IN the High cout of Mukono (Civil division) is a one Abey Ngugu who through Misc. cause application no. 63 of 2020 is seeking this court to declare a state of emergency in the country owing to the threat of deadly Coronavirus and postpon 2021 elections to 2026!
Electoral commission has already kicked off preparations and Presidential and Parliamentary candidates are set for October.
Kyaddondo East MP Hon. Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi and over 20 other people have already shown interest in contesting for President.
Now, Ngugu want everything put on hold until 2026!
Court papers
Relying on Article 50, 23 (d)and 45 of the Constitution of Uganda, S. 33, 38 of the Judicature Act, and Section 98 CPA order 52 Rule (1), (2), & (3) of the Civil procedure Rule S.1 No. 71-1, Rule 2 of the new rules S1 55/2008of the Rules committee, the applicant want court to suspend/cancel/postpones and or holds all elections in Uganda for five years.
This is until the 2nd respondent (Attorney General) gains control of threatening disaster or danger of Coronavirus.
However, a section of members with legal brains calls this application bogus and that, it should be trashed by court.
According to the copy of Notice of motion, the applicant will be heard on an application for orders and declarations that, court directs the 1st Respondent (Electoral Commission) to halt all General elections of 2021 across the country until 2026.
“Take notice that this application is supported by the grounds set out in the affidavit of Abey Ngugu the applicant herein.” Reads the Notice of motion.
Ngugu says that Uganda is a democratic country where Ugandans have liberty through elections to choose leaders of their choice and that he is a spirited Ugandan who verily believes in exercise of democratic rights, freely.
“There is a need for the 2nd respondent to closely monitor and gain control the threat of Coronavirus in Uganda before the campaign schedule for the 2021 General elections in Uganda.”Reads his affidavit.
APPLICATION IS BOGUS – ANALYST
Referring to this application as bogus, analyst said, “Paragraph (a) of the petition asks Court to declare a state of health emergency…first of all, declaration of emergencies in all or part of Uganda is a Constitutional Prerogative conferred on the President, and such emergency shall be declared in consultation with Cabinet.” Says one Ibrahim adding, “The other issues are so bogus, they don’t even merit scrutiny. The petition is Dead On arrival..”
THE insanity of mankind will never cease to amaze me! Hon. Betty Nambooze Bakireke, with due respect, I landed on your letter issued on Sunday afternoon and it rubbed me the wrong way.
Your letter was written out of egocentric tendencies, malice and anchored on bias aimed at tainting bad image on His Worship Abubakar Kawalya, newly elected Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Speaker.
KCCA Speaker Abubaker Kawalya after a Top radio show hosted by senior journalist Steven Dunstan Busulwa (right)
I want to assure you that the determinant of the just concluded elections was mainly internal than external influence. Go and tell your favorite candidate Nyanjura to work on her social skills rather trading blackmail here.
Let me ask, how did you come to know and verify that the 17 councilors who wisely voted for Hon. Kawalya were NRMs? Do you even know how may councilors who subscribe to NRM at City Hall or you thought those reading your lies were fools? Were these ballots marked for post-election verification? Any way, let me leave this one here!
You proceeded to press this huge allegation in your own words: “Your suspected closeness to NRM camp made some people and your long time comrades on our side uncomfortable.” How did you determine the existence of these camps and what was your camp in all this?
FROM RIGHT: KCCA Speaker Kawalya, Lord councilor Happy Nasasira and Deputy Speaker Bruhan Byaruhanga a few minutes after swearing in on Thursday
I wish to educate you that in this election, KCCA council was a constituency made up of electorates from which the candidates had to campaign in order to win.
Why then would anybody from the opposite camp decide which tactics his/her opponents should use to win? This doesn’t add up to me.
In all this circus, the winner was going to serve the whole house irrespective of our political leanings. Why then would anybody choose to build enemy walls to the people you have lived and worked with for more than four years?
The excitement from NRM camp your talking about are simply born out of your personal ego. It is not the first time for NRM to congratulate the opposition leaders in Uganda and it is not a unique practice across the globe for this to happen.
Just a few years ago, NRM Chairman, who is your good friend and has been footing your medical bills and who happens to be the President of Uganda is on record, congratulating People Power supreme leader Hon. Bobi Wine upon massively winning Kyadondo East by elections. We never read anywhere from you, complaining.
When Hon. Erias Lukwago won Lordmayorship in 2011, I verily remember, he was first congratulated by then President Museveni’s agent in Kampala, Jennifer Ssemakula Musisi. She in fact drove to a certain Wakaliga road Hotel and held a private meeting with him. You knew about this meeting but you chose to keep quiet because you were also a beneficiary.
