*Death Of Doreen Tashobya*
June 21, 2016 was one of the darkest moments in Entebbe Municipality when the newly elected Area Member of Parliament Hon. Rose Tumusiime lost her beloved daughter Doreen Tashobya and Patrick Businge in a tragic accident at the Muzinga Park in the early morning hours of Tuesday. The news of their death quickly spread like wild fire in Entebbe and instantly became viral on all social media platforms. For weeks many people including her family couldn’t come to terms with her death. It was very hard to believe that Doreen Tashobya was no more. She was laid to rest beside her Late Father Edward Gumizamu Tumusiime in Gomba District. He passed on in December 23, 2013.
2016 also claimed the lives of Chris Kassami (P.S Ministry of Finance), St. Agnes Head mistress Sister Angelina Nakato, Martin Lagara, Dr. Michael Abongomera, Dr. Miiro George, Jonathan Rwothnga a Makerere Law Student who mysteriously died, Billy Kiggundu a son to late Maj. Kiggundu who died in a helicopter crash with Late Dr. John Garang. According to sources Billy Kiggundu hanged himself after he lost control of his life.
*Parliamentary Polls*
For the first time in the history of Entebbe Municipality, A woman Hon. Rose Tumusiime was elected on the 18 February 2016 as the first female Member of Parliament. Her election was no easy ride, after successfully defeating 8 other aspirants in the NRM Party Primaries. The discontented losers including Madinah Zalwango, Patience Mubangizi, Eng. Charles Kirumira, Hon. Amon Muzoora run as independent candidates in the General elections. DP’s Kakembo Michael, FDC’s Gitta Alex, John White Baleke, Abubaker Walusimbi, Archilles Kiwanuka, Michael Kalle, Ambrose Katuntu and Arthur Senfuma were the 12 candidates that Hon. Tumusiime successfully defeated. For the first time in history the Entebbe Municipality parliamentary seat attracted a total of 13 candidates with Hon. Tumusiime and DP’s Kakembo Michael as the front runners. Hon. Tumusiime won the polls with 8786 votes while her Kakembo Michael got 8337 votes.
*Michael Kakembo Vs Hon. Tumusiime In Court*
After her successful February 18 victory. Hon. Rose Tumusiime had one more hurdle to jump. It was not long after DP’s Michael Kakembo run to the High court alleging several Electoral malpractices by the Electoral Commission and Rose Tumusiime. After a protracted legal battle, Justice Henry Kaweesa dismissed the case on July 8, 2016 and upheld Hon. Tumusiime’s victory. It was a sigh of relief, tears of joy and Jubilations for Hon. Tumusiime, her family and supporters.
*Indefinite postponement of the LCIII Polls*
Entebbe Municipality witnessed the indefinite postponement of the LCIII Polls by the Electoral Commission. The polls that had been scheduled to be held in March were indefinitely postponed after it emerged that there had been a mix up in the ballot papers with broken seals. There was a fracas, heated argument, accusations and counter accusations at Entebbe Police Station with NRM and DP Candidates accusing either side of plotting to rig the elections. The elections were finally held and little known Mutebi Michael the NRM Candidate ousted Incumbent Division ‘A’ LC3 Chairman and DP Flag bearer David Wasswa Kasule after one term in office. Likewise in Division ‘B’ Stanley Namayirira (DP) ousted incumbent LC3 Chairman Eng. Anthony Segujja who run as an independent candidate. Namayirira also defeated long time friend Sempala Twaha the NRM Flag bearer who was making a second attempt at the Division ‘B’ Seat.
*Shooting Incident At St. Joseph’s Katabi Polling During The Mayoral Elections*
The Entebbe Mayoral Polls had an ugly incident at the St. Joseph’s Katabi polling Station. A bloody battle ensued at the Polling station with bullets flying in the air and two DP Supporters were allegedly shot by soldiers from security forces. The two victims were hospitalized at Grade ‘A’ Hospital. Mayor Vincent Kayanja Depaul went on to win a second term in office defeating NRM’s Joseph Ssesanga.
*Legal Battle Between Journalists And NRM Youth*
One of the biggest stories that made headlines in Entebbe was the legal battle between Journalists and the NRM Youth. It all started when Bukedde TV reporters Kigongo Sebalamu, Godfrey Ssempijja and CBS’ George Kakooza were allegedly assaulted by five NRM youth Robert Tibamanya, Richard Wamala Lule, Hassan Wasswa, Arnold and Kutesa Joshua. After playing cat and mouse games, the accused were presented at the Entebbe Magistrates Court, remanded to Kigo Prison and were bailed out by different NRM Leaders including Hon. Tumusiime. The case is still going on at Entebbe Magistrates Court.
*Entebbe Taxi Park Wrangles*
The Entebbe Kitooro Taxi Park was one epicenter of blood bath and drama as two rival camps one led by Stephen Kidde and Walakira Hood aka Abiola and the other led by the infamous Abdul Kitata. The two rival camps exchanged hot blows and fought a bloody battle in the Taxi Park as Kidde and Abiola’s camp refused to be bullied by Kitata who is widely believed to be a Boda Boda Chairman in Rubaga Division Kampala. It took the intervention of Police to calm the situation. All activities in the Taxi Park including the controversial Polls were indefinitely suspended by Regional Police Commander Kampala Metropolitan South Geoffrey Kaheebwa. Since then the elections have never taken place.
