With the National Resistance Movement (NRM) re-energized after regaining three political offices the parliamentary seat and two LCV Council seats (Division “A and “B”), Incumbent Mayor Vincent Kayanja DePaul now faces a tough battle ahead of Wednesday mayoral elections. Mayor Kayanja who is seeking a second term in office faces former LCIII Division ‘B’ chairman and NRM Flag bearer Joseph Ssesanga as his main challenger and little known Miiro Kasozi the FDC Candidate. Mayor Kayanja goes into the Wednesday elections with a huge set back and a demoralized support base that consequently arose after Kakembo Michael the Democratic Party flag bearer lost to NRM’s Rose Tumusiime in the parliamentary race. DP’s Maggwa Ssali lost to NRM’s Lwanga Joseph Lukyamuzi in the Entebbe Municipality LCV Division ’B’ Seat while Francis Makumbi also lost to NRM’s Wamala Richard in the Entebbe Municipality LCV Division ’A’ Seat. DP has so far won only one seat after Nampijja Viola beat NRM’s Sherry Kalyebala in the Entebbe Municipality LCV Women Councilor seat.
Mayor Kayanja also goes into the mayoral race with the Manyago and Katabi tenants bitter with him after he preferred to have the houses demolished to give way for the housing estates deal that according to him will benefit all the residents of Entebbe Municipality. On one of his campaign trails Kayanja stated that the Katabi Housing estates deal will benefit 384 families including the sitting tenants once the apartments are complete and will create hundreds of jobs. However the Manyango tenants are unhappy with Kayanja because the housing deal project has stalled for years with nothing tangible materializing and they have endorsed Joseph Ssesanga who has promised to reverse his plans. Ssesanga has promised to give the houses to the sitting tenants.
Not with standing of the above, Kayanja remains popular and will be a hard nut to crack. Majority of the electorate are satisfied with Kayanja’s first term because he has managed to rid the town of garbage and tarmacked a couple of roads.
On the other hand Joseph Ssesanga goes into the Mayoral polls with a tainted image. Ssesanga has been accused on several occasions of failing to collect garbage in his 18 year tenure as the LCIII Division ‘B’ Chairman and dubiously selling off plots of land. Ssesanga also found himself in a very precarious situation when outgoing Member of Parliament for Entebbe Municipality Muhammad Kawuma whose popularity has declined drastically endorsed him to oust Mayor Kayanja from Office.
Will the electorate punish him for allying with Hon. Kawuma who recently crossed to the NRM and has been at a war with Mayor Kayanja after the 2011 elections? Only they (electorate) will decide.