When he won in 2016, insiders have it that a certain NRM power broker threw a party for him plus donating other gifts. Hon. Nambooze, still you remained mute.
Why then, is it so special in the case of Speaker Kawalya? You’re talking of being opposed to the Lord Mayor, why must everyone agree with him? Hon. Namboze with due respect, who anointed you and your group to be the Referees and Judges to determine who is the “Righteous and who is unrighteous in Opposition”?
You claim Sainthood, you were present when the FDC was gerrymandering the rules in the middle of the game to front a certain candidate without giving any ear to the FDC caucus in KCCA. I didn’t hear any comment from you Madame righteousness.
MY SPEAKER: Kawalya swearing in as a smiling Hon. Happy Nasasira is standing next to him
I have a strong feeling that those who left opposition under unclear circumstances including Hon. Beti Kamya, Hajj Naser Ntege Sebaggala among others, took their own independent decisions as old people and nobody should question why they did what they did.
I may not know whether they consulted anyone of you before joining this struggle or whether they had a life contract with anyone in whatever they were doing in politics. I am yet to learn this from you.
The system of holding people at ransom through blackmail, that whenever they disagree with you, they are associated with NRM and anti-people’s will is expiring sooner than later.
Politics is a game of ideas, shared values and interests. This business of building blocks to separate the citizens of the Great Republic of Uganda is barbaric and must be condemned. We must switch to value based politics of compromise and negotiation as opposed to populism and campism.
I am not an expert in legal matters, I hope you will enlighten me on how you arrived at a legal interpretation of someone who acts as a speaker in captivity. What parameters are you using to arrive at this conclusion?
I thank you for recognizing that this was a maiden session presided over by a Speaker since the inception of this Act. However, your outburst as a senior politician seem to be addressing something that has consistently occur over a long period and yet the special council meeting was the first of its kind. This is a clear definition of HATE and envy!
You have cited the increment in the KCCA budget and included the sources, you went ahead to raise an important issue that the regime is targeting this money for misappropriation ahead of the general elections which is highly likely true.
Thank you so much for that intel, however, you did not provide the measures on how to safeguard this revenue from misappropriation.
Instead, you presented your “Guardian Angel” Erias Lukwago as the only available safeguard that has been available to provide the only safeguard measures.
Are you suggesting that the good leadership of this beautiful city starts and ends with Erias Lukwago? Have we reached the level of entrusting our systems to individual personalities? Really!
You went ahead to claim that the regime replaced him with a person who is easily manipulated. It would be very prudent, if you endeavored to provide tangible evidence to these claims! How do you tell that someone is easily manipulated?
This claim of “Lord Mayor’s uncompromising values” is a sarcasm that require in-depth investigation. Do you claim to know Lukwago than anyone in this city? Your constant claim of the business deals presented by mafias in billions raise eyebrows on how you gather this intelligence.
We are tired of you and your Sainthood claims that has made you the Alphas and Omegas of the opposition. This claim that whoever does not associate with you, must be labeled incompetent and a regime stooge is not only cynical but also pathetic.
We cannot afford to live in your armpits as captives because you made it impossible for anyone to hold a divergent opinion in your cartel called “opposition.”
Looking back at the origin of KCCA Act in 2010, the current Lord Mayor, your “Guardian Angel” was in that parliament when the law was being passed. He contested in 2011 and won and was congratulated by Museveni the same way Kasule Lumumba congratulated Rt. Hon. Kawalya.
He contested well knowing all the contents of this law and of course by being the legal maestro we have in this city. If he went into something that he already knew from the bottom of his heart, why the cry? What was his contribution as the best legislator of his time, when this law was being debated on the flour of parliament? Temutukoya!
Hon. Nambooze, I wish to put it to your knowledge that the meeting your referring to here, that it was rushed was a special council with only one item on order paper.
It came as a result of failure of the Lord Mayor, your Guardian Angel’s refusal to call the meetings which led to delay in the submission of our final budget.
I wish to also remind you that, on the same day of voting, your guardian angel raised a point that we handle this budget but we opted to handle only the elections on consensus.
It is only the ordinary meetings, that the Rt. Hon. Abubakar Kawalya will issue a 14-day notice and the business will be conducted and handled as you wish.
Hon. Nambooze, stop being a bad loser, you claim Sainthood here when you actually the opposite. If you know you are righteous, why was your camp engaged in voter bribery in broad day light. I am not seeing your long letter condemning this corruption act!
Do you want to pretend that you do not know anything about this? Guys stop using Opposition as a safe haven for your evil political dealings. What do you benefit from blackmail and pretense? Madame teacher, you do not have any moral authority to blackmail anyone here. You better seek for redemption and begin a new chapter!
