The ruling National Resistance Movement regained the Entebbe Municipality parliamentary seat that it lost to the Democratic Party ten years ago. Rose Tumusiime the NRM Candidate was declared winner of the parliamentary race after she polled 8786 votes out of 26,881 votes cast. She beat DP’s Kakembo Michael who bagged 8337 votes to finish in second position. Tumusiime who now takes over from Muhammad Kawuma is Entebbe’s first female and non-Muganda Member of Parliament. Muhammad Kawuma who has held the parliamentary seat for ten years beat NRM’s David Byatike Matovu back in 2006.
Rose Tumusiime’s Personality.
Out of the 12 candidates that were in the race, no one matched Rose Tumusiime’s strong personality. Her extremely humble and down to earth character was her biggest strength in the race.
Those who have interacted with her describe her as one who listens to all people regardless of their sex, tribe, age and religion. Born and raised in Entebbe, Tumusiime joined politics in 1989 as an RCI Kitooro central and has served in various positions including RCIII Councilor Division ‘B’ (1991). She is the outgoing LCIV councilor for Nakasamba, Kakeeka, Kitasa and Bugonga a position she has held since 2001. For all the years she has been in leadership, her record hasn’t been tainted and this gave her opponents no opportunity to hit her on the campaign trail.
She is strong pillar in the Anglican Church and she has held positions in St. John’s Parish Church including Chairperson Mothers Union and Head of Laity Entebbe Archdeaconry. Besides politics she is also involved in social and community work. She was instrumental in the formation of TASO Entebbe.
Her closest opponent DP’s Kakembo Michael failed to brand himself for the parliamentary seat he was aspiring for. Some sources assert that the “Mbwatekamwa” name he adopted for the campaigns let him down. Because of the name some viewed him as a mean and unserious person who wouldn’t do much once elected into parliament.
Late Edward Tumusiime’s Legacy.
Her late husband’s legacy also gave her leverage over other candidates. The late Edward Gumizamu Tumusiime who succumbed to cancer in 2013 was a veteran politician in Entebbe Municipality and at the time of his death he was the LCV Councilor Entebbe Municipality representing Division ‘A’ at Wakiso District. He was loved by many and up to this day his name has never been associated with any dirty linen. Many people both rich and poor describe him as a man who dedicated his life to serving others. His legacy earned Rose Tumusiime lots of sympathy votes. On her campaign trail she always rallied the widows, single mothers and women in general to support her which eventually played to her favor.
More Opposition Candidates Vs Fewer NRM Independent Candidates:
After the NRM MP party Primaries, the aggrieved candidates Patience Mubangizi, Amon Muzoora Reeves, Madinah Zalwango and Charles Kirumira were given an opportunity to run in the general elections but they didn’t affect or spoil Rose Tumusiime’s votes. Zalwango Madinah finished in fourth position with 1874 votes, Patience Mubangizi finished in sixth position with 1063 votes, Charles Kirumira finished in seventh position with 872 votes while Muzoora Amon finished in twelfth position with a paltry 212 votes. The four NRM Independents had a total tally of 4021 votes.
Michael Kakembo faced a tough opposition that ate into his votes. FDC’s Gitta Alex shocked many after he finished third in the race with 2371 votes, Walusimbi Abubaker a DP leaning independent finished in fifth position with 1635 votes, Archilles Kiwanuka also a DP leaning Independent finished in ninth position with 503 votes, Baleke John (Independent) 541 votes, Kalle Michael (Independent) 338 votes, and Arthur Ssenfuma (Independent) 214 votes, Ambrose Kantutu (Independent) 135 votes. Though Madinah run as an NRM Independent, many of the youth who were on her side are Democratic Party supporters who ate into Kakembo’s votes. All other seven opposition candidates got a total tally of 5399 votes.
Rose Tumusiime Articulated Issues Better Than All The Other Candidates:
Unlike other candidates who struggled to impress their supporters with their campaign messages that were largely vague and unclear, Rose Tumusiime had a well packaged campaign message that was all inclusive. She focused her campaigns on addressing issues affecting women, youth, elderly and people with disabilities (PWDs). This in turn impressed many including opposition supporters.
Rose Tumsuiime’s fluency In Luganda Earned Her Support.
Many Baganda who at the beginning of the campaigns were not supportive of Rose Tumusiime because she is a Mutooro were shocked after she ably articulated her issues and addressed her campaign rallies in Luganda. This consoled many Baganda who eventually supported her.
For example on the presidential campaign trail, unlike Museveni and Besigye who ably articulated their issues in Luganda, Mbabazi kept gambling with Luganda and he always travelled with Medard Segoona and Mathias Nsubuga on his campaign trail to interpret his manifesto from English to Luganda.
Hon. Kawuma and Kizito Ahmed’s Influence:
Outgoing Member of Parliament Muhammad Kawuma and a one Kizito Ahmed abandoned the Democratic Party and joined the NRM. Hon. Kawuma has been behind-the-scenes hiring out his public Address system to the NRM Candidates free of charge during the campaign trail. Kizito Ahmed has been the NRM campaign Emcee who kept bashing DP and Kakembo Michael. The duo also mobilized the Muslims to vote Rose Tumusiime. Another vibrant NRM Member is Joseph Lwanga Lukyamuzi “Bwino” also kept bashing the Democratic Party.
Youth Brought On Board:
Unlike in the previous elections where the youth were never active in elections, this time round they were very active on Rose Tumusiime’s campaign trail. Many of the NRM Youth were energized after they won the youth elections. They moved door – to-door with NRM Candidates and canvassed for votes.
