Nambooze, Bakaluba have always been at war
Apr 30, 2010
MUKONO political rivals Betty Nambooze Bakireke and Rev. Peter Bakluba Mukasa have been battling each other for nearly a decade in a war that goes beyond politics.
By John Semakula
MUKONO political rivals Betty Nambooze Bakireke and Rev. Peter Bakluba Mukasa have been battling each other for nearly a decade in a war that goes beyond politics.
On Tuesday when the Electoral Commission cleared them to compete for the Mukono North constituency by-elections, many considered it the sixth round of their war.
Bakaluba comes from the upper social class referred to in the Buganda social structure as omwami. Nambooze, on the other hand, made her way from the lower social class known as mukopi, or commoner.
Ten years ago, Nambooze was a law enforcement officer with Mukono Town Council while Bakaluba was a political talk-show host on Radio Simba.
The two co-existed peacefully until 2002 when Nambooze led a team of law enforcers to Bakaluba’s home in Gulu Ward, Mukono Town Council, to demolish his fence, accusing him of constructing it in another person’s plot.
The infuriated Bakaluba accused Nambooze and team of demolishing his fence without listening to his side of the story. He had been elected a Member of Parliament the previous year and was humiliated by the demolition.
The following year, Nambooze was arrested at Bulange, Mengo for allegedly receiving a sh60,000 bribe from one Hanington Kanyike of Kitete in Mukono Town Council, who wanted a favour from her office.
Nambooze accused Bakaluba of using Kanyike to avenge the demolition of his fence. Although Bakaluba denied being involved in Nambooze’s arrest, not many people believed him.
In 2003, Nambooze was convicted of bribery before a Magistrate’s Court in Kampala and was sentenced to two years at Luzira Maximum Prison.
She was in Luzira for about 11 months, together with her young children, before winning an appeal. In 2004, the High Court overturned the ruling due to the unconstitutional nature of the law under which Nambooze was charged and she was set free.
On her return, Nambooze hit back by running against Bakaluba in 2006 for the parliamentary seat. In the run up to the elections, the two fought a protracted battle of words on radio.
Nambooze utilised her post as a Central Broadcasting Corporation (CBS) presenter, based in Mengo, to position herself as the Kabaka’s representative.
On air, she always spoke passionately about Buganda Kingdom and the Kabaka, which appealed to the sentiments of a big proportion of her constituents who are loyal to the kingdom.
The imprisonment also won her sympathy votes. Although Nambooze lacked enough funds for the parliamentary elections, she was running neck-to-neck with Bakaluba.
At Mukono Community Hall where the results were tallied, the Electoral Commission officials had to count the votes several times to determine the winner because the margin was narrow. Bakaluba won by less than 500 votes.
But as Bakaluba headed to Parliament, Nambooze went to the courts to challenge the results.
From 2006, the two battled it out in court until last month when the Supreme Court ruled that Bakaluba be thrown out of Parliament.
First, Nambooze won in the High Court, which found Bakaluba guilty of bribing voters. During campaigns he had paid for the rehabilitation of a borehole at Walusubi, Naama sub-county.
Bakaluba appealed against the ruling in both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. He lost both times.
On March 30, the Supreme Court agreed with the Court of Appeal and High Court that Bakaluba was guilty of election malpractice and should leave Parliament.
The ruling resulted in the by-elections in the constituency, which kicked off on Tuesday and Wednesday with the nomination of 10 candidates.
Despite the many aspirants, it is clear the competition is between Bakaluba, the National Resistance Movement flag-bearer and Nambooze, who represents the Democratic Party (DP).
The two had the biggest convoys at the nominations.
Like in 2006, Bakaluba is more popular in the rural than urban areas.
Nambooze, other hand, enjoys massive support in the populous Mukono and Seeta urban areas.
This time, however, the race seems more competitive than in 2006. NRM seems committed to retain its seat.
The DP and other parties have ganged up to wrestle the NRM out. It’s not a surprise, therefore, that top officials of parties like FDC and CP have rallied behind Nambooze.
In the NRM camp, Moses Kasujja, the party’s publicist in Mukono district, was nominated as an independent candidate. But the majority of the party’s supporters have rallied behind Bakaluba.
At the moment it is too early to tell who will win Round eight of Bakaluba vs Nambooze.
Nambooze vs Bakaluba: round 1 – 8
Round I (2002):
Nambooze, while a law enforcement officer at Mukono Town Council, demolishes Bakaluba’s wall fence, accusing him of constructing his fence in another person’s plot of land.
Round II (2003):
Nambooze is arrested while allegedly receiving a bribe of sh60,000 from one Hanington Kanyike. Nambooze accuses Bakaluba of plotting her arrest, but he denies involvement.
Round III (2003):Â
Nambooze is convicted by a Magistrate’s Court in Kampala and sentenced to two years in jail at Luzira Prison.
Round IV (2004):
The High Court overturns the ruling of the lower court that had sentenced Nambooze and she is freed after 11 months in prison.
Round V 2004-2005):
After Nambooze’s release, the two engage in another war of words on radio stations; Nambooze uses CBS while Bakaluba uses Dunamis, a Mukono-based station.
Round VI (2006):
They lock horns in parliamentary elections for Mukono North constituency. Bakaluba wins.
Round VII (2006-2010):
Nambooze goes to court to challenge the results, claiming Bakaluba engaged in election malpractice. After a prolonged court battle, Bakaluba is thrown out of Parliament. He was found guilty of bribing voters.
