Minister Namuganza, 19 others nominated in Namutumba

POLITICS|PARLIAMENT|NOMINATION

NAMUTUMBA - Twenty people have been nominated to contest for different parliamentary seats in Namutumba district.

Among these is state minister for lands Persis Namuganza on the National Resistance Movement ticket and Emmanuel Maganda, an independent for Bukono constituency.

Others are Mariam Naigaga (NRM), Betty Nakisika (ind), Brenda Bangi (ind), Elizabeth Kwagala (find), and Faridah Musubika (National Unity Platform) for the Woman MP seat.

There is also Yona Kayogera (NRM), Lasuli Muyinda (Ind), Paul Majid (Ind), Seurka Mugoya (Ind) and Gogfrey Mukisa (Ind) for Busiki North constituency. Paul Akamba (NRM) is contesting for the Busiki South MP seat, together with Fred Kasisa (Ind), Mutabali Mukose (Ind), Jamal Wante (Forum for Democratic Change), and Yusuf Dhabada (NUP).

Namuganza was the first to be nominated by the returning officer, Margret Muhumza, at 12:30 pm amid cheers and ululations from supporters, who had accompanied her to the nomination centre. Clad in a yellow dress, Namuganza promised to continue lobbying for investors to set up factories in the area to create jobs for the youth in order to improve household incomes.

"I know there is still much to be done towards improving the welfare of our youth and we shall do it," she said. She also promised to continue improving infrastructure, such as roads in the constituency, to enable farmers to transport their produce to markets for sale.

Containing masses

The Police were later involved in running battles with youth who wanted to enter the nomination centre to meet their candidates.

These were later overpowered and dispersed. Muyinda (IND) promised to create a conducive environment that will enable investors to set up projects in Busiki North to provide employment opportunities to the unemployed youth.

Muyinda, a Kampala-based lawyer, urged voters to elect him into office since, saying he had the qualifications required to deliberate on policies in Parliament.

"Parliament is for people who have studied law and I am the only person with that required qualification," he said.

Some of the supporters who had accompanied candidates to the nomination centre, were turned away by the Police for not wearing face masks or to avoid overcrowding in a bid to contain the spread of COVID-19.