MUHAMMAD Ssegirinya commonly known as ‘Eddoboozi ly’e Kyebando’ and remembered for carrying a tv set to Parliament in a protest against television subscription taxes has added ingredients in his intentions to contest and win Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Speakership warning opposition FDC party and ruling NRM not to waste time fronting their candidates because he is the best for this job.
His camp has been boosted by support from Amsterdam mayor and leaders who have pledged to give necessary support so that he win the race.
Councilor Sarah Power from Amsterdam city showing Ssegirinya support
Elections are expected anytime and Ssegirinya has vowed to trounce other contestants. So far, four councilors have confirmed their interest to contest for Speakership.
Addressing a rally in Kawempe where he represents as area councilor (KCCA) council, Ssegirinya who eyes Kawempe North MP seat in 2021 said, no contestant understands Kampala problems more than him because he is a Ghetto boy so can perfectly serve as KCCA Speaker.
Amidist chants from his supporters, Ssegirinya said, “It’s you who sent me to KCCA. I have come for your blessings so that I win this race. FDC and NRM should give me because I am the strongest among all contenders but if they turn a deaf ear, let them front their candidates, I will embarrass them on the poling day.”
Clad in a black suite and a people power necktie, Ssegirinya appealed to Kawempe people to give him support by calling their other area councilors to vote him.
“We don’t want a Speaker who has never stepped in the corridors of our Ghettos. You can’t preside over KCCA council when you don’t know how our market vendors are suffering, why taxi operators are fighting each other and why floods are sweeping away our people in Kampala. You know me, if it calls for a battle, I will to bring out our people voices.” Said Ssegirinya who won as an independent to the Authority.
Asked whether his comming won’t confuse opposition councilors and divide votes which benefits NRM candidate Bruhan Byaruhanga, Ssegirinya said his voters are in NRM, FDC, DP and Independents.
“A day I declared my Intentions to contest for Speakership, eight councilors defected to my camp. Give me a few days, I only want other 11 councilors and I will be elected Kampala Speaker. KCCA with me as the Speaker, Kampala will change and the capital city will be enjoyed by all classes of people.” Said Ssegirinya.
On reports from some councilors that Ssegirinya dodges council meetings for international travels, he said, “We are elected to lobby for our voters. I went in America and other countries to consult powerful leaders on how they serve their people and also lobby for Kawempe people. I managed to return with a Cancer testing machines which will officially be launched by Hon. Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi. This is what other leaders must do,”
On whether he has enough qualifications for the job, Ssegirinya proudly asked, “All those contesting, who performed well in S. 6 than me? I got 17 points and passed General Paper. Let any of those contesting say he or she performed better than me.”
Asked whether, if Lord mayor give him a call, asking him to leave for his candidate Doreen Nyanjura, Ssegirinya who said Hon. Kyagulanyi okayed his standing, vowed never calling Nyanjura the weakest candidate in the race.
He said, will organise rallies in all Kampala constituencies and ask electorates to call their councilors, vote for him.
Other contenders are; Haji Abubaker Kawalya (FDC), Bruhan Byaruhanga( (NRM) and Doreen Nyanjura (FDC).
AS East Africa mourns Mzee Daniel Arap Moi, I write this not only as an attempt to publish the hidden history behind my late father’s untold legacy, but mostly to bring an important detail for the sake of Uganda’s journey towards the elusive first ever peaceful transfer of power. That is why I would like to recall events in Kenya on August 1978 when President Jomo Kenyatta passed away, and Vice President Daniel Arap Moï became the new Kenyan president. My father President Idi Amin flew to Nairobi for the state funeral. Two very odd things happened at the time which I will never forget. The first one was just anecdotal. As we watched the event live on television from back at State House Entebbe, Ugandans could see on their screens Idi Amin joining all the leaders and foreign dignitaries as they walked behind the late Kenyatta’s funeral cortege on the main avenue in Nairobi. The Kenyan public stood all alongside the road, and upon noticing Idi Amin, they temporarily forgot about the funeral, and started waving and jubilating instead. That was how popular Amin was even in Kenya. The second development during this time was far more serious, and is an important lesson/knowledge that we as a country, especially the leaders of today and tomorrow, should always have in mind for the sake of national stability. Though Daniel Arap Moi was Vice President at the time, it appears there was a group of the late Jomo Kenyatta’s closest friends and confidants who had already made other succession arrangements together with the late Kenyatta before his death. Now while those tribalist succession plans had been known publicly and had even failed to be formalized in the Kenyan Parliament previously, the people of Kenya do not know how close they came to a political crisis as those same tribalist succession plans were stealthily revived at the death of Jomo Kenyatta. After Kenyatta’s funeral, President Idi Amin had been taken to State House Nairobi where he was having a briefing with Vice President Moï before heading to the airport and back to Kampala. When