as a party are riding on the successes in Bugweri, where FDC’s Abdul Katuntu defeated NRM’s Kirunda Kivejinja. At most of her rallies, Taaka reminds voters about what happened in Bugweri.
Traditionally, it would not be a big problem for an opposition candidate to win the Samia Bugwe North constituency. This area has largely been an opposition stronghold, which is why Aggrey Awori won it several times.
Besides, it has numerous urban settings, notably Busia Town Council, Busitema trading centre and Kayoro at the border. And urban areas tend to support the opposition.
Taaka has support from FDC stalwarts from eastern Uganda, including Nandala Mafabi, Alice Alaso, Francis Epetait and others who have been moving on the trail with her.
It is not clear if FDC President Col Kizza Besigye will visit the area, but even if he does not, Taaka and the group in Busia have what it takes to win this race. If the NRM fails to put their house in order, Taaka has the ability to win.
The issues
The rallies have not been as exciting as the previous ones. All candidates agree that mobilising people for a rally is a big problem. “We are tired of politics.
These people just waste our time promising heaven on earth, only to disappear after we have voted for them,†observed Charles Mangeni, a newspaper vendor in Busia town. Nonetheless, the issues at hand are being raised and the candidates are responding to them.
There are mainly three issues other than politics that are steering the campaigns. These are the social, economical and infrastructural problems facing Busia. Socially, universal primary education (UPE) has not registered as much success in Busia as it has in many parts of the country.
It is, therefore, not surprising that all candidates are pointing it out as their main issue. But because of several reasons, many pupils under the UPE programme are not in school. According to Taaka: “Children must be given food at school.
They should also be given books, just like UPC did in the 1960s. Vote me and I will make sure that your children get these things.†On the same issue, however, the NRM official candidate Mrs Mugeni, promised to not only lobby, but also find ways of implementing or furthering government programmes like UPE.
Economically, Busia being a border town and perhaps one of the largest centres for the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), has some discontented people. “The tax collectors are harsh on us.
That is why I will vote for any candidate who has plans of stopping this harshness,†says Edward Were, a trader in the town. All candidates are pledging to have a cleaner revenue collection system.
Residents also argue that since URA collects billions of shillings in Busia, some of it should be spent on developing infrastructure in the area. And obviously the candidates are laying out their promises on this issue.
“I will lobby that some of the funds collected are returned to develop this area,†Taaka said during a rally at Busia Taxi Park recently.
Mrs Mugeni already has plans for the same, since her husband had a big plan to help Busia Town Council share in the revenue collections. Come tomorrow, the people will make the final decision.