By Our Reporters
The harsh treatment of Bobi Wine by the State (that on Boxing Day 26th December went as far dispersing fans that had come for his annual concert) has renewed debate on whether it will ever be possible for opposition politicians to carry out any successful business in Museveni’s Uganda. Some have gone as far as arguing that it’s only Dr. Kizza Besigye’s Total Petrol Station in Nsambya that the Museveni government spares simply because he comes from Western Uganda just like the President.
But in this article, we produce a listing of some of the opposition figures who are involved in lucrative business without having them closed down by government.
JABERI BIDANDI SSALI; The PPP founder and former Presidential candidate famously owns Kiwatule Recreation Center in Nakawa Division which the Museveni government, intolerant as it is, has never closed down. Not even for a single day. In fact it’s one of the businesses that make lots of money every Boxing Day (26th December) and 31st December as partiers usher in the New Year.
FLORENCE NAMAYANJA; She is the women leader in DP and has been in business for years. She currently owns residential apartments in Wakiso Town Council and a FLORA Group of Hotels still in Wakiso. There is no record of her business, which by the way sometimes hosts opposition DP meetings, being closed by the State.
MATHIAS MPUUGA; The Masaka Municipality MP belongs to DP and his Datamine Technical School is one of the most successful post-secondary school academic institutions in the central region. He started in Wandegeya near YMCA and has since expanded to open an equally successful branch in Masaka town. It’s located on Elgin Street on Muto Complex. It remains open, just like Besigye’s Petrol station in Nsambya and Museveni is yet to occasion a raid or closure on it for political reasons.
BABIRYE KABANDA; Despite being a renowned funder of DP activities in the greater Masaka area, this staunch Catholic’s businesses remain vibrant and are centered in Masaka Municipality which is part of her area of jurisdiction as woman MP. She owns St. Jude SSS which is one of the most powerful academic institutions in Masaka. It’s located in Kimanya-Kyabakuza Division and, just like Besigye’s Petrol station, government has never closed it down for political reasons. Yet that isn’t all. Babirye Kabanda also owns Mariana Gardens, a large accommodation facility in Masaka. And her managers there rightly accept business opportunities from all paying customers including President Museveni’s supporters. In fact it’s where former Bukomansimbi woman MP Susan Namaganda had spent the night the day she died in a car accident. It was her meeting point during the campaign period just like many other area politicians use it to hold coordination meetings for the different constituencies in Greater Masaka. The hotel facility too is in Kimanya-Kyabakuza Division and is suitably located in a way that makes it irresistible for travelers from Masaka, Lwengo and Bukomansimbi districts. It’s only second to giants like Brovad and Zebra owned by NRM strongman Eng Mugarura. She is doing extremely well to the extent that she sponsors church activities (including paying tuition for Catholic priests) more generously than even NRM figures in the area.
MUKASA MBIDDE; Besides politics, the DP Vice President has some businesses (just like Besigye and other politicians). His upscale SUSAN LOVE BEACH (to be opened soon) is going to be Masaka’s best recreation facility. In the runner up to the X-mas festivities, Mbidde imported very good boats whose quality is unprecedented on the waters of Lake Victoria. In fact Nabugabo Beach owner Herman Kasozi had to rent some of his boats to facilitate the boat cruise for the Boxing Day on 26th December. They are all inscribed Mbidde Foundation. This Foundation is what the flamboyant politician is using to materially impact on the lives of people mostly in Masaka and nearby Kalangala district. These none political activities of the EALA big man haven’t been interfered with by the state in any way just like Besigye’s Petrol Station in Nsambya. Mbidde has a strong presence in Kalangala where his Foundation activities continue unhindered. Why? Such activities, just like Besigye’s fuelling station, have certainly not made Museveni feel politically threatened in anyway. These Mbidde nonpolitical activities have impacted on all people regardless of whether they support opposition or not. The SUSAN LOVE beach is situated in the Nabugabo neighborhood where he has also constructed very expensive nice cottages for accommodation. This is why the likes of Herman Kasozi (a wealthy NRM supporter dealing in spare parts) have accepted the new reality and have resorted to benchmark on the new high standards Mbidde is setting at his new beach. The beach will be famous for boat cruise and you can be sure Mbidde’s friends will be flocking in from all over East Africa to eat cash. On Boxing Day, the well accomplished Mbidde (who is a teetotaler) relaxed by sitting in the VIP section of the facility as he took in fresh air along with his friend Minister Haruna Kasolo. The wealthy legislator is also constructing a storied building in Masaka town which will serve as both hotel and arcade down stairs. The construction site is being managed for him by an Indian called Samir who hails from the Kamuzu bus-operating family of Soweto Masaka. It’s located on Mawogola Street.
JOSEPH SEWUNGU; The Kalungu West MP is modestly into business whereby he owns a small fleet of small commercial trucks which mostly operate in his Constituency. He was a primary school teacher before joining Parliament on the DP ticket.
JACKSON WABYONA; He is the giant of Muntu’s New Formation in Bunyoro sub region. Besides politics, Wabyona is an accomplished businessman and not even his opposition politics has caused NRM to stand in his way. He is a big investor into schools and hospitals in Hoima where his Central Schools (primary and secondary) and Central Medical Center are simply among the best of their kind in the whole of Bunyoro sub region. His friend Francis Atugonza is deeply into New Formation and also earns a salary as the Estates Manager for Bunyoro kingdom.
LULUME BAYIGA; He is a strong member of the DP reunion caravan and a former MP Buikwe South. He is into the business of life insurance and for many years was among the 11 service providers of medical services to the Parliament of Uganda. He was subsequently struck off the list of Parliament’s service providers largely for political reasons but his Nsambya-based Kampala International Medical Center remains open and it’s how he continues earning his daily bread looking after his family and meeting constituency needs. Unlike Bobi Wine whose business musical concerts have been constrained, Lulume’s hospital business (just like Besigye’s Petrol station) hasn’t been closed and he rightly treats all manner of patients and clients including supporters of NRM and opposition.
FX KATABALWA: He is a city lawyer with offices on Sarah House along Martin Road Old Kampala. His vibrant law firm business has clients like Edward Kiwanuka Sekandi, the Vice President of Uganda. He inherited this client from his mentor the late Joseph Balikuddembe. Katabalwa has previously contested for Rubaga South MP Seat on the ticket of DP.
LATIF SEBAGGALA; He is the proud owner of a big college school in Kisaasi where he serves as Director. It’s one of the best schools in Kawempe Division and his clientele includes parents from both opposition and NRM families. There is also DP Strongman and Makindye Ssaabagabo MP Sempala Kigozi whose thriving schools’ business was recently profiled in the State-owned New Vision’s Pakasa magazine. His constituency hosts Busabala One Love Beach whose operations the State interfered with on Boxing Day. His schools, like Latif’s, are open to accepting business from all people including NRM supporters.
There is also Nansana-based DP strongman MP Nsereko Wakayima whose Little Diamonds is one of the best academic institutions in Nansana Municipality and Wakiso district in general. It’s fully operational and has many high-paying children including some from families of President Museveni’s supporters. It operates from daycare up to Primary Seven and it has always done well in UNEB exams the very reason parents keep quiuing up for their children to be admitted there. To be continued.
