By Mulengera Reporters
Mukono Mayor George Kagimu wants to remove Betty Nambooze as Mukono Municipality MP but our investigations, corroborated by commentaries from area political pundits, show that the wealthy and modestly experienced Kagimu is flogging a dead horse. This simply means he stands no chance against the indomitable Nambooze who DP President Mao once described as politically invincible.
The year was 2010 and Mao, who had just become DP President, was addressing a Nambooze meeting in Mukono town as she prepared to face off with Museveni-backed Bakaluba Mukasa who had the entire NRM machinery behind him. Mao made all this flattery because he too was counting on the Nambooze backing to legitimize himself as DP boss and strong Presidential contender in 2011. With the triumphant return of Olara Otunnu, the opposition was then seen as having three potential strong contenders for Presidency. These included Mao who many thought would pull crowds to DP; Col Kizza Besigye who was challenging Museveni for 3rd time and Otunnu around whom there was a lot of myth after media exaggerated his international connections saying he would isolate Museveni from his western backers. As we now know all this Otunnu euphoria came to nothing but that is story for another day.
THE KAGIMU STORY
In today’s analysis we are staying with Mukono Municipality specifically focusing on hurdles Kagimu must overcome first in order to (just) increase his chances against Nambooze. To appreciate the Mukono dynamics, one has to understand why voters have always backed Nambooze and not anyone else. Our finding is Mukono electors fancy extremist opposition to Museveni’s NRM which some call Defiance politics. It’s what Nambooze epitomizes and voters like her for it.
“She is eloquent and has been consistent in what she says. She has always been clear without ever contradicting herself in her rejection of Museveni and his NRM since quitting in early 2000s. This is something Mukono voters like. They are also happy that her outspokenness and controversial approach to issues in Parliament keeps their Municipality in the limelight and she is nationally more known than even some Ministers. That’s something voters are very proud of here. They work and have some modest income. All they expect from their MP is being consistent and outspoken against NRM. They aren’t looking for a rich man who will bribe and prepare for them feasts. If that was the case, there is no way she would overcome Bakaluba,” says a knowledgeable reporter working with Dunamis fm, a leading radio station in Mukono town.
The journalist, who didn’t want to be named so as to freely discuss the matter without antagonizing any of his relations with area politicians, said if money and being generously wealthy is all one needed, then Bakaluba (who voters rejected in favor of Nambooze) would still be leading the Municipality. “Bakaluba had more money and more political experience than Kagimu whose hostile approach to Nambooze has now caused some voters to begin perceiving him as NRM. Bakaluba was even a better orator than Kagimu and had his illustrious profile having started out as a popular political host on radio Simba. He is even Omwana w’omwami [son of a rich chief] and nobody disputes his ethnicity,” the radio journalist adds.
“What Kagimu isn’t realizing is that he is being captured and hijacked by flopped DP politicians who have always looked for an opportunity to antagonize Nambooze right from her Mukono backyard. They are just using him even to get rent for themselves but voters won’t be buying his candidature. Those DP guys are very desperate. They went as far as duping Bobi Wine to travel to Kagimu’s home for a courtesy visit on the hill where they had a meal and some drinks and then took photos which they later used to create an impression that Hon Kyagulanyi had endorsed Kagimu which isn’t true because there was never that discussion that day.”
One of the DPs who hates Nambooze went as far as asking Kagimu to release Shs5m to be paid to one of the key people around Bobi Wine. That Bobi influencer would then cause Mr. Wine to make some public statements denouncing Nambooze while endorsing Kagimu’s 2021 bid. But the man from Magere proved too smart.
He declined to do that arguing he can’t decide for Mukono electors in this era of “mwebereremu [determine what is right for yourselves].” He said dictating for voters would contradict his twebereremu message. Yet using the photos, Kagimu’s supporters have never stopped moving around claiming Mr. Wine was against Nambooze’s reelection. Saying they know what is right for them, Mukono voters were grateful Mr. Wine kept neutral and they are determined to stick to Nambooze as long as she sticks to issues that made her relevant in the first place (notwithstanding the blackmail and propaganda by haters from DP national).
Ironically, Nambooze was the kingmaker behind Kagimu’s Mayorship prevailing against NRM candidates in 2016. A total stranger to politics, Kagimu in around 2015 drove to Nambooze’s home and said “I’m joining politics and I want Mukono Mayorship.” Nambooze, whose DP was struggling to find a formidable personality to replace Johnson Muyanja Senyonga who was relocating for Mukono South MP seat, welcomed Kagimu but took months convincing him not to risk running on NRM ticket. She told him she would openly campaign for him on condition he forgets about NRM and comes on DP ticket. Kagimu, who owns several businesses including Festino City, considered this risky but the more he consulted, the more he realized running on NRM was a sure way to lose the Municipality votes.
