VP’s aide vows to unseat Ssekandi

Aug 15, 2010

THE political aide to the Vice-President, Kityamuwesi Musubire, has vowed to unseat the Speaker of Parliament, Edward Ssekandi, from Bukoto Central parliamentary seat.He has also announced that he will not participate in the coming NRM party primary elections.

By Dismus Buregyeya

THE political aide to the Vice-President, Kityamuwesi Musubire, has vowed to unseat the Speaker of Parliament, Edward Ssekandi, from Bukoto Central parliamentary seat.He has also announced that he will not participate in the coming NRM party primary elections.

Musubire was expected to be the main opponent to Ssekandi in the run-up for the flag-bearer of the NRM in the 2011 general elections.

However, citing fears of an unlevel ground, trickery and bias, Musubire has decided to get out of the NRM party primary race, saying the environment had been set to favour Ssekandi.

“The political game meant to favour Ssekandi in the NRM party primaries will not stop me from contesting as an independent candidate. Most of the residents are on my side,” he said.

Addressing residents at his home village in Kamuzinda, Kyanamukaka in Masaka on Saturday, Musubire said the NRM party registration exercise in his constituency was marred by irregularities with intent to favour Ssekandi.

He vowed not to stand down for Ssekandi as some officials had earlier proposed to him.

“How will my supporters think of me if I betray them by throwing in the towel? Ssekandi initiated my entry into the race and fortunately, the residents have embraced me to represent them in Parliament,” he said.

Musubire added that Ssekandi had assured him that after the 2006 elections, he would step down for him (Musubire) in the 2011 parliamentary polls.

“Ssekandi, my friend, well-knowing that he backed the idea of replacing him, made a surprise U-turn and said he was back in the race. I will not get out as he suggested to me. Let’s compete,” he said.

Ssekandi said he had earlier decided to step down but due to the demand from the locals he made up his mind to return and represent his constituency again.

Jude Mbabali, the former area parliamentary candidate for the Democratic Party (DP), is also back in the race.

Bukoto Central constituency has several DP strongholds, especially Kabonera sub-county. The Masaka district NRM camp is afraid that they risk losing the constituency if the competition between Musubire and Ssekandi is not sorted out.

Ssekandi has represented Bukoto Central in Parliament since 1994 when he was elected as Constituent Assembly delegate.

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