*Rise Of Emmanuel Kasagga*
Emmanuel Kasagga, an employee with Civil Aviation Authority made headlines after he decided to launch his bid for the Entebbe Municipality Parliamentary seat while the newly elected Member of Parliament Hon. Rose Tumusiime was still battling the election petition in the High Court. Many supporters mainly from the ruling National Resistance Movement Party questioned Kasagga’s motive. He was viewed as a selfish, self-seeking, dishonest guy who wanted Rose Tumusiime to lose the court case so that he would contest in the by-election. In his defence Kasagga claimed that Rose Tumusiime had assured him that she would serve one term in Parliament and that in 2021 he would contest for the Parliamentary seat. However Rose Tumusiime distanced herself from Kasagga’s claims. Many of Kasagga’s Entebbe Airport NRM Group colleagues distanced themselves from him and wanted him to be disciplined.
*NRM Sweeps Entebbe Municipal Council Committee Seats*
After reclaiming the Parliamentary seat that had been in the hands of the Opposition for ten years, it was yet another defining moment for the NRM Party as it swept all the Committee sector positions at Entebbe Municipal Council. While NRM was rejoicing and jubilating about their decisive victory, Mayor Kayanja was left devastated and frustrated about the loss.
*Muslim Fraternity Clash Over Land*
The Muslim fraternity in Entebbe fought a bitter war over their historical piece of land located next to Entebbe Cinema Hall. Two rival factions one led by Edirisa Matovu Figo and the other led by Kassim Bukenya traded accusations, counter accusations and pointed fingers at each other over plotting to grab the land that was handed over to Muslims in Entebbe by Idi Amin Dada in the early 1970’s. Figo’s faction eventually defeated Kassim Bukenya’s faction and now has solid control over the land.
*Failed FDC Demonstrations and Protests*
After the 2016 presidential elections that saw Kizza Besigye lose to his nemesis the fourth time. The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) embarked on demonstrations and protests to denounce President Museveni’s victory. In Entebbe the Demos were led by former Entebbe Municipality MP Aspirant Gitta Alex and firebrand Mugabi John. They organized several peaceful protests including “free My Vote My Campaign “, divine intervention and also vowed to block President Museveni’s swearing in ceremony. However the protests flopped miserably and Alex Gitta and several other FDC Diehards were thrown behind bars. John Mugabi evaded arrest after he went into hiding.
*RDC Kirabira Vs NRM Radicals*
One of the biggest stories that made headlines across the political divide in Entebbe was the war that erupted between RDC Rose Kirabira and NRM Radicals (Nalwonga Mariam, Gertrude, Birungi Jassy, Sherry Kalyebala, Barbara Birungi and several others). It all started when the NRM Radicals accused RDC Kirabira of siding with opposition councilors and leaders during the Political leadership course that was organized at Lake Victoria School. What had started as a small petty issue, later turned out to be one of the biggest stories of 2016 as the NRM Radicals started fighting tooth and nail to oust RDC Kirabira from office. Their plot to oust RDC Kirabira from office failed miserably and they have since turned into a laughing stock.
*Patience Mubangizi’s Fall From Grace To Grass*
At one time she wielded a lot of power and influence in Entebbe Municipality and the NRM, nobody dared to cross her path or they risked facing her wrath. She had the attention of President Museveni and top State House Bosses. In her rise to power Patience Mubangizi a former Presidential Advisor on environmental matters and two time aspirant for the Entebbe Municipality Parliamentary seat had stepped on so many people including Hon. Rose Tumusiime a lady she so much detests and had given her all to ensure that Tumusiime wouldn’t succeed in joining Parliament.
After her defeat in the NRM Party Primaries, she contested as an independent candidate in the General elections against advice from State House officials to pull out from the race and concentrate on her Job. She was defeated in the general elections and this marked her fall from grace to grass. Her political aspirations, job and the power she wielded vanished. Today different sources reveal that Mubangizi retreated to her house in Manyango where she is living a desperate and stressed life. The sources also confirm that she fears to move out during the day and hardly attends public functions due to the shame and embarrassment on her face.
Mubangizi’s fall from Grace to Grass only serves to remind us to remain humble and respectful to People because no one knows what the future holds.
*Mbwatekamwa’s Side Dish Busted*
One story that made People in Entebbe talk was former MP Aspirant Michael Kakembo’s side dish that the people of Entebbe eventually got to know about. Namwebe Masturah a Primary three (P.3) teacher at Lake Victoria School was unearthed by Entebbenews after she got involved in a scandal to blackmail the School Head Master Stephen Nabende that he was rearing chicken in the school’s condemned classrooms for his own good. Masturah and her lover man reportedly hoodwinked RDC Kirabira who stormed the school and bashed the headmaster over the matter. However the truth came out and Masturah was forced to apologize after Mbwatekamwa landed her in trouble.
The little known lady became a talking point from several people. Mbwatekamwa has three kids with her in addition to sets of twins with his official wife Lydia Lunkuse.
*Security Agencies Foil Besigye’s Mega Return @ Entebbe Airport*
After losing again to President Museveni in the 2016 Presidential elections Besigye travelled to the United Kingdom and the US where he spent close to a month addressing the western world on the alleged Injustices and Human Rights Violations of President Museveni’s regime. The FDC Party had organized a mega return for their President at Entebbe International Airport. The long awaited mega return flopped miserably after security agencies allegedly grabbed Besigye direct from a Kenyan Airways Flight, bundled in a waiting vehicle and was driven at break neck speed to his Kasangati residence. Journalists who had camped in Kitooro and near the Airport only got to know that Besigye had been whisked away to his Kasangati residence through Social Media.
Shortly after arriving at his residence Besigye narrated his ordeal and pointed fingers at CAA for employing “goons” to manhandle him like a chicken thief. However CAA has since denied the accusations.