He returned to Nambooze to announce acceptance to join DP and run on its ticket. That is what happened. Kagimu won the seat easily as he was part of the candidates’ line up with whom Nambooze campaigned. Most of them won except Bogere Nsensebuse who failed to dislodge Mukono Division Mayor Jamil Kakembo. He (Kakembo) forged some partnership with NRM resulting into Bogere’s effective thumping in the ballot box.
Kakembo was initially surrounded by a Council that was 100% pro-Nambooze but he has since gradually manipulated and as we talk over 40% of them are now against Nambooze. These are some of the guys now giving Kagimu false hope that he can prevail against Nambooze. For some it’s an opportunity to cash in on generous cash contributions from Kagimu who has lately been under pressure by some political strategists and self-seekers to sell off Festino City and raise huge camp war chest to thump Nambooze in 2021. But there is limited likelihood money can swing enough voters against the indomitable Betty Nambooze.
In his gallant efforts to upstage Nambooze, Kagimu is also counting on the likes of Ffefeka Serubogo who have never liked Nambooze. He is also certain that haters at DP headquarters can neutralize Nambooze by handing over the party ticket to him leaving Nambooze with no option but to run as an independent. There are also the likes of Lulume Bayiga and Dereck Mutema, who hate Nambooze for personal reasons including blaming their 2016 political fiascos on her, whose loyalty ill-fated Kagimu is very certain of. You also have the likes of Sempala Kigozi (MP Makindye Ssaabagabo) and Latif Sebaggala quietly encouraging Kagimu to try hard in the hope that his challenge will keep Nambooze busy and prevent her from campaigning for their anticipated opponents in 2021.
KAGIMU/NAMBOOZE ROW
The two fell out immediately after 2016 elections and many voters regretted why Nambooze expended her energy campaigning for such a traitor. The first cause of rift related to a forest in Goma (Seeta neighborhood) which the Kagimu-led Municipality wanted deggazzeted to permit human settlement. They even had council resolutions showing the concerned residents had consented to degazzetement.
Ever cautious not to antagonize voters’ interest, Nambooze bitterly opposed this move. She went as far using her Parliamentary leverage to dispute the council resolutions contesting their authenticity. In the end, degazzetement was rejected and Kagimu took things personal and war began immediately. Nambooze opted to keep quiet and her view was this fall out would be managed and deescalated. As the Catholic clerics attempted reconciliation, Kagimu’s council did things that only escalated things.
KIREGGA MUSISI’S JOB
They sanctioned land give aways in the town, something Nambooze again opposed openly and this alienated Kagimu from a significant fraction of the voters. As if that wasn’t bad enough, Kagimu also backtracked from the original offer to back Kiregga Musisi’s bid to become the member of Mukono District Land Board representing the Municipality. Kiregga had been the DP candidate for Mukono LC5 Seat for which Nambooze now is backing Bakaluba Mukasa against DP veteran Dereck Mutema.
Kiregga had even resigned his position on DP area executive to increase his suitability for the DLB job. In the end, he got nothing and his supporters claimed Kagimu did this to appease current LC5 Chairman NRM’s Andrew Senyonga who competed with Kiregga. The very DLB from which Kiregga was blocked is now accused of giving out public land without adequately being considerate of the poor Mukono town dwellers.
The giveaways have favored Kagimu’s fellow tycoons at the expense of the poor who elected him Mayor. There are many other names the Nambooze group had expected Kagimu to help get salaried jobs in the Municipality which never happened.
AMBULANCE SAGA
There was also the issue of the ambulance Nambooze bought for Mukono (in fact it’s the one which even transported Kibule’s twins from home to Albert Cook hospital). During the campaigns, the DP squad promised once Kagimu becomes Mayor, the Municipality would allocate funding to fuel that ambulance so that electors would use it free of charge unlike today when they are asked to buy fuel. Under Kagimu’s leadership, the Municipality councilors refused to pass that allocation arguing that raising Shs600m to buy car for the Mayor’s office was more important. This is one other thing that complicated the relationship between Kagimu and the Nambooze camp.
The Nambooze radicals also are uncomfortable seeing Kagimu being courteous towards NRM senior leaders resident in Mukono like Katumba Wamala. To them that is treachery and proof Kagimu isn’t prepared to have antagonistic relations with NRM heavyweights yet to them that’s what that office should be used for just like Lukwago does in Kampala.
But Kagimu also has support from people who originally were Nambooze diehards. These include Central Division Chairman Jamil Kakembo and his Speaker Sekayiba who leads a squad determined to ensure Nambooze doesn’t retain DP ticket for the Municipality. Some DP elders are cautious not to antagonize Nambooze who donated a structure that houses DP Mukono offices. The Nambooze camp is optimistic that the coming on board of Bakaluba has the resultant clout that is sufficient to neutralize the Sekayiba/Kakembo effect. Bakaluba is wealthy and has a larger following in the Municipality than the combination of Kakembo, Dereck Mutema and Sekayiba. (For comments, call, text or whatsapp us on 0703164755 or email us at mulengera2040@gmail.com).