Finally, our just concluded elections was a process that involved a team of 32 family members who have lived together for the last four years.
Irrespective of our political inclination, we know each other as a family, we know each other as siblings and close relatives.
Took on Nambooze: Hon. Happy Nasasira
The Writer Happy Nasasira is Lord councilor representing Nakawa Division in KCCA on FDC ticket. She was influential against Lord mayor Lukwago’s Impeachment in 2013. In 2021, she eyes a Parliamentary seat. Reach her on: 0703 232 039
INTRUGUE, opportunism and pride has finally costed Dr. Besigye and the Peoples Government, their group has not only lost KCCA powerful speakership but even in all the five City divisions, they have lost miserably!
FDC with the biggest number of councilors at City Hall, one would not expect it to find any hardship in winning both the Speaker and deputy speaker slots. Its important to note that FDC has 18 councilors at City Hall yet the winner needed only 17 votes.
Both its candidates at City Hall have lost and to our shock angry FDC councilors instead voted NRM’s Bruhan Byarunga for Deputy Speaker.
Alhaj Abubaker Kawalya who believes in People Power doctrines has convincingly won KCCA Speaker race while NRM has taken all the five division Speakership and deputies, save for Makindye and Kampala Central divisions where councilors Muzafaru Kabuye and Ever Kyazike won Deputy Speakership positions.
If FDC approach isn’t changed, same story will happen in 2021 General elections and analysts say, it will be a two-horse race, NRM Vs People Power.
HOW KAWALYA WON BESIGYE & GROUP
When a clique of FDC top leaders chose to betray and fight their own sponsored candidate in KCCA Abubaker Kawalya by fronting and bankrolling unpopular Doreen Nyanjura, FDC councilors vowed never to dance to their tunes.
Until today morning, they were still insisting on not voting Nyanjura who they accuse of dodging council meetings, having too much pride and hating team work.
At the FDC party Najjanankumbi Headquaters, fake nominations were organised by Secretary General Nathan Nandala Mafabi to technically kick out Kawalya and front unpopular Nyanjura.
Thanks to Kawalya’s handlers, who wisely advised him not to take part in those sham nominations Kawalya escaped the political rope given to him by the likes of Ingrid Turinawe, Amuriat Oboi to hang himself.
On sensing foul play in Najjanankumbi, Kawalya distanced himself making Nandala and Amuriat announce Doreen Nyanjura and Doreen Sabuka as FDC candidates for Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
In today’s polls, both have lost.
On being sidelined, Kawalya chose to consolidate his growing support from both FDC and independents up to the 11th hour.
A faction of FDC supporting Nyanjura tried their level best to convince FDC councilors to shun Kawalya, but all in vain.
We are reliably informed, sacks of money were promised to Kawalya councilors but they rejected the deal.
NRM – NYANJURA DEAL
In an effort to weaken Kawalya, the People’s Government through their Spokesperson Hon. Betty Nambooze Bakireke entered into a swap deal with NRM councilors led by their candidate for Speakership Bruhan Byaruhanga to go for an alliance.
FDC wanted NRM’s seven councilors to join them and support Bruhan Byaruhanga for Deputy Speakership.
He bought the deal and even stood down for Nyanjura.
Then Lukwago and Nambooze sweet talked DP councilors Moses Kataabu and Deputy Lordmayor Hajjat Sarah Kanyike.
Kataabu accepted after being promised a ministerial post but Sarah Kanyike, insiders say, was hesistant. She has been team Kawalya although at the last minute, she gave in to Nyanjura camp!
So Nyanjura had 6 votes out of 18 from FDC, assured of NRM’s 7 votes, plus the 2 DP votes, addEd to Lukwago’s vote, and 3 independents.
This is when her camp started boasting of enough votes to take her through.
LAST MINUTE BLOW
Kawalya’s camp didn’t sit with folded hands. They also worked tooth and nail to disorgarnise Peoples Government – NRM alliance.
Kawalya approached Bruhan Byaruhanga and gave him a fat deal. They only needed only 5 NRM councilors for both of them to win both slots.
Kawalya deal was straight and Bruhan bought it. The two started looking for not less than 18 votes.
No wonder, Kawalya won with 17 votes, Nyanjura and Muhammad Ssegirinya lost with 14 and 1 vote respectively.
Lukwago, Ingrid, Mafabi and other People’s government leaders picked their phones and called every FDC councilor to vote Nyanjura, but in vain.
DIVISION IN FDC
Taking Doreen Nyanjura through a shortcut to nominate her FDC candidate for Speakership, annoyed other party NEC members who included Owek. Joyce Nabbosa Ssebuggwawo (FDC Buganda Vice President), Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda (FDC Spokesman), Walid Mulindwa Lubega (FDC National Youth leader) and others.
