Zziwa returns as women lock horns in Kampala

Jun 04, 2010

THE number of aspirants interested in the Kampala District Woman MP seat is slowly growing, with DP, NRM and FDC all plotting to front a candidate. The incumbent, Naggayi Nabilah Sempala of FDC, took it from NRM’s Margaret Nantongo Zziwa in 2006.

By John Semakula

THE number of aspirants interested in the Kampala District Woman MP seat is slowly growing, with DP, NRM and FDC all plotting to front a candidate. The incumbent, Naggayi Nabilah Sempala of FDC, took it from NRM’s Margaret Nantongo Zziwa in 2006.

However, it is alleged that a faction within the FDC is plotting her downfall, accusing her of being too close to Rubaga North MP Betti Kamya. Kamya was dismissed from the party in April.

The group is fronting Mayi Kiggundu, widow of the late Sulaiman Kiggundu, the former FDC chairperson. They hope Mayi will ride on the popularity of her late husband to trounce Nabilah in the primaries.

Mayi is reported to be out of the country, but those pushing for her candidature say they are in touch with her and that she is committed to contesting. Both Mayi and Nabilah are Muslim and Baganda, so none of them can beat the other on the basis of tribal or religious sentiments.

Nabilah seems to be aware of the negative forces against her within her own party, but says she is prepared for them.

“I can’t stop anyone from contesting against me; that is democracy. The people of Kampala know who they want,” she said.

During her term in Parliament, Nabilah has served as the shadow minister for information and national guidance and is currently the shadow ministry of lands. She has also served on several committees in Parliament, like the equal opportunities committee, the presidential affairs committee and the natural resources committee.

Nabilah is one of the MPs who resisted the endorsement of the controversial Land Amendment Bill.
The legislator says she has helped children, especially the needy in Kampala, by finding them shelter and has spearheaded programmes aimed at equipping women with technical skills.

Meanwhile, DP is fronting the youthful Brenda Nabukenya for the seat. Nabukenya was the first female Guild President of Kyambogo University in 2005.

The 30-year-old is now the secretary general of the East African Community Youth Organisation, Uganda Chapter. The organisation unites the youth and promotes their interests in the region.

In her party, she is the national youth leader and also the national welfare secretary of the Uganda Young Democrats, a youth wing of the DP.

Nabukenya says she has the necessary experience and potential to represent the women of Kampala
“Most of the women in Kampala need to be economically empowered to be able to earn a living. They need vocational skills to be able to set up their own small scale businesses,” she said.

Nabukenya adds that DP has a policy against discrimination against women.

Some DP supporters wanted to front Betty Nambooze but she preferred to concertrate on the Mukono North seat she recently won after beating her longtime rival Peter Bakaluba. This group argued that Nambooze is more known in Kampala than Nabukenya.

But Nabukenya, too, is a good orator who can compete with other strong contenders. Combined with her good looks, she would pick a number of votes, especially from the men.

NRM is fronting Margaret Nantongo Zziwa, who held the seat for over 10 years before she lost it in 2006. Zziwa is now a member of the East African Legislative Assembly. She is likely to give her opponents headache because of her seniority in politics.

She has campaigned before in Kampala and has mastered the politics of the district. Unlike in 2006 when she faced just one opposition candidate, this time DP and FDC will have separate candidates. This could divide the opposition votes to Zziwa’s advantage.

Being the capital city, Kampala has voters of diverse economic, ethnic and religious backgrounds and is the most complex constituency. Campaigning in Kampala for the woman MP seat is therefore one of the most difficult tasks.

The unique factor about the aspirants for the Kampala Woman MP seat is that they are all beautiful and one would think that they are preparing for a beauty pageant.

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