By John V Sserwaniko
Having correctly concluded that politics is the surest way to gainfully get employed in Museveni’s Uganda, a number of politically ambitious Ugandans are already having their eyes on 2021 and actively scheming on how to upstage the incumbent legislators whose performance so far hasn’t met the expectations of their electors. In our part 2 of 2021 UPDATES, a political feature that will be regularly running on this news website, we profile some of these political actors who are menacingly looking at several MPs’ constituencies with a view to retire them in public interest come 2021.
THE LISTING:
Racheal Magoola: She is the Afrigo Band signer famous for the Obangaina lyrics which trended many years ago. She has previously contested for Iganga woman MP in vain but it appears the many years of waiting are now behind her following the creation of Busesa district which becomes operational effective 1ST July. This new district will basically cover current Bugweri County that has been represented by Abdul Katuntu for many years. Magoola is a diehard Musevenist and long suffering NRM cadre and her chances are high. Getting the NRM ticket will be critical and she confirmed to this news website as much. “I’m NRM 311 and I have been on the ground working and I have never rested since the last elections we had. I have been out there marketing my plans and intentions for the new district. It’s where I’m coming from even right now,” Magoola confirmed to this news website vowing to become MP come July. Politics runs through the family because even her mum and ex-Museveni Minister Magoola Zirabamuzaale was an MP for a long time.
Vincent Kyamadidi: The former Rwampara MP (for one term 2011-2016) recently quit NRM and joined FDC after the party leaders failed or refused to help him overcome archrival Charles Ngabirano. Kyamadidi is understood to be having his eyes on Mbarara Municipality Seat where he intends to oust NRM’s Micheal Tumusiime who fluked the area politics and got the seat in 2016 having previously worked with URA. Kyamadidi will naturally be carrying the FDC flag for the Municipality Seat after voters gave up on political veteran Maj John Kazoora who has twice tried and failed to wrestle the seat from the NRM. It’s believed Kazoora’s campaigning approach can’t win votes in the area that needs a populist approach similar to what Kyamadidi is synonymous with. Even within FDC area cadreship, there are feelings of betrayal regarding Kazoora’s continued loyalty to the struggle. His mum died sometime last year and President Museveni (represented by Henry Tumukunde) was the chief mourner. The President even sent a condolence message of Shs10m, something that irked some radical supporters who didn’t expect their leader to accept such financial support from a man he has vigorously resisted since 2006 following the lifting of term limits-and subsequently wrote a book detailing how Museveni betrayed him. The other complicating factor is that Kazoora’s wife Naomi Kabasharira, a leading NRM politician in Ntungamo, is a close political ally of First Lady Janet Museveni. But some supporters maintain that Kazoora has always done his best but can simply not overcome the NRM rigging machine operating mostly in the barracks from where NRM candidates are always aided to derive the unspecified number of votes to simply overcome him in the ballot box.
Ritah Namuwenge: The long-serving Mbale Municipality female Councilor representing Nkooma Ward is having her eyes on the Mbale Municipality MP Seat currently occupied by FDC strongman Wamanga Wamai. Wamai has served since 2008 when he first became MP in the by-election that followed Wilfred Kajeke’s controversial resignation just two years into his MP term. Namuwenge, who in 2011 tried to become a youth MP but eventually ended up being among those Monica Amoding defeated, is these days involved in private business in Kampala having acrimoniously relocated from Mbale following the humiliating defeat by a little known local elderly woman who floored her in 2016. Namuwenge confirmed to this news website that she is deeply interested in the seat and her supporters believe she is the best thing NRM can front against the otherwise deeply entrenched FDC camp.