In fact during a NEC meeting where they read out Nyanjura as FDC candidates for Speaker, an angry Ssebuggwawo chose to storm out of it asking them, under which criteria they were giving Nyanjura a ticket who acording to Ssebuggwawo, this Makerere female councilor knows nothing about FDC.
Before leaving this meeting, Ssebuggwawo said Kawalya has been funding FDC activities, fighting him at this time to favour ‘your girl’ was not going to be accepted.
Insiders say, Ssebuggwawo has been financially fueling Kawalya campaigns.
Even Hon. Ssemujju Nganda. He openly refused to announce Nyanjura as the party candidate for Speakership asking Amuriat and Nandala, under which party laws she was nominated.
There was no common position in FDC about who exactly to support and this was left to councilors to choose their way.
The Party lost control over the dominant FDC council because of the intrigue.
KAMPALA MPS FOR KAWALYA
Although Kawalya was fought by his party and money allegedly changed hands to kick him out, Kampala MPs led by Kampala Central MP legislator Muhammad Nsereko stood with him.
Others were: Latif Sebagala, Nabilah Naggayi, Paul Kato Lubwama, Michael Kabaziguruka and Mubarak Munyagwa have been team Kawalya.
DIVISION MAYORS
All the five division mayors have been on Kawalya’s side led by Lubaga’s Ssebuggwawo, Nganda Mulyannyama of Makindye, Emanuel Sserunjogi Oweddembe from Kawempe, Nakawa’s Eng. Ronald Balimwezo and Kampala Central’s Charles Musoke Sserunjogi.
OTHERS
Kawalya commanded support from Kampala business fraternity, civil servants, KCCA technical wing, media and other sectors who have been all talking to respective contacts in council to vote him.
With all this support, Kawalya had to sail through.
CONGS NRM
All the five divisions have been won by NRM.
Kawempe division:
NRM’s Onesmus Mutumba got 31 votes against DP’s Munji Steven who got 16. NRM also took the position of the Deputy Speaker through Hamidah Nambajwe who polled 36 votes against FDC’s Christine Kyomuhendo who only managed 12 votes.
Kampala Central:
Sylivia Bahemurwaki of NRM is the Speaker here after collecting 22 votes. Her challenger Maureen Tumusiime (IND) gathered 11. The slot for Deputy Speaker has been won by DP’s Ever Kyazike.
Lubaga Division:
NRM’s Musah Mbazira is the Speaker here with 27 votes. The Mayor’s candidate Henry Lutwama (IND) walked away with only 19 votes. FDC’s Shifrah Nakitende stepped down after realising she had little support.
Deputy Speaker slot has been won by NRM’s Kenneth Sonko.
Nakawa: NRM’s Musa Mubiru was unopposed. Deputy Speaker is Ali Kalule, from NRM.
Makindye: Speaker is DP’s Muzafaru Kiyemba, deputized by NRM’s Aisha Nabasirye.
I HAVE followed posts and commentaries from FDC social media activists plus some prominent figures like Hon Betty Nambooze about the KCCA speaker elections.
I penned an article previously stating how I opposed the Lord Mayor taking sides in that election and predicted the likely outcome. Abubakar Kawalya’s win was so painful to the losers and the commentaries that have followed the loss have exonerated my optimism.
There is a group of people in opposition that have made it their business to tarnish people’s names to earn themselves political capital. Hon Nambooze is one of them.
In her consolation letter to Doreen Nyanjura and her camp at KCCA tilted, “sometimes we lose in order to win,” the honourable MP intimated that those that supported Kawalya Abubakar are NRM in opposition uniform. And that Mr Museveni has always wanted to defeat Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago but found allies in Kawalya supporters.
Such rhetoric is meant to earn political capital by tarnishing others. This is sadistic.
When I read her commentary, my minds ran to the incident where she appeared on CBS Radio and started to bad-mouth my party president for sitting with Gen Muntu and Hon Mao to deliberate on issues to do with opposition unity.
JEEMA Youth League Vice Chairperson wrote to her an open letter and wondered how the holy spirit descended on Museveni government to amend the KCCA law to add the political wing more powers yet yesterday they were planning to have the Mayor elected amongst councillors.
She wondered how the government softened that most of the amendments were proposed by Hon Nambooze and the government Chief Whip only conceded to the amendments.
In Mrs Nambooze’s reply, she wondered why fellow opposition can feel so bad if they snatch anything from the Junta! It’s saddening that today Nambooze calls those that get concessions from NRM as NRM in opposition. Is her group the only one that get concessions from NRM but others can’t if it’s true?
