By Our Reporters
He who laughs last laughs best, goes the old adage. And in battles for Kayunga political supremacy, this adage is now applicable to NRM Chairman Moses Karangwa. The latest reaching us is that soft spoken Karangwa has finally annihilated long term rival Aidah Nantaba. As Woman MP, Nantaba humiliated Karangwa in 2016 elections by wining battles to keep her seat against Karangwa-backed Juliet Nalunga. She took the NRM flag but Nantaba floored her in general elections. Nantaba was then very popular for standing up to Museveni Generals like Kale Kayihura, Henry Tumukunde and others: accusing them of emboldening land grabbers in Kayunga. Grateful voters nicknamed her Mama Kayunga and it’s this same defiant title that she carried during Togikwatako. She is the only minister who didn’t vote Museveni’s wish.
THINGS FALL APART;
As of now Nantaba has politically weakened and many former supporters openly profess Karangwa the State House blue eyed boy who has always had guts to stand up to Nantaba’s bullying. “When he lost to Nantaba camp in 2016, Karangwa returned to the drawing board and re-strategized. He stayed with the grass root unlike Nantaba who became financially stressed and avoided voters. Right now Nantaba is nowhere. She no longer commands the grass root support, lacks State House backing because of her conduct during Togikwatako and even in Kampala her political enemies in Cabinet are so many. She no longer has the SFC guards and is increasingly vulnerable as 2021 nears. Karangwa is clearly having the last laugh,” said a Kayunga political watcher. In Cabinet, Nantaba who has been publicly fighting with Minister Parcis Namuganza doesn’t have many friends. Even at the ICT Ministry where she deputizes Frank Tumwebaze, she doesn’t have much clout. Whenever Tumwebaze is away, it’s Chris Baryomunsi acting as information minister speaking for government. This has neutralized Nantaba to the extent that often in Parliament, she sits with rebel back benchers like Monica Amoding. In Cabinet meetings, the clearly deflated Nantaba rarely talks. Her supporters hoped the last weekend Kayunga Church visit by Bobi Wine would revive her plummeting political fortunes but that never happened. The anticipated political capital from the ghetto president was never realized. Nantaba has also fallen out with fellow leaders including LC5 Chairman Tom Serwanga whom she backed against Karangwa’s candidate. Serwanga now belongs Karangwa camp after Nantaba called him a thief. Kayunga has many politically disgruntled people who are backing Kayunga town council Mayor FDC’s Harriet Nakwedde to replace Nantaba. “She is financially broke and politically frustrated; two factors Karangwa is riding on to finish her ahead of 2021,” says a source.
