Nine National Resistance Movement aspirants officially kicked off their campaigns on Monday for the Entebbe Municipality Member of Parliament seat ahead of the party primaries slated to take place this Friday. The nine contestants who include veteran councilor Rose Tumusiime, Patience Mubangizi, Amon Muzoora Reeves, Lwanga Waikama Musisi, Maj. (Rtd) Julius Rubahimbya, Hakim Magoomu, Eng. Charles Kirumira, former Nkumba University Guild President Madina Zalwango and Peace Salamuka Bihingiro are all fighting hard to carry the party’s flag ahead of next year’s polls. Until recently former presidential advisor on Environmental matters Patience Mubangizi and Fabrice Rulinda have been the top contenders for the parliamentary seat but the latter has since pulled out from the race and will be running as an independent candidate. Rulinda asserts that he cannot participate in the party primaries that have already been rigged by Patience Mubangizi who has been accused of clandestinely registering members and issuing yellow cards contrary to the party constitution. The matter was forwarded to the NRM Secretary General Kasule Lumumba and together with other NRM Members who signed a petition they had hoped that Mubangizi would be disqualified from the race. However the NRM Party secretariat has been sitting on the petition and hasn’t come out to address their grievances.
Sources inside Rulinda’s camp have revealed that his supporters have become disillusioned and are seeking solace in other camps. Majority are now returning to Rose Tumusiime’s camp where they originally belonged. They deserted her for Rulinda’s big wallet, a factor that has largely enabled him to be popular with in a short period of time. Others have sought refuge in Mubangizi and Muzoora’s camp. His other supporters are hanging in the air and totally disappointed with his decision.
They contend that he should have remained in the party and tried his luck given that he had gained popularity, breathed fresh air into the party and mobilized the youth to his side.
A senior NRM Party diehard also intimated to entebbenews that Rulinda’s chances to be elected on the independent ticket are very slim because Entebbe Municipality has historically not voted independent candidates.
“He will have an uphill task to convince the electorate to vote him on the independent ticket because historically it is the NRM and the Democratic Party that are the dominant parties in Entebbe. Several independent candidates have tried their luck and have failed miserably” the senior NRM Party member intimated.
Patience Mubangizi, Rose Tumusiime and former Rwampara Member of Parliament Hon.Muzoora Reeves are the front runners in the race. Patience Mubangizi gained notoriety in the last general elections when she battled Hon. Kawuma Muhammad for the parliamentary seat, she lost but left a mark on the political landscape in Entebbe. Since then she has been tirelessly moving on the ground and preaching her political gospel. Her popularity and strength hinge on the fact that she has close links with state house and early this year President Museveni invited her to address a gathering at the Mayor’s Garden after he had returned from an overseas trip.
A source close to Mubangizi revealed that because of her loyalty to the President she was appointed Presidential Advisor on Environmental matters after she lost to Muhammad Kawuma. However a few months ago word has been moving round that she is now closely linked to Ex-prime minister and now Presidential Aspirant Amama Mbabazi, she has consistently distanced herself from the talk. Other party members have accused her of being arrogant and she has clashed with top party members, a factor that is likely to eat into her vote.
Former Rwampara MP Hon. Amon Muzoora Reeves’s popularity is based on the fact that he has been in parliament before and many feel he has the experience to legislate and lobby for the people of Entebbe. Muzoora’s supporters feel this is the time for them to revenge on Mubangizi whom they accuse of having rigged the 2010 party primaries. A wider section in the NRM still believes that Muzoora genuinely trounced Mubangizi though she managed to manipulate the results and was declared winner in unclear circumstances. However Hon.Muzoora comes into the race with a lot of baggage. His failed student loan scheme at Nkumba University in 2010 earned him so many enemies. The saga is still fresh in the minds of many.
Veteran Councilor Rose Tumusiime perhaps hasn’t enjoyed the lime light in the flag bearer race but her experience combined with personality and her late husband’s (Edward Tumusiime) record are her strong points. One of the longest serving councilors in Entebbe, Rose Tumusiime has served in several leadership positions since 1989 two years after the National Resistance Army had captured power.
In 1989 she was voted RCI Kitooro Central, in 1991 she was voted RCIII Division B and co-currently served as Mpigi District Women Councilor. In 2001 she was elected as directly elected LCIV Councilor Nakasamba, Kitasa, Kakeeka and Bugonga a position she has held till date. While other NRM Councilors lost to Democratic Party candidates in the 2011 general elections she is among the five NRM councilors who survived the massive uprooting. Other NRM Councilors who retained their positions are Peninah Kabenge, Modesta Tezityabiiri, Rebecca Nasamba and Jimmy Mutabazi.
“It’s because of her personality that she survived the massive uprooting in 2011. She is a humble and approachable person and I haven’t heard her abuse or insult anyone” one of Rose Tumusiime’s supporters revealed.
Tumusiime is a servant in the Anglican Church in Entebbe. She has served in St. John’s church as head of Laity Entebbe Archdeaconry from 2006 to 2014, chairperson Mothers Union and is a historical member of the church together with her late husband. She is also involved in several community projects including TASO and the International Aids Vaccine Initiative. The soft spoken women rights advocate says she has empowered and mentored many women to join politics. Her strong base in the church is an added advantage for her in the race. Her late husband was a bush war veteran and a politician who served as LCIV Councilor Division A Entebbe Municipality for several years before he passed away early last year. He was a respected political figure in Entebbe. This may give Rose Tumusiime a sympathy vote.
The Under Dogs:
Former UPDF Soldier and Kyankwazi Political school lecturer Maj(Rtd) Julius Rubahimbya perhaps is one MP aspirant who has given his all in the race. For the last 18 years he has served as Political commissar for Entebbe, Rubahimbya says he has the network and connections that he will use to lobby for services and create employment for the people of Entebbe. Some sources in NRM have disclosed that Rubahimbya is in the race not necessarily to win but to capture the attention of the President who may appoint him to a much higher political office.
Former Uganda Aircargo Engineer Charles Kirumira is back in the race after he lost in the 2010 party primaries. He will have to seek divine intervention to trounce other aspirants. Peace Salamuka is a former Mubangizi campaign strategist in Banga Nakiwogo but the two friends have since fallen out. Salamuka who had originally eyed the LCV Women seat changed goal posts and decided to run for parliament. Mubangizi’s camp accused her of being sponsored by FDC Sympathizers to spoil her votes.
Former Nkumba University Guild President Madina Zalwango, Wakaima Lwanga Musisi popularly known as singer Idolla and Hakim Magoomu are the youngest in the race and are relatively new in the party. Many NRM Party members feel they should have stood in lower positions and grown through the ranks.