I have spoken to different NRM councillors and told me they voted for my colleague Nyanjura Doreen and that there were serious talks between their leader in council (chief whip), Buruhan Byaruhanga and Hon Nambooze.
The hurried congratulatory message from the NRM Secretary General, Hon Kasule Lumumba was calculated to paint a picture that NRM had a hand in Kawalya’s victory and thereafter taint people power in the public eye because Kawalya identified himself as a people power supporter.
Lastly, even if there were engagements between Kawalya and NRM councillors or Hon Nambooze and Buruhan Byaruhanga to secure a win for her candidate, I call upon colleagues in the struggle to desist from the temptation of using such relationships to demonize our compatriots.
There is no wrong in mobilising NRM colleagues to achieve our objectives. In general elections, I always see NRM people campaigning for opposition and vice versa. In 2016, Hon Muwanga Kivumbi supported Hajat Aisha Kabanda and in many areas, that was the case. We should not sow seeds of hatred because we have to prove the correctness of our grouping.
The writer Ssentongo Kyamundu is the spokesperson of Justice Forum/JEEMA. Reach him on: 0772 675 957
Political madness is when some self proclaimed opposition actors/analysts in the city start attacking the KCCA opposition speaker Rt.Hon.Kawalya (FDC/people power leaning) simply because he defeated the FDC official candidate Doreen Nyanjura.
Why dont they attack the Majority FDC councillors who in their wisdom (which i respect) saw it fitting to vote Kawalya as Speaker and Lord councilor Bruhan Byaruhanga (NRM) as KCCA deputy speaker?
Nakawa Mayor aide: Bernard Luyiga
Okay, lets take their fake reasoning that there was a secret political alliance but didnt FDC councillors who are the majority in council have the capacity to elect the FDC official candidates for speaker and deputy instead of voting Hon Kawalaya(FDC& people power leaning) and Bruhan(NRM)?
Have such weak minds taken them bother to investigate the reasons why the honourable councillors acted that way?
What can explain the winning of NRM in all the 4 divisions of Kampala? Was it an alliance also? Do such idle talkers know that because of the uncalculated strategy of fighting fellow opposition candidates in 2016, NRM got the majority councillors in all the kampala divisions?
They will call us names for our indipendent opinions (which is okay ) but some of us cant be party to such shallow reasoning.
The writer Bernard Luyiga is former Lord councilor representing Makerere University now Personal Aide Nakawa Mayor. Reach him on 0705514203
MUNNA People Power Haji Abubaker Kawalya, essaawa yonna wakubissaamu engatto ayolekere e Magere mu State House ewa Hon. Bobi Wine, olunavaayo ayambuke e Bulange Mengo okuloopera Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga olutabaalo lw’Obwasipiika bwa KCCA bweyawangudde ku Lwokuna lwa wiiki eno.
Olwaleero, Sipiika Kawalya akedde ku Top radio mu pulugulaamu y’eby’obufuzi eyitibwa ‘Negwozadde’ ng’ekubiriziddwa munnawulire ow’erinnya Steven Dunstan Busuulwa.
Oluvuddeyo, ayogeddeko ne bannamawulire ku Kolping Hotel e Makerere n’agamba Obwakabaka bwa Buganda n’obukulembeze bwa People Power bwansonga nnyo mu buwanguzi bweyatuseeko.
“Obuwanguzi bwaffe twabwesigamizza nnyo ku Katonda, Obwakabaka bwa Buganda ne bannaffe aba People Power. Olutalo twaluwangudde era ngenda wa Hon. Bobi Wine ne mukama waffe Katikkiro okumuloopera olutabaalo.” Sipiika Kawalya bw’agambye bannamawulire.
Ono atugambye, “Ewa Katikkiro sigendayo kumuloopera lutabaalo kyokka, wabula olukiiko lwa Kampala lwenkubiriza luteekwa okumanya nsonga ki enkulu mu Kampala Obwakabaka zebwagala tuteseeko era but u butuwa butya amagezi mu ngeri y’okuzikwatamu.”
“Tulowooza nti Owek. Katikkiro okuwabula kwe kujja kutuyamba nnyo nga tuteeseza abantu ba Ssaabasajja mu Kampala.” Kawalya nga y’akiikirira Lubaga North mu , bweyatugambye.
Yategeezezza bannamawulire nti ensisinkano ye ne Katikkiro asuubirwa okuwereekerwako bakansalabe.
“Waliwo ensonga y’akatale k’e Nakulabye gyetwetaaga okufunako ebilowoozo okuva ewa Katikkiro kuba abantu baffe bayitirivu abakakoleramu, bali ku bunkenke.” Kawalya bweyangamba.