Round VIII:
Bakaluba takes on Nambooze again in the by-elections.
MUKONO political rivals Betty Nambooze Bakireke and Rev. Peter Bakluba Mukasa have been battling each other for nearly a decade in a war that goes beyond politics.
On Tuesday when the Electoral Commission cleared them to compete for the Mukono North constituency by-elections, many considered it the sixth round of their war.
Bakaluba comes from the upper social class referred to in the Buganda social structure as omwami. Nambooze, on the other hand, made her way from the lower social class known as mukopi, or commoner.
Ten years ago, Nambooze was a law enforcement officer with Mukono Town Council while Bakaluba was a political talk-show host on Radio Simba.
The two co-existed peacefully until 2002 when Nambooze led a team of law enforcers to Bakaluba’s home in Gulu Ward, Mukono Town Council, to demolish his fence, accusing him of constructing it in another person’s plot.
The infuriated Bakaluba accused Nambooze and team of demolishing his fence without listening to his side of the story. He had been elected a Member of Parliament the previous year and was humiliated by the demolition.
The following year, Nambooze was arrested at Bulange, Mengo for allegedly receiving a sh60,000 bribe from one Hanington Kanyike of Kitete in Mukono Town Council, who wanted a favour from her office.
Nambooze accused Bakaluba of using Kanyike to avenge the demolition of his fence. Although Bakaluba denied being involved in Nambooze’s arrest, not many people believed him.
In 2003, Nambooze was convicted of bribery before a Magistrate’s Court in Kampala and was sentenced to two years at Luzira Maximum Prison.
She was in Luzira for about 11 months, together with her young children, before winning an appeal. In 2004, the High Court overturned the ruling due to the unconstitutional nature of the law under which Nambooze was charged and she was set free.
On her return, Nambooze hit back by running against Bakaluba in 2006 for the parliamentary seat. In the run up to the elections, the two fought a protracted battle of words on radio.
Nambooze utilised her post as a Central Broadcasting Corporation (CBS) presenter, based in Mengo, to position herself as the Kabaka’s representative.
On air, she always spoke passionately about Buganda Kingdom and the Kabaka, which appealed to the sentiments of a big proportion of her constituents who are loyal to the kingdom.
The imprisonment also won her sympathy votes. Although Nambooze lacked enough funds for the parliamentary elections, she was running neck-to-neck with Bakaluba.
At Mukono Community Hall where the results were tallied, the Electoral Commission officials had to count the votes several times to determine the winner because the margin was narrow. Bakaluba won by less than 500 votes.
But as Bakaluba headed to Parliament, Nambooze went to the courts to challenge the results.
From 2006, the two battled it out in court until last month when the Supreme Court ruled that Bakaluba be thrown out of Parliament.
First, Nambooze won in the High Court, which found Bakaluba guilty of bribing voters. During campaigns he had paid for the rehabilitation of a borehole at Walusubi, Naama sub-county.
Bakaluba appealed against the ruling in both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. He lost both times.
On March 30, the Supreme Court agreed with the Court of Appeal and High Court that Bakaluba was guilty of election malpractice and should leave Parliament.
The ruling resulted in the by-elections in the constituency, which kicked off on Tuesday and Wednesday with the nomination of 10 candidates.
Despite the many aspirants, it is clear the competition is between Bakaluba, the National Resistance Movement flag-bearer and Nambooze, who represents the Democratic Party (DP).
The two had the biggest convoys at the nominations.
Like in 2006, Bakaluba is more popular in the rural than urban areas.
Nambooze, other hand, enjoys massive support in the populous Mukono and Seeta urban areas.
This time, however, the race seems more competitive than in 2006. NRM seems committed to retain its seat.
The DP and other parties have ganged up to wrestle the NRM out. It’s not a surprise, therefore, that top officials of parties like FDC and CP have rallied behind Nambooze.
In the NRM camp, Moses Kasujja, the party’s publicist in Mukono district, was nominated as an independent candidate. But the majority of the party’s supporters have rallied behind Bakaluba.
At the moment it is too early to tell who will win Round eight of Bakaluba vs Nambooze.
Nambooze vs Bakaluba: round 1 – 8
Round I (2002):
Nambooze, while a law enforcement officer at Mukono Town Council, demolishes Bakaluba’s wall fence, accusing him of constructing his fence in another person’s plot of land.
Round II (2003):
Nambooze is arrested while allegedly receiving a bribe of sh60,000 from one Hanington Kanyike. Nambooze accuses Bakaluba of plotting her arrest, but he denies involvement.
Round III (2003):Â
Nambooze is convicted by a Magistrate’s Court in Kampala and sentenced to two years in jail at Luzira Prison.
Round IV (2004):
The High Court overturns the ruling of the lower court that had sentenced Nambooze and she is freed after 11 months in prison.
Round V 2004-2005):
After Nambooze’s release, the two engage in another war of words on radio stations; Nambooze uses CBS while Bakaluba uses Dunamis, a Mukono-based station.
Round VI (2006):
They lock horns in parliamentary elections for Mukono North constituency. Bakaluba wins.
Round VII (2006-2010):
Nambooze goes to court to challenge the results, claiming Bakaluba engaged in election malpractice. After a prolonged court battle, Bakaluba is thrown out of Parliament. He was found guilty of bribing voters.
Round VIII:
Bakaluba takes on Nambooze again in the by-elections.