Kadaga, Musumba set for showdown in Kamuli's political temperatures

POLITICS | ELECTIONS 

Although she has kept people guessing on whether she is serious or not, Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) strongwoman, Salaamu Musumba's campaign posters indicate that she will contest against her long-time friend, the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga.

A look at the race for the Kamuli District Woman MP seat shows that Musumba and other two contenders are likely to fire up the political temperatures in Kadaga's backyard as she vows to retain her seat.

During the 2016 general elections, Kadaga trounced her rival, Deborah Mwesigwa Mugerwa, with over 60,000 votes. Kadaga, who contested on the National Resistance Movement (NRM) ticket, polled 90,853 votes, while Mugerwa, who stood as an independent, got 24,073 votes.

FDC's Mariam Namwase Muntu trailed with 7,258 votes.

Almost five years later, a wave of politicking is surging in Kamuli district. The political terrain is changing, and with Musumba's intention to challenge Kadaga, the road to Parliament might be a little bit bumpy for the incumbent.

MUSUMBA FACTOR

Asked why she is plotting to uproot her confidant, Kadaga, from Kamuli, the FDC vice-president said: "I know what I want and whatever I speak is the truth and comes direct from my mind. I will hold a press conference bout the Kamuli bid."

On Friday, Musumba's chief campaign manager, Joshua Balondemu, also made the intentions of her boss public.

 "I am here to introduce to you Salaamu Musumba's bid for Kamuli Woman MP. Kadaga has served for over 30 years, and time is now to hand over the mantle to another person," Balondemu, the Kamuli district councillor for Southern division, said during a burial in Kiwoleera zone.

Musumba's bid has sent tongues wagging, with many terming it as a money-making "syndicate" coupled by social and political rivalries.

The former MP for Bugabula South and Kamuli district LC5 chairperson, joins Mwesigwa, 54, and Betty Naigaga, 35, who have also declared intentions to uproot Kadaga from Kamuli.

CONSPIRACY THEORIES

The Kadaga team has not taken lightly the war Musumba is waging against the Speaker of Parliament.

"Maama Kadaga's enemies at the national level have spilled to Kamuli.

They must have offered to fund her," Wilson Koloni Masooma, the "Team Kadaga" co-ordinator for Wankole sub-county in Kamuli, said.

Other Kadaga supporters have also scoffed at Musumba, describing her intention to dislodge the Speaker as a "still birth".

"She knows well that she cannot win Kadaga. She is under peer influence and the lust for money," Aisha Nanyonjo, the chairperson of the women council, said.

Samuel Bamwole, the NRM chairperson for Kamuli district, said since 2015, Musumba has nursed the idea of contesting against Kadaga, but always chickens out due to pressure from voters.

Bamwole added that this time, it might not be different. "She is headed for political limbo.

She did the same in 2015 and withdrew due to the pressure from voters. She then went for Kamuli Municipality MP seat and lost to Hajati Rehema Watongola. I predict that she will again withdraw her bid for Kamuli Woman MP before next month ends," Bamwole added.

Insiders in "Team Musumba" argue that by declaring her intention to dislodge Kadaga, the FDC stalwart is paying back for what they described as "political betrayal" by Kadaga of their friendship, especially when the Speaker openly backed her opponents.

Richard Waiswa, the FDC youth mobiliser in Kamuli district, has lauded Musumba's move, saying she has opened space for new leaders because in the past, many claimed that Kadaga was "untouchable".

To resolve the looming showdown, some Kadaga diehard supporters are calling for talks before it is too late to sweet-talk Musumba into exiting.

MWESIGWA RETURNS

Mwesigwa has also declared her intentions to run again. Since she lost, the former Uganda Revenue Authority commissioner has kept on the ground attending funerals, doing fundraising drives in schools and churches until the COVID-19 lockdown was imposed.

"I am a woman of sound and independent mind. I make my own decisions," Mwesigwa said, adding that she has bounced back into the political race for Kamuli to fight what she described as "political monopoly".

"Kadaga has served for over 30 years and that is enough. Worse still, she has failed to mentor a successor. It is time she quit so that the young generation takes over. She needs to retire or go to bigger circles such as the United Nations," she added.

Betty Naigaga, 40, a resident of Budhubirwa zone, Lulyambuzi parish in Wankole sub-county, has also thrown her hat in the ring.

A nurse by profession, Naigaga claims to be Kadaga's daughter, being a member of Kadaga's Baise Igaga clan.

She told New Vision that she wants to take over the mantle and relieve Kadaga of what she described as "tedious" political activities.

The entry into the race by Musumba, Mwesigwa and Naigaga has shattered the Kadaga sole candidate project. The project was initiated by her core support base, led by NRM leaders — John Lukooki Magezi and Prossy Mwanjuzi — with support from Kamuli MPs, including Henry Maurice Kibalya (Bugabula South) and Moses Kizige (Bugabula North).

Speaking recently about the surge in political opponents seeking to challenge her, Kadaga told NRM district chairpersons during a meeting at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala that powerful corrupt leaders in NRM were engineering political fights against her and plotting her downfall.

THE ISSUES IN KAMULI

Some voters from Kamuli have called for increased lobbying for the district and concerted efforts to fight poverty.

Limping health facilities are the other issues local leaders and voters say must be addressed urgently for a district, they say, votes NRM overwhelmingly.

"I feel touched when people pay for services that are supposed to be free, besides the mismatched delivery of drugs," Ritah Kyonzira, a resident of Kamuli municipality, said. She added that pregnant mothers pay between sh400,000 and sh600,000 to deliver in a health centre.

Kyonzira said such exorbitant charges scare the poor mothers, forcing them to turn to traditional birth attendants.

Mobilisation of youth and women to embrace government programmes rolled out to combat poverty is the other issue Kamuli residents say needs to be addressed by the leaders.

TEAM KADAGA

So, where have the Kamuli leaders been? John Peter Batala, the leader of Kadaga's campaign team, said over time, the Speaker has lobbied for the people of Kamuli, and that is why she has not lost an election since she joined politics 28 years ago.

"We are ready for the encounter. We are not shaken. The Speaker will win," Batala said.

"She lobbied the NGOs and their activities have changed people's lives. The NGOs have built schools, health centres, drilled boreholes and put up mechanisms of promoting child rights, protecting girls from exploitation, besides reducing domestic violence," he added.

On the issue of development, the vice-chairperson of the women's league in Busoigo ward, Kamuli municipality, Robinah Namabiro, said Kadaga does not only strive for the wellbeing of adults, but also fights for the education of girls and their rights.

"She set up The Kadaga Foundation, which offers scholarships to vulnerable pupils and students," she said.

Namabiro said the Speaker has also empowered women with income-generating activities such as cottage industries, poultry and dairy farming.

"Her struggle also saw the enthronement of the Kyabazinga of Busoga, Gabula Nadiope 1V, who hails from Kamuli," she said.