Ku ky’okugenda ewa Hon. Bobi Wine e Magere, Sipiika Kawalya amanyiddwa obulungi nti wa People Power yagambye akkiririza mu nteekateeka za Hon. Kyagulanyi ng’agendayo kumwebaza olw’okumuwagira.
Hon. Kyagulanyi yeyasoose okuweereza Kawalya obubaka obumuyozaayoza ng’ayitira ku mukutu gwe gu Muntu munyumiza wala era n’amwogerako nga munnankyuukakyuuka eyeesigika era mukwano gwe ennyo.
Mu kalulu akaabadde ak’okulya n’okukomba essowaani, Kawalya owa People Power yamezze Doreen Nyanjura owa Peoples Government n’enkoona n’enywa.
……therefore the People Power Movement suited it’s self to this direction.
However, the time it’s architects opted to take part in an election in which Mr. M7 is a party, it fell a victim as well.
NRM will again front Museveni for President in 2021 elections
HOW DID WE GET HERE
Ugandans had many elections. The first elections were conducted in 1958. They were organised by the colonial government, to enable the entity now Uganda, prepare a government to lead to the attainment of independence.
The results were as follows; Uganda National Congress (UNC) got 5 seats, Democratic Party (DP) 1seat and independents 4 seats.
The second election, was in 1960. It saw DP winning 43 seats, UPC 35 seats, and others took 13 seats to the Legislature.
Following this victory, DP formed a government, under the leadership of Benedict Kiwanuka. His government however, was short lived, since another election was conducted in 1962 on April 25th.
This election, its argued, was designed to defeat DP. Infact as a result of the coalition between UPC and KY (Kabaka Yekka or King only)party, the coalition scored 58 seats.
The fourth election,was the referendum on the lost counties of Bugangaizi and Buyaga. This was two years after independence attainment.
The British had given the two lost counties to Buganda from Banyoro as a reward for supporting the imposition of colonial rule to Uganda .
However Bunyoro kingdom kept on claiming and crying for their return.
In the referendum later arranged, three questions were asked- To unify the counties with Bunyoro kingdom? creation of a separate district that would be part of neither kingdom? or remaining a part of Buganda kingdom?
From these elections there were never any other elections in Uganda until 1980.
The 1980 elections arguably won by Uganda People’s Congress, is the index of assessing what an election means to a certain part of Uganda’s modern electoral History.
Under the Uganda Patriotic Movement (UPM), M7 did take part in this election, scoring 1 seat. DP got 50 seats and Uganda peoples’ Congress scoring 72 seats. While conservative party got 00 seats.
The 1980 elections had two features; first it was the first elections in Uganda to have electoral observers.
The turn up was so high, whilst there was no civic education.
The election was tainted with massive voter intimidation and vote rigging.
Neither the international observers nor the majority of the population, including some members who were candidates, accepted the results.
The following words from one of the 1980 election participants explain the character of these elections ;
“……Muwanga’s government refused to amend the electoral law, hoping to use it’s loopholes to cheat through double voting, switching ballot boxes, false counting, gerrymandering constituencies, hooliganism and so on.”
“My own constituency in Nyabushozi was gerrymandered. Taking advantage of the fact that voting was likely to be on a religious basis, the sub counties of Nyakashashara, Sanga and Kashongi were removed from Nyabushozi and made part of another constituency. ”
“These subcounties were mainly protestant, cattle keeping areas, and they were exchanged for Ibanda county which was occupied by Catholics. Both the UPC and the DP were involved in these practices in my area as both parties had an interest in making it difficult for me to win……” Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, pages 122 and 123 of the book, Sowing the Mustard seed (Original Edition)
How did Uganda’s 1980 elections leave a scar to our democracy 39 years later?
To be continued in Part II
The writer Denis Nyombi is an Advocate and Presidential Historian.
HAVING realized that the number of girls in school in Namayingo District is dwindling each passing day, Busoga Kingdom through Ekigangu kya Busoga has stepped in to change the status quo.
Dr.Abaliwano (L) with students of Buswale SS who attended last year’s Ekigangu kya Busoga
During their ongoing familiarization tours of schools in the island District, the campaigns’ team Llader, Owek. Dr.Joyce Abaliwano Mulebeke assured parents and students of Buswale SS on Thursday that the Kingdom is determined to change the wanting academic standards in the District as a key stakeholder.
She also revealed that they will start with ‘A’ level girls to ensure that they are retained in school till completion of the secondary academic cycle.
