MP Ssekikubo, minister Kabatsi to face off

POLITICS|PARLIAMENT|ELECTION WATCH

SEMBABULE - Contenders for the Lwemiyaga County parliamentary seat in the 2021 elections Theodore Ssekikubo, the incumbent and the state minister for works, Joy Kabatsi, clashed after the nomination exercise.

The duo, who were initially close political allies, fell out after Kabatsi switched her interest from the Ssembabule District Woman parliamentary seat to Lwemiyaga County where Ssekikubo has served three terms.

Kabatsi and Ssekikubo were both nominated on Thursday (October 15). Kabatsi, a resident of Ntusi, said Ssekikubo's victory as the NRM party flag-bearer was not genuine.

"Ssekikubo rigged the vote. He prepared breakfast for the security team and compromised them so that they favour him. I will not surrender to acts of bribery, corruption and election fraud. I am a minister," she said.

Kabatsi added: "Ssekikubo is a problem in the NRM. He has not done anything for Lwemiyaga," she said.

Political failure 

In response, Ssekikubo described Kabatsi as a political failure. "She has been contesting since 1996 and losing to Anifa Kawooya. She now wants to challenge me. I pity her," he said.

Ssekikubo said he almost faced the exit in the NRM for supporting Kabatsi.

"It was because of me and the people of Lwemiyaga that Kabatsi was considered for a ministerial position. She has now forgotten that," he said, adding that Kabatsi is too weak to defeat him.

He said it was not possible for security to fail Kabatsi as she alleges. "Kabatsi is a VIP and a minister, I am not as powerful in the party as she is," he said.