Mpaka Mwine: He is currently the youth MP for western region having replaced Gerald Karuhanga whose anti-corruption crusade moved mountains in the 9th Parliament and to this day, many of his electors still refer to him as a star performer who set standards on which future youth MPs will always be measured. Whereas Karuhanga was able to shine via his eloquence on the floor of Parliament, Mpaka’s shining is manifested in the way he has generously lobbied for development programs for his electors. Even in Kampala, he isn’t a dull MP but simply among those who are very outspoken on especially matters concerning the youths. He is remembered for vigorously taking on MTN protesting its consumer exploitative policies and general indifference to the public concerns. He has also heavily invested in sporting activities especially in the Mbarara area where his Mbarara City FC is a giant in soccer. For now this is what we can say about his game plan for 2021; Micheal Tumusiime’s Mbarara Municipality is a possibility especially if the dream to make it a city becomes a reality. This would automatically result into the current electoral Municipality being split into two constituencies. Mpaka, whose daddy Bright Rwamirama is a leading investor and job creator in the same town, will eagerly take up one of the two. That is the plan A; his plan B is to relocate to Isingiro Municipality whose creation is being lobbied for. His father would comfortably remain in his Isingiro North as the son grabs the Municipality for himself.
Fred Luyinda: Despite professing DP, this youthful politician intends to join the 11th Parliament on the independent ticket come 2021. He has his eyes on Nansana Municipality currently held by NRM’s Kasule Sebunya who was controversially brought in by court following the ousting of Nsereko Wakayima. In 2016, then aged 23 years Luyinda stood for Makerere Guild President but didn’t win. In 2017, aged just 24, he offered himself for the EALA slot on the independent ticket. He famously composed a campaign song (Luyinda Fred can do) for his Makerere campaigns and this was the first time a guild contender was campaigning with an official song. At Makerere, he was Speaker Nsibirwa Hall and also president of the Procurement Students Association. He read BBA and these days, he is a celebrity of sorts because as a budding recording musician, he regularly performs at introduction and wedding ceremonies in the Nansana area. His Luyinda Community Foundation does charity and the young man is beginning to impact on the ghetto youths in areas like Busukuma Division which is part of the Nansana Municipality. In all he does, his role model is Bobi Wine who inspires him both musically and politically.
Irene Muloni: The Energy Minister currently has no constituency having lost her Bulambuli Woman MP Seat in 2016 to fellow NRM member Sarah Wekomba. In relation to 2021, a number of options are openly available to amiable Irene Muloni. These include running for Sironko woman MP or even to reclaim Bulambuli since the current MP Sarah Wekomba has disappointed many sober-minded NRM cadres who are disgusted with many things including her close collaboration with FDC strongmen Nandala Mafabi and Isaiah Sasaga, the ex-Budadiri East MP. This favors Muloni because apart from herself, Wekomba doesn’t easily face any other formidable challenger. The other option that is temptingly available for Muloni is to run against Budadiri West MP Nandala Mafabi who is no longer politically as strong in his constituency as before. These days the Bugisu-wide political clout Nandala once commanded has since shifted to Nambeche the very outspoken Manjiya County MP. The voter political fatigue that naturally follows prolonged incumbency has apparently caught up with Nandala already (has been MP for close to 20 years). The fall out with colleagues like Sasaga too has hurt Nandala Mafabi’s political ratings in Sironko.
Patricia Magara: She is a daughter to legendary NRA hero Sam Magara and she is a lawyer in Kampala with deep political roots in Luwero district. She is taking advantage of incumbent Lillian Nakate’s ever escalating political woes to position herself as better choice for Luwero district woman MP on NRM ticket. Bubbly Magara has nursed such political ambitions before but not much came to fruition but it now seems to be her time finally to take her place on the table of political eating. Consensus is that Nakate has failed to live up to voters’ expectations. Flamboyant Nakate was widely expected to scoop a ministerial position but the court case she faced from DP’s Brenda Nabukenya messed her up and voters now feel she has become invisible and only sends them regular bulk text messages wishing them a nice weekend.
Margaret Wokuri: She is a leading defiance lady in the FDC party and at a personal level, she is deeply intellectual and reflective. She serves as Minister of Education in Besigye’s so-called People’s Government. A diehard supporter of FDC Secretary General Nandala Mafabi, Wokuri is said to be under pressure by the voters to consider Mbale Municipality MP Seat currently held by elderly Jack Wamai who is understood to be bowing out in 2021. Wokuri isn’t new to opposition politics because in 2011 she was the spokesperson for candidate Kizza Besigye’s campaign bureau that was based in Nakulabye. In 2016, she displaced Mariam Nagudi, a fellow FDC, and she took on Connie Galiwango for the Mbale woman MP Seat. There is also anticipation that Mbale might be elevated to city status in which case two constituencies will be created so that Wokuri, who is married to a wealthy doctor working in Botswana, takes one of them and the other goes to another FDC colleague since the party commands big support in Mbale.
