By Mulengera Reporters
Intense lobbying has commenced from within the NUP with different Lord Councilor-elects beginning to position themselves for lucrative jobs at City Hall. One of the jobs that has attracted extreme keenness is that of Authority Speaker, whose outgoing occupant is Zahara Luyulika Maala. She is joining Parliament in May as the new MP for Makindye West. The others are that of Deputy Speaker, Deputy Lord Mayor and the four executive secretary positions.
Luyulika powerfully held the position of Authority Speaker and shrewdly used it to make money and elevate her personal pedigree, which has made many inside NUP to realize how lucrative it is. With the Kavule party garnering 19 Lord Councilor slots against NRM’s 16, there is near certainty that the next KCCA Speaker will come from Bobi Wine’s group (thought there is a huge possibility of NRM succeeding in compromising some four or even jail them ahead of the Speaker vote).
It’s against this background that NUP Lord Councillors have started to prepare to fall into big things. One of the ambitious NUPians who have vigorously stepped forward and exhibited appetite for the Speakership position is Godfrey Luyombya, the flamboyant outgoing Division Speaker for Nakawa. Importantly, he has support of Kyagulanyi’s best friend Nubian Li, the Mayor-Elect for Nakawa in whose favour Mr. Wine removed him (Luyombya) from the race late last year.
The other is Umar Magala, the famous foot soldier who almost defeated Erias Nalukoola for the Kawempe North NUP flag bearership in the by-election that came following Mohammed Ssegirinya’s death last year. Magala was convinced to leave the thing for Nalukoola on grounds that the Kawempe Division Mayoral slot would be his come 2026.
This never happened as the same was given to Dr. Emmanuel Sserunjogi Oweddembe as Magala reluctantly accepted to be one of the NUP flag bearers for the numerous Lord Councilor positions-and thank God he was able to win amidst all the hurdles that were put in place for him by the NRM machinery. Many of his fellow foot soldiers believe that now is the time for the NUP apex decision makers to reciprocate Umar Magala’s loyalty and obedience by backing him for the position of either Speaker or Deputy Speaker at City Hall.
He famously paid the price of being arrested and kept in jail for almost three years but never denounced the struggle and resumed professing Kyagulanyi immediately after his release, barely two years ago. Even when you casually look at Umar Magala, you easily see an activist who has been scarred both physically and emotionally though still resilient and full of enthusiasm that the long-awaited New Uganda will come some day. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