the Ugandan leader casually asked about Daniel Arap Moï ‘s inauguration ceremony to the position of president, the Vice President told him that things were complicated and that he wasn’t even sure about his future in Kenya. Amin insisted on knowing what was going on, and after many attempts Mzee Moï reluctantly told Amin about “the alternative succession plan” that was secretely under way by Jomo Kenyatta’s closest political allies. My father used to tell us these stories every evening after supper, though unfortunately I cannot remember the names of the three individuals who were said to be plotting to take the top positions in Kenya. However older Kenyans probably know the people that I’m talking about, and who had been preparing their own succession plan all along. What then happened is that the Ugandan leader quickly understood that there was a dangerous power struggle building, and it was outside the proper state succession provisions. Amin then asked Daniel Arap Moï to at least call these individuals to State House for a quick meeting, and simultaneously postponed his return to Kampala indefinitely. Everyone being at the funeral in Naïrobi meant that it was only a short while before all those concerned arrived at State House. After the greetings, President Idi Amin bluntly told them about the rumours he had heard in regards to the plot for an illegal succession, and warned them about it’s dangers to the country’s stability if anyone went on with those plans. He told them that the proper procedure was for the Vice President to become the president, and anything else would be seen as either an unjustifiable coup and/or some illegal undertaking against the people of Kenya. This, Amin said, had the potential of completely destabilizing the country and even Uganda which economically depends on Kenya for it’s imports and exports since Uganda is a landlocked country. By the end of the meeting, thanks to the respect they all had for Amin as a strong, popular African leader, the charismatic Ugandan president had quickly got all the assurances that the normal process would now take place, and Vice president Daniel Arap Moï would be quickly inaugurated as President of Kenya. All this was not in the public domain. Kenyans actually believe the succession happened so smoothly. Not knowing how bad things were poised to become had my father not intervened at that material time. For the record, I would like todays Ugandan leaders to take note of this requirement for the Vice president to be “quickly inaugurated” in such circumstances. Uganda has not yet had that peaceful transition/succession experience, and God knows how this knowledge might one day save the country, it’s economy, and it’s people from bloody illicit backdoor power struggles. We have to have a mechanical system of immediate swearing-in of the vice president once the sitting president has been medically declared dead. If I recall well, when US president John F. Kennedy was assassinated, the Vice president was immediately sworn in, barely an hour later, in mid-air, in the very plane that the late President had come with to Dallas, Texas where he was then shot. The succession procedures exist in the 1995 Constitution, but we know how watered down that document has become. So given the political realities of Uganda today, we all know that the chances of a sitting president dying in office is the scenario with the highest probability to occur. And if it does happen, for the sake of stability, all citizens of Uganda must insist on the Vice President Edward Sekandi holding the country together. At least until the next elections. And we should all insist on him, not because he is Sekandi, or NRM, or a Muganda by tribe, but because he is the one holding the office of the Vice President. If the entire country does not have this plan solidly grounded in the national understanding, even regardless of which person becomes Vice President in the future, who knows how many people out there could be plotting their own alternative succession plans right now as we speak, and at the terrible expense of the lives and livelihoods of all the people of this country? For the record, I highly suspect several people within, and others close to State House, to be secretely harbouring such ambitions, and just waiting for their “Jomo Kenyatta moment”. Meanwhile, in 1978 the uncertainty in Kenya, and the lengthy political succession timelines meant that President Idi Amin literally averted a major crisis in Kenya where there was likely to be a collapse of the state and probable violence amongst the different powerful individuals, their tribes/ethnic groups, and their supporters. By Amin ensuring that Daniel Arap Moï became Acting president until the KANU party conference, Kenya survived political anarchy. And that is how Mzee Daniel Arap Moï became President of the Republic of Kenya, thanks to Idi Amin. Kenyans were literally saved from untold mayhem without them even knowing it, and the new Kenyan leader quietly maintained a deep and personal respect for Amin for the rest of his life mainly because of that episode. Looking back now, many might notice that he never made personal public statements for or against Idi Amin.
RIP Mzee Daniel Arap Moï & may God Almighty cleanse him of any earthly mistakes.
The writer is a son to Former President Idi Amin Dada
REPUBLICAN strongman Donald Trump must be the happiest on planet earth after Senate last night cleared thd US President of abuse of power and obstruction of justice ending a historic Senate trial that was centered on his conduct toward Ukraine but that did not include live witnesses or new documents.