Brenda Nabukenya: Failure to unite warring factions in her own DP Luwero district caused her tenure as Luwero woman MP to be short-lived having come through a by-election that followed Rebecca Nalwanga’s ousting by court. In 2016 general elections she lost to NRM’s Eng Lillian Nakate largely because she had sharp differences with Erasto Kibirango, an influential DP figure in Luwero. Nabukenya backed Luwero T/C Mayor Sebyala who competed with official DP candidate Kibirango. The bickering split the opposition vote and NRM’s Ronald Ndawula devoured both of them in the ballot box. Nabukenya is now planning to return to reclaim her seat against Nakate. But the same Nabukenya is understood to as well still be oscillating between Abraham Byandala’s Katikamu North and Ronald Kibule’s Mukono North where she built a house sometime back. She could also take advantage of Luwero Municipality in case it’s created ahead of 2021 because there is a lot of clamoring for it from Luwero NRM leaders each time they meet Museveni. It will result from the elevation of Luwero Town Council which currently is part of Katikamu North which Byandala has represented since ousting James Kinobe in 2006.
Gaddafi Nassur: He is the incumbent chairman for NRM youth league and hails from the Nubian community in Bombo TC. Gaddafi, who was very outspoken during the Togikwatako campaign before State House rehabilitated him into silence, hails from a place called Kigege in Katikamu North and no doubt has his eyes on Byandala’s constituency too. The political grapevine has it that Luwero LC5 Chairman Ronald Ndawula of NRM also wants this same MP seat because it’s doubtable he can secure re-election as LC5 Chairman. The feuding between his Everest College and neighboring schools has greatly diminished his popularity.
Rogers Mulindwa: This NRM publicist is a communications specialist of long standing and therefore doesn’t require much introduction. He became NRM Communications Officer following the elevation of Ofwono Opondo to head the Media Center. Mulindwa had prior to that participated in the organizing of the NRM National Conference at Namboole on the eve of Museveni-Mbabazi fall out. Mulindwa has in the past been many things including being a reporter, bureau chief and eventually education affairs editor for Monitor newspaper having been mentored by Kevin Aliro and David Ouma Balikowa-DOB. He started out his politics as the Luwero district youth councilor whereafter he represented Wobulenzi Town Council in Nadduli’s LC5 Council. In previous elections, he is among those who religiously supported and campaigned for Abraham Byandala who has been Katikamu North MP since 2006. In 2016, Byandala indicated this was his last term but recently made a U-turn and showed unprecedented levels of political appetite to stay on. Whereas many of the other campaigners, who had been warming up to replace the big man, became cowed and postponed their ambitions fearing to wrangle with the incumbent, Rogers Mulindwa is thick-skinned enough and is determined to lock horns with Byandala come 2021. We impeccably confirmed that, whereas he has his eyes on Katikamu North the way it is, Mulindwa is using his deep connections in both State House and NRM party to have Luwero Town Council cut off from Katikamu North to become a Municipality. That would get the opposition trouble causers out of the way and thereby increasing Mulindwa’s chances to enter Parliament representing the remainder of the rural Sub Counties. In insisting to run, Mulindwa is motivated by the fact that Byandala, who used never to miss church and other social gatherings, is these days very invisible in the constituency. Whereas many knew him mostly as FUFA publicist and Bulemezi FC Manager for Mengo’s Masaza Cup, Mulindwa has an illustrious career in political leadership before making it to national level. In 1998-2001, he was Katikamu County youth chairman and later deputized Rose Namayanja as youth chair for the former big Luwero district that covered Nakasongora, Nakaseke and current Luwero itself. That makes him a tested leader. In 2014 when he was team manager, Bulemezi won Masaza Cup for the first time in the Mengo-sponsored County tournament. Having spoken for FUFA for 8 years, Mulindwa made many contacts in the sports fraternity. His network goes as far as being the 1st scribe to sit on CECAFA media committee along with Charles Masembe and Dr. Sekajigo. Even when Wobulenzi TC is an opposition stronghold, Mulindwa is personally popular there being former district councilor. When he was district secretary for works under Ronald Ndawula (2006-2011), after ganging up against Nadduli, Mulindwa delivered many roads and schools in Katikamu North. His performance in the Luwero district council wasn’t ordinary because in 2010, ACODE named him Uganda’s best district councilor of the year. Second to him was Shifrah Lukwago who then was Speaker for Seya’s KCC. ACODE noticed how well he related with voters and the motions he influenced in the Council. The man from Kakabala village in Katikamu North actually started out as a primary teacher and taught at Wobulenzi Parents School before upgrading to Mulusa Academy where he got money and built his 1st house in Wobulenzi town. He has since accumulated many other academic qualifications and thereby overcoming political foes who used to think he wasn’t sufficiently educated.