“We are here on a good cause. Academic statistics of Namayingo District at A level is wanting. It’s worse off for girls and our first priority is for them. We must change this trend and it’s why the Kingdom through Ekigangu is on a fact finding mission to ensure that girls are in school”, said Owek. Dr. Joyce Abaliwano, noting that efforts are underway to avail basics that enable all the 6 ‘A’ level girls in the district for 2020 stay in school.
Buswale SS students who attended last year’s Ekigangu kya Busoga give testimonies during Dr.Joyce’s visit
Encouraging parents to be supportive towards the well being of their children, Dr.Abaliwano also disclosed that both the Kyabazinga and Ekigangu Managing Director Rt. Hon Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga are doing what it takes for Busoga to rekindle its lost academic glory.
She also challenged parents to stop having a mentality that looks at ‘O’ level being the highest academic level they target for their children.
“The Kyabazinga wants professionals from Busoga in the near future and we must start now. We shouldn’t postpone our targets.We must prioritise our needs now and we must work harder by putting in more effort”. She said.
The parents have since committed to play their respective roles for the benefit of their children.
Under its theme ‘Using culture to end early marriage and keep girls in school’, Ekigangu leadership got concerned about the poor academic performance in the area. For the next two years combined, Namayingo District will register less than 20 candidates for UNEB.
DEO Namayingo, Naay Kawere Kaawo attributes the poor academic performance to their district being a peninsula that is surrounded by water in addition to minerals in the area. He notes that with the Kingdom’s direct involvement,they will up their game.
Deputy Head teacher of Buswale SS Harriet Nabwiire challenged parents to behave well before their children.She also tasked them to desist from domestic violence habits before their children.
She advised them to be role models to their children at all times.
On their part as students they thanked Rt. Hon Kadaga and the Kyabazinga for the care and support. They however, expressed concern about lack of sanitary towels as one of the huddles they face as girls.
INTRUGUE, opportunism and pride has finally costed Dr. Besigye and the Peoples Government!
Their group has not only lost KCCA powerful speakership but even in all the five City divisions, they have lost miserably!
FDC with the biggest number of councilors at City Hall, one would not expect it to find any hardship in winning both the Speaker and deputy speaker slots. Its important to note that FDC has 18 councilors at City Hall yet the winner needed only 17 votes.
Both its candidates at City Hall have lost and to our shock angry FDC councilors instead voted NRM’s Bruhan Byarunga for Deputy Speaker.
Alhaj Abubaker Kawalya who believes in People Power doctrines has convincingly won KCCA Speaker race while NRM has taken all the five division Speakership and deputies, save for Makindye and Kampala Central divisions.
If FDC approach isn’t changed, analysts say, same story will happen in 2021 General elections and analysts say, it will be a two-horse race, NRM Vs People Power.
HOW KAWALYA WON BESIGYE & GROUP
When a clique of FDC top leaders chose to betray and fight their own sponsored candidate in KCCA Abubaker Kawalya by fronting and bankrolling unpopular Doreen Nyanjura, FDC councilors vowed never to dance to their tunes.
Until today morning, they were still insisting on not voting Nyanjura who they accuse of dodging council meetings, having too much pride and hating team work.
At the FDC party Najjanankumbi Headquaters, fake nominations were organised by Secretary General Nathan Nandala Mafabi to technically kick out Kawalya and front unpopular Nyanjura.
Thanks to Kawalya’s handlers, who wisely advised him not to take part in those sham nominations Kawalya escaped the political rope given to him by the likes of Ingrid Turinawe, Amuriat Oboi to hang himself.
On sensing foul play in Najjanankumbi, Kawalya distanced himself making Nandala and Amuriat announce Doreen Nyanjura and Doreen Sabuka as FDC candidates for Speaker and Deputy Speaker.In today’s polls, both have lost.
On being sidelined, Kawalya chose to consolidate his growing support from both FDC and independents up to the 11th hour.
A faction of FDC supporting Nyanjura tried their level best to convince FDC councilors to shun Kawalya, but all in vain.
We are reliably informed, sacks of money were promised to Kawalya councilors but they rejected the deal.
NRM – NYANJURA DEAL
In an effort to weaken Kawalya, the Peoples Government through their Spokesperson Hon. Betty Nambooze Bakireke entered into a swap deal with NRM councilors led by their candidate for Speakership Bruhan Byaruhanga to go for an alliance.
FDC wanted NRM’s seven councilors to join them and support Bruhan Byaruhanga for Deputy Speakership.He bought the deal and even stood down for Nyanjura.
Then Lukwago and Nambooze sweet talked DP councilors Moses Kataabu and Deputy Lordmayor Hajjat Sarah Kanyike.
Kataabu accepted after being promised a ministerial post but Sarah Kanyike, insiders say, was hesistant.
She has been team Kawalya although at the last minute, she gave in to Nyanjura camp!So Nyanjura had 6 votes out of 18 from FDC, assured of NRM’s 7 votes, plus the 2 DP votes, added to Lukwago’s vote, and 3 independents.
This is when her camp started boasting of enough votes to take her through.
LAST MINUTE BLOW
Kawalya’s camp didn’t sit with folded hands. They also worked tooth and nail to disorgarnise Peoples Government – NRM alliance.Kawalya approached Bruhan Byaruhanga and gave him a fat deal.
They only needed only 5 NRM councilors for both of them to win both slots.Kawalya deal was straight and Bruhan bought it. The two started looking for not less than 18 votes.No wonder, Kawalya won with 17 votes, Nyanjura and Muhammad Ssegirinya lost with 14 and 1 vote respectively.
Lukwago, Ingrid, Mafabi and other People’s government leaders picked their phones and called every FDC councilor to vote Nyanjura, but in vain.
DIVISION IN FDC
Taking Doreen Nyanjura through a shortcut to nominate her FDC candidate for Speakership, annoyed other party NEC members who included Owek. Joyce Nabbosa Ssebuggwawo (FDC Buganda Vice President), Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda (FDC Spokesman), Walid Mulindwa Lubega (FDC National Youth leader) and others.
In fact during a NEC meeting where they read out Nyanjura as FDC candidates for Speaker, an angry Ssebuggwawo chose to storm out of it asking them, under which criteria they were giving Nyanjura a ticket who acording to Ssebuggwawo, this Makerere female councilor knows nothing about FDC.
Before leaving this meeting, Ssebuggwawo said Kawalya has been funding FDC activities, fighting him at this time to favour ‘your girl’ was not going to be accepted.Insiders say, Ssebuggwawo has been financially fueling Kawalya campaigns.Even Hon. Ssemujju Nganda.
He openly refused to announce Nyanjura as the party candidate for Speakership asking Amuriat and Nandala, under which party laws she was nominated.
There was no common position in FDC about who exactly to support and this was left to councilors to choose their way. The Party lost control over the dominant FDC council because of the intrigue.
KAMPALA MPS FOR KAWALYA
Although Kawalya was fought by his party and money allegedly changed hands to kick him out, Kampala MPs led by Makindye East MP Ibrahim Kasozi stood with him.Others were: Muhammad Nsereko, Latif Sebagala, Nabilah Naggayi, Paul Kato Lubwama, Michael Kabaziguruka, Allan Ssewanyana and Mubarak Munyagwa have been team Kawalya.
DIVISION MAYORS
All the five division mayors have been on Kawalya’s side led by Lubaga’s Ssebuggwawo, Nganda Mulyannyama of Makindye, Emanuel Sserunjogi Oweddembe from Kawempe, Nakawa’s Eng. Ronald Balimwezo and Kampala Central’s Charles Musoke Sserunjogi.
OTHERS
Kawalya commanded support from Kampala business fraternity, civil servants, KCCA technical wing, media and other sectors who have been all talking to respective contacts in council to vote him.With all this support, Kawalya had to sail through.
NRM SWEEPS SPEAKERS’ SLOTS IN KAMPALA DIVISIONS
All the five divisions have been won by NRM.
Kawempe division: NRM’s Onesmus Mutumba got 31 votes against DP’s Munji Steven who got 16. NRM also took the position of the Deputy Speaker through Hamidah Nambajwe who polled 36 votes against FDC’s Christine Kyomuhendo who only managed 12 votes. Kampala Central: Sylivia Bahemurwaki of NRM is the Speaker here after collecting 22 votes. Her challenger Maureen Tumusiime (IND) gathered 11. The slot for Deputy Speaker has been won by DP’s Ever Kyazike. Lubaga Division: NRM’s Musah Mbazira is the Speaker here with 27 votes. The Mayor’s candidate Henry Lutwama (IND) walked away with only 19 votes. FDC’s Shifrah Nakitende stepped down after realising she had little support.Deputy Speaker slot has been won by NRM’s Kenneth Sonko.
Nakawa: NRM’s Musa Mubiru was unopposed. Deputy Speaker is Ali Kalule, from NRM. Makindye: Speaker is DP’s Muzafaru Kiyemba, deputized by NRM’s Aisha Nabasirye.
ALHAJ ABUBAKER Kawalya, the Lubaga North Lord councilor is the duly elected KCCA Speaker beating Peoples Government candidate Doreen Nyanjura, as we predicted.
Kawalya believes in People Power.
Ayo Miria Akello, the presiding magistrate, while announcing Kawalya, congratulated him for attaining over 50%.