ANNOUNCING RESULTS
The presiding officer said;
In the first article (charge) of Impeachment, 48 senators pronounced President of United States Donald Joh Trump guilty as charged.
52 Senators have pronounced him not guilty as charged. Two-thirds of the Senators present not having pronounced him guilty, the Senate adjudges that the respondent Donald Trump, president of United States is not guilty in the first article of Impeachment.
On this article of Impeachment, 47 senators pronounced President of United States Donald Joh Trump guilty as charged.
53 Senators have pronounced him not guilty as charged. Two-thirds of the Senators present not having pronounced him guilty, the Senate adjudges that the respondent Donald Trump, president of United States is not guilty in the second article of Impeachment.
The presiding office directs judgement to be entered in accordance with the judgement as follows:
The Senate having tried Donald John Trump President of United States upon two articles of Impeachment exhibited against him by the house of Representatives and two thirds of the Senators present not having found him guilty of the charges contained therein, it is therefore ORDERED and Adjudged that the said Donald John Trump be, and he is hereby acquitted of the charges in said articles.
2ND TERM LOADING
Republicans were heard chanting Trump name saying, there danger man will leave office in 2024 meaning, winning comming elections will just be a walk over.
The Senate has voted in favour of acquitting President Trump in the impeachment trial.
All Democrats and one Republican – Mitt Romney – voted against the president on his charges of abuse of power but senators on both sides voted along party lines for his charge of obstruction of justice.
The president’s campaign manager said: “President Trump has been totally vindicated and it’s now time to get back to the business of the American people”.
The acquittal follows a State of the Union address Tuesday night in which Trump pointed to the strong economy as vindication as he sought to move on from impeachment. The speech ended with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) tearing up a copy of Trump’s prepared remarks.
The crux of the case against Trump is the allegation that he withheld military aid and a White House meeting to pressure Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden and his son. Hunter Biden served on the board of Burisma, a Ukrainian energy company, while his father was vice president.
I HAVE been keenly following the New Curriculum issue and I’ve realized that the Parliament of Uganda is right to suspend it.
Where’s Swahili spoken? Is it in our Parliament, Offices, shopping malls, where? How many teachers that will teach Swahili? Why rush things as if UGANDA is ending today!
Why not prepare for the new curriculum for at least three years? Give time to TTCs produce more professional Swahili Teachers.. what will happen to Teachers who have been teaching scrapped subjects?
Physical Education is compulsory, do all schools have play grounds? Some schools are in houses that were meant for shops (ebiduuka).
Are we going to hire Swahili Teachers from Kenya or Tanzania? By the way, which kind of Swahili are we going to teach our children? Tanzanian, Kenyan or Zanzibar?
There’s a saying, “Swahili was born in Zanzibar, grew up in Tanzania, got sick in Kenya, died in Uganda and was buried in D.R. Congo.” The Swahili of Tanzania is different from each country.
Who told the NRM Government that in order to have East African Integration or Community, we have to speak one language? What’s the language spoken by European Union? Is it Belgian, German, or French? No language. Naye who are the Think Tankers of our Government..!!
Remember the Ministry of Education asked for over 100 billion shillings to implement the new curriculum.
Some sane, objective Ugandans are not against the new curriculum because there are good changes but there was a need to consult the Stakeholders.
NEWLY appointed State Minister for Sports Hon. Dennis H. Obua has today visited national boxing team ‘The Bombers’ under going training in Luzira and assured them Government full support.
The Bombers are preparing for Japan 2020 Olympic qualifiers due in Senegal.
MASAKA District Chairman Jude Mbabaali has ruled out media reports that Masaka has been invaded by deadly locust saying, it’s not true.
In a statement released on Tuesday night, Mbabaali, “Today communities in Buwunga identified grasshoppers that were thought to be similar to highly televised desert locust outbreak.”
“Our District Entomologist has confirmed that the insects are ordinary grasshoppers and NOT Desert locusts.
REMAINING with only five months to the Presidential and Parliamentary nominations ahead of 2021 General elections, opposition political parties and ruling NRM have denounced violence, calling for a peaceful, free and fair elections.On a function organised to launch a new pressure group code-named ‘UGANDA FIRST’ at Sibyangu Hotel in Nateete, Lubaga Division – Kampala, leaders from FDC, PDP, DP, NRM, UPC and Gen. Mugisha Muntu’s Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) said any leader planning to cause violence before, during or after elections will not to tolerated sending warnings to Electoral commission, religious leaders and security organs to desist from being partisan or else, their acts may easily be the march box that will lit the fire.”We are here to urge all leaders, all political actors, fellow countrymen and women to exercise responsibility and restraint, in particular to reject all forms of violence, hate speech, discrimination, inflammatory utterances, political intolerance and incitement to electoral violence in 2021. Say no to violence, Uganda remains even after elections.” Said DP’s D. Kavuma, the interim leader of this pressure ground. Amidst chants from hundreds of Youth who attended this function, Kavuma a lawyer by profession said, “We implore all State institutions including Police, the army and independent electoral commission to respect and adhere to their constitutional mandate to ensure a violent free elections.”
FULL STATEMENT:
Peace in our elections has proved elusive and today marks a historic opportunity for our Nation as it takes a big step forward, towards achieving a violent free elections for many Ugandans want peace and they want it badly.It is our civic responsibility as citizens to commit ourselves towards building a better future by establishing social, economic and political order based on constitutional principles.We as Uganda First commend credible election values including respect for all stakeholders and we contend that elections besides other political processes are notable reflection of our Country’s good and quality governance, however, if marred with violence, it can be a setback to the County’s democratic development.The Independent Electoral Commission already uploaded a revised key milestone for the 2020/2021 general elections road map that will usher in the new government and as Ugandans wrings their hands wondering who their next leaders should be, tensions continue to mount amongst different political factions and thus, the fear of wide spread violence or even, isolated incidents in the forthcoming elections, can not be ignored.The country continues to make strides towards consolidating democracy, peace and stability but we are deeply concerned that our electoral processes have previously been plagued into violence which manifestations of lawlessness have been meted out by Ugandans against fellow UgandansBefore and during elections, innumerable incidents of violence happened between the security forces and the protestors and also, between the different political factions in some parts of the country. Most notably in Kasese and Bundibugyo, violence escalated and resulted in casualties with areas such as Kasenyi, Buhuhira, Bukisi, Hima and Buhji left in ruins after 2016 Local Council elections. The post election time was also shrouded that resulted into reports of numerous arrests and as a result, 22 protestors were reportedly killed the country’s by-election in Jinja, Arua and Bugiri registered incidents of election violence with Arua recording the worst chaotic scenes and serious human rights abuses which raised serious local and International concerns.Since then, many Ugandans worry that violence is likely to dominate the 2021 polls and this has prompted serious calls for peace as was remarkably noted by religious and cultural leaders during the 2019 Christmas sermons.Echoing appeals voiced by majority peace loving Ugandans and being supported by many others who have denounced participation in violence, we seek to move and remind Ugandans that electoral violence does not solve our society problems and Uganda remains after the elections.There could be traces and signals of incitement to electoral violence by some persons including leaders but security forces are also promising to suppress such incidents.It would therefore be logical to avoid such foreseable clashes that could result into many needless arrests, death and destruction of property, all Ugandans should avoid descent into violence for the ultimate responsibility in our hands to promote the inclusive spirit of harmony.Our plan is a great plan for Uganda and since many Ugandans have endorsed our vision, we share that commitment and look forward to working with everyone to ensure all Ugandans embrace what you and us have worked so hard to achieve.
WE’LL SPREAD THE ANTI-VIOLENCE GOSPEL
Paul Kizza a senior journalist and political talkshow host on Channel 44 tv who was elected UGANDA FIRST Spokesman and National Cordinator said they are going to traverse the whole country, spreading message of non violent elections.”This platform brings togather leaders from different regions, religions, tribes and political parties. We need to have one message, a message of non violent elections and we will spread it all over the country.” Said Kizza.
WE ARE AMBASSADORS OF PEACE – ANT PARTY
Zerida Kakayi, a reknown activist formerly from FDC now in Gen. Muntu party said, “We don’t believe in violence. When ever we have violence, women suffer most. We must give a message to unite people but not to divide them. I request all of you here to be ambassadors. We want free violent elections in 2021.”Launch was attended by among others; Prince Robert Tibamwenda Omwami from Kasese, a minister from Rwenzurulu, Chairman Vincent Mpiima, counsel John Vincent Zziwa, Tugume from FDC, Hussein Kyalimpa from NRM who will coordinate Rwenzori region and Asiimwe Maggie a lecturer at Mountain of the Moon university elected to coordinateTooro. Youth led by one Joseph Kaddu Ssekitooleko confessed to be the ring leader of riots in Kampala.”Am now a changed man, we want a peaceful country.” Said a notorious Kaddu.
