The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Aspirants who have not been selected as the parliamentary candidates for the National Unity Platform [NUP] have complained about the unfair process leading to the selection. Some aspirants said that if the party doesn’t address their concerns, they will not be left with any other option but contesting as independent candidates.
NUP released a list of candidates who are going to hold its flag in the coming 2016 general elections last evening. The much-anticipated list which only had candidates for constituencies in the central region came with a number of surprises.
For example, little known Lwanga Jimmy was given the flag to represent Njeru Municipality in Buikwe district against Arthur Mugabi, who has been in opposition politics for several years. Speaking to URN on Tuesday, Mugabi said he deserves an explanation from his party.
“They must tell me how they arrived at Lwanga as the candidate. I think on all the measures, I was a better candidate than him,” Mugabi said. He added that if he is not given an explanation, he will have no option but to run as an independent candidate.
Another surprise was in Nakifuma county in Mukono district, where a one Fred Ssimbwa was selected against well-known radio presenter Patrick Mujuuka. Although we could not reach Mujuuka for a comment, a source close to him told this network that he was in the constituency canvassing for votes oblivious of the outcome of the NUP vetting process.
“He will come as an independent because that process was very unfair. There is no way he can bow out of the race after months if not years of hard work in the constituency,” the associate told us.
In Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu’s, [NUP presidential flag bearer] constituency of Kyadondo East, the party chose Muwada Nkunyingi over Tonny Ssempebwa and Khalid Ssimbwa. The two helped Kyagulanyi to defeat former MP Apollo Kantinti during the 2017 by-election in which Nkunyingi also participated.
Speaking to URN, Ssimbwa said the only reason Nkunyungi was selected against him was that he was able to buy himself through. “I knew from the onset that they were going to give him the ticket because he paid them a lot of money. But that’s a wrong approach to politics. I’m not going to accept to be eliminated on those grounds. Therefore, I’m coming as an independent,” Ssimbwa told URN.
He added that they had a gentleman’s agreement with Kyagulanyi not to stand in 2017 and instead support him in 2021. “Let the people of Kyadondo East decide who should be their MP because there was no transparency in the selection process,” Ssimbwa said.
In Nakawa West, the party selected Joel Ssenyonyi as the flagbearer against Kenneth Paul Kakande who has been in politics for over 20 years. Kakande told URN that he needs an explanation from the party on why he was never selected. He said when he went for vetting, they said they were looking for somebody who has experience in the struggle, who has been there for Kyagulanyi, and with impeccable education credentials.
“I have been in politics longer than anybody I was competing with, I’m more educated than everybody I was competing with and I have been with Kyagulanyi since 2017 when everybody was shunning him. Based on those qualifications, I was better than anybody. So I’m petitioning the party to know why I was not selected and if I’m not convinced I will stand as an independent because I don’t want to cause problems for the party,” Kakande said.
In reaction, Joel Ssenyonyi, the spokesperson of NUP said political experience and education alone were not the determinants of who got the card. “Our presidential flag bearer has been in politics for only three years, there are people who are older and more educated than him but he’s their leader. Therefore, we believe those who have been selected stand a better chance to be elected,” Ssenyonyi said.
He added that those who feel aggrieved by the decision of the Election management committee of the party should formally petition the party with reasons why they think it should have been them to be given the flag. “There is a committee that will look into their issues and if they find them valid, they will take a decision,” Ssenyonyi said.
For Buikwe South, Sembuya Stephen Magulu was selected against long time politician Bayiga Lulume who picked, but never returned nomination forms. Speaking to URN, Ssembuya who in 2016 after losing in the NRM primaries, contested as an independent candidate, said he was selected because of his loyalty to NUP and Kyagulanyi.
“Our people need a new face on the political scene that’s why I was selected. But it’s also important to note that Bayiga abused our principal. There was no way he would be selected,” Ssembuya said.
Meanwhile in a number of constituencies especially in Kampala, the party is yet to announce those who have been selected. Speaking to URN, Mercy Walukamba, the chair of the Election Management Committee said that there were some sticky issues they needed more consultations about. “As I speak to you, we are going for a meeting and by the end of the day today, we shall have announced candidates in those areas,” Walukamba said.
She added that they are also going to announce candidates for constituencies in Eastern Uganda and tomorrow, they will announce those of Northern and Western Uganda.
List of those selected.
Lugazi Municpality-Sserubula Stephen
Buikwe woman MP- Faridah Nabatanzi
Bukomansimbi North-Ndagire Christine Ndiwalana
Bukomansmbi South-Kayemba Geofrey Solo
Bukomansimbi Woman – Nanyondo Veronica Namaganda
Butambala County -Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi
Butambala Woman -Aisha Kabanda
Gomba East-Saazi Godfrey
Gomba West-Lukwago Gonzaga
Gomba Woman-Ssentamu Betty
Kyamuswa County -Kambugu Cyrus
Bujumba-pending
Kalanagala Woman-Hellen Nakimuli
Kalungu East-Katabazi Francis Katongole
Kalungu West-Ssewungu Joseph Gonzaga
Kalungu woman-pending
Rubaga North-pending
Rubaga South-Aloysius Mukasa
Kampala Central -Nyanzi Ssentamu Fred
Nakawa East -Balimwezo Ronald
Nakawa West- Joel Ssenyonyi
Kawempe South-pending
Kawempe North-pending
Makindye East -Nyeko Derrick
Makindye West-pending
Kampala Woman-Shamim Malende
Bukuya County -Jane Zaninka Babirye
Kassanda North -Nsamba Patrick Oshabe
Kassanda South -Frank Kabuye
Kassanda Woman-Flavia Kalule Nabagabe
Baale County -Charles Tebandeke
Ntenjeru North -Patrick Serubiri Hays
Ntenjeru South -Badiru Mukiibi
Kayunga Woman-Nakwedde Harriet
Kiboga East -Nkugwa Kizito
Kiboga West- Muhammad Kibuuka
Kiboga Woman -Christine Nakimwero Kaaya
Kyotera County-Kirumira Charles Edward
Kakuuto County-Geoffrey Lutaaya
Kyotera Woman-Joan Kyokunda
Butemba County -Jackson Mawoto
Ntwetwe County-Pending
Nakasongola Woman-Comfortable Evelyn
Katikamu North-Denis Ssekabira
Katikamu South-Hassan Kirumira
Baamunaanika County -Robert Ssekitoleko
Luwero Woman -Brenda Nabukenya
Bukoto Midwest –pending
Bukoto West-pending
Bukoto South-pending
Lwengo woman-Nakasagga Elizabeth
Kabula County-Ddamulira Ali
Rakai Woman-pending
Bukoto Central-Kazibwe Magellan
Busiro East -Kanyike Stephen Evans
Nyendo Mukungwe -Mpuuga Mathias
Kimanya Kabonero-Abed Bwanika
Masaka Woman-pending
Mityana North- Gordon Ssematiko
Mityana South-Byondo Sulaiman
Busujju County-Lukyamuzi David Kalwanga
Mityana Municipality -Zaake Francis Butebi
Mityana Woman-Joyce Bagala
Mawokota North- Hillary Kiyaga Innocent
Mawokota South -Joel Mirembe
Mpigi Woman-Nambooze Teddy
Buwekula North –pending
Buweeekula South-Ainebyona Ronald
Kasambya County –pending
Mubende municipality-Bob Richard Kyamanywa
Mubende Woman-Nabawanuka Sumayyah
Nakifuma County- Ssimbwa Fred
Mukono North-Kiwanuka Abdallah
Mukono South -Wilson Male
Mukono Municipality-Betty Nambooze Bakireke
Mukono Woman-Hanifa Nabukeeera
Nakaseke North-pending
Nakaseke Central- Allan Muyanja
Nakaseke Woman-Violet Nakalema
Budyebo County- Nathan Musoke
Nakasongola County -Kyeyune Ivan
Nakasongola woman -Annet Namugooma
Buyamba County -Balaba Jimmy
Kooki County -Henry Ndinaiwe
Rakai Woman-pending
Mawogola North- Henry Mawejje Nyanzi
Mawogola South-Namugga Goreth
Mawogola West -Twesigye Henry
Lwemiyaga-pending
Sembabule Woman-Babikola Zaituni
Busiro North-Nsubuga Paul
Busiro South-pending
Busiro East-Lubega Medard Ssegonna
Nansana municipality -Wakayima Musoke
Entebbe Municipality-Kakembo Michael
Kira municipality- Lukwago Jimmy
Makindye Ssabagabo-Woman Naluyima Betty
Youth Central -Kasule Moses
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URN
“Our presidential flag bearer has been in politics for only three years, there are people who are older and more educated than him but he’s their leader. Therefore, we believe those who have been selected stand a better chance to be elected,” Ssenyonyi said.
True, but and however, NUP should, in my opinion, have directed its effort and pomp in building grassroot structures across the nation, than in crowding to fill candidates in all elective posts, the presidential one included.
It takes well rooted political structures and experience to navigate the treacherous waters of elective politics and the season thereof, and moreso elective leadership.
A quick scapegoat will always and easily be ‘persecution’ or false accusations from the ruling side and labeling of all divergent views as ‘moles’, but when indeed the cause is overzealousness that leads to political miscalculation.
In the end one finds that they placed their ladder on too high a wall or on the wrong wall altogether.
For God And My Country.