Alfred Muwanga: He works as Assistant Commissioner in the URA where he is well paid but that hasn’t prevented him from menacingly looking at Edward Sembatya’s Nakaseke South MP Seat. He is the man who took NRM’s Sembatya to court on grounds of inadequate academic qualifications, the very reason the otherwise very popular Sembatya has been sleepless for the last two years. Reliable sources say that the only way Museveni can help Sembatya overcome Muwanga is by influencing things at URA for the latter to be elevated and confirmed as a full commissioner. A simple survey done by this news website during our visit to the area a few days ago shows that, whereas Muwanga has significant support especially from the 5 Catholic Parishes in the constituency, Anglican Sembatya remains hugely popular and in the whole of Luwero he is only 2nd to JC Muyingo in terms of popularity. Just like Muyingo, Sembatya is so much involved in community works whereby he supports SACCOs and farmers with things like free coffee seedlings.
Idi Ouma: He is the FDC youth league national chairman and he wants to become the Busia Municipality MP come 2021. Ouma, who also chairs the inter-party youth platform, which unites young people from all parties, will be seeking to replace NRM’s Geoffrey Macho who faces strong resistance from voters. He has lately travelled a lot and built alliances with the youth leagues of ODM in Kenya and Civic United Front of Zanzibar. He is friendly with NRM leaders in Busia because his FDC politics isn’t for extremism but moderation. This makes him more agreeable to the NRM members whose votes too are as important in 2021 even when Busia town is an FDC stronghold. He is personally known and close to LoP Winnie Kiiza, Paul Mwiru, and Kizza Besigye, Mombasa governor Hassan Joho, Anna Adeke, Mpaka Mwine, Semujju Nganda, Bobi Wine and Gerald Karuhanga who greatly inspires him. For the FDC slot, which has seen him deliver guild presidents in almost all Universities of Uganda, Ouma competed with and defeated serious youth leaders like Innocent Ayo who was the incumbent, Brian Unstoppable, Ramadhan Kakaire and Robert Mayanja of the Jobless Brotherhood.
Yusuf Nsibambi: The controversially very outspoken Makerere law don and FDC founder member recently went public about his desire to represent the people of Mawokota South in the 11th Parliament. For years now, Nsibambi has been a regular panelist on CBS’ Saturday very popular political show called Parliament Yaffe which is hosted by equally popular presenter Med Nsereko Sebuliba who has previously aided many other budding politicians to join Parliament. The list of those who have used his programs to market themselves politically is endless including the likes of Hussein Kyanjo, Beti Kamya, Semujju Nganda, Ibrahim Kasozi, Mohammed Nsereko, Betty Nambooze and many others. Mawokota South is currently represented by JB Lubyayi of NRM and initiatives like spearheading fundraising for Nkozi hospital have endeared Nsibambi to many area residents regardless of religion. Nsibambi also has a huge tiles’ manufacturing business at his native Nkozi village which employs many area residents. It’s understood that, despite being an FDC stalwart, Nsibambi stands to benefit from the protest vote by supporters of his NRM-leaning relative Kenneth Kiyingi Bbosa (Lubyayi’s predecessor) who has since taken up the kyeyo job in the US where he officially works as a volunteer with the Red Cross. This will lead Bbossa to acquisition of American citizenship and thereby further diminishing his chances of ever bothering to return to Mawokota South politics. Others looking at the same seat include DP’s Sam Lubega who Lubyayi badly floored in 2016. Watch out for part 3. For comments, call/text/whatsapp us on 0703164755!