Paul Kizza, Spokesman UGANDA FIRSTNotorious Joseph Kaddu after confessing
SHEIKH SHABAN Issa the secretary for Finance at Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) sheikh has warned regional secetaries against chicken being slaughtered especially in markets saying some are sometime stolen and this is unacceptable in Islam. He appealed to them to be more cautious.
Shaban said this during an induction organised by UMSC at Gadaffi National Mosque for all Halal secretaries in the Nine Muslim regions about the essences of halaal.
“Some of the Chicken you slaughter are stolen. This is Haram, you must be very careful.” Said Sheikh Shaban.
He told them that UMSC Halal Department is working closely with government through Ministry of Agriculture animal husbandry and fisheries to normalise all policies and strategies to enable Halal operations in Uganda.
“We however still have a challenge of lack of UMSC representative on the food technology committee to ascertain the Halal products in the country.” Said Sheikh Shaban, appealing to all regional Halal leaders to work closely with the people in their respective regions if they are to benefit them and maintain their leadership well.
The secretary for Halaal at Uganda Muslim supreme council sheikh Munil Sebintu expressed gratuity that 70% of the work adopted by halal department has been successful with the help of the government through ministries such as ministry of agriculture, animal and fisheries, ministry of health and ministry of local government which wrote letters to the department on behalf of uganda muslim supreme council expressing support for the department.
“UMSC Halal Department is going to embark on the process of registering UMSC Halal in International Halal certified bodies to enable Ugandan Muslim traders export their meat and foods in Arabian countries freely without interference.” Said Sheikh Sebintu.
Regional leaders who included Sheikh Abutwahiyu Abubakar Nakwasi secretary Halal for west Buganda region, Sheikh Adam Uthuman Nsubuga of Ankole Kigezi,sheikh Twaha Tamale from kampala,ismael Muhammad higenyi the halal secretary for Eastern and others said they have benefited from the induction.
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has directed the Ministry of Health to conduct an aggressive public awareness campaign as one of the measures of preventing and controlling the outbreak of Coronavirus.
“I now understand this disease. I’m going to write about it so that the public is sensitized on how to prevent it” he said.
Museveni was meeting government officials to discuss contingency measures and Uganda’s preparedness to prevent coronavirus that is currently ravaging China and is spreading to other countries. They also discussed the impeding locust invasion threat that is currently ravaging the neighbouring Kenya.
According to the World Health Organisation, At least 427 people have died with more than 20,000 confirmed cases around the world, most of them in China.
More than two-dozen nations have reported cases but, so far, no confirmations have been made across Africa or Latin America.
The deadly coronavirus outbreak that has spread from China causes severe acute respiratory infection and symptoms usually start with a fever, followed by a dry cough.
WHO is working closely with global experts, governments and partners to rapidly expand scientific knowledge on this new virus, to track the spread and virulence of the virus, and to provide advice to countries and individuals on measures to protect health and prevent the spread of this outbreak.
During the meeting that took place at State House Entebbe and was attended by among others Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda, the Minister of Health Dr. Ruth Achieng, the Minister for Agriculture Vincent Ssempijja and their respective technical teams, the President was briefed about the contingency plans by both ministries to respond to the impending health and food security threats.
On the Coronavirus, the Prime Minister informed the President that the Health Ministry working with its partners were already implementing preparedness activities, like screening of all travellers at Entebbe International Airport and doing risk Communication for public awareness for the general population.
Among the measures discuss to contain the virus include anti inflammatory vaccine to reduce the body panic, antiviral, antibiotics, rehydration and increase of oxygen in the body as well as preventive measures such as washing of hands with soap and use of masks to prevent the spread of the disease.
Present Museveni also instructed the Ministry of Health to come up with a public awareness document that can be used to engage and educate the public.
He further advised that Ugandans currently in China should remain there since the government of China has already put mechanisms to contain and prevent the transmission of the disease.
On the desert locusts, the President gave an ultimatum to the Ministry of Agriculture to ensure that they have ready actionable points to prevent the locusts from causing havoc.
He tasked the Ministry of Agriculture to liaise with the Ministry of Finance to ensure that Uganda makes its contribution to Regional Desert Locust Control body.
President Museveni also pledged to mobilize resources and bodies responsible for the control to ensure more support to the Ariel spraying of Locusts using aircraft.
According to reports swarms of locusts have destroyed large areas of farmland and are threatening food security in East Africa. Kenya is reporting its worst locust outbreak in 70 years. Billions of the insects have already destroyed tens of thousands of hectares of plant life across the country. Record locust outbreaks have also been reported in Ethiopia and Somalia. The insects have also attacked parts of Sudan, Djibouti and Eritrea. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, or FAO, is calling it East Africa’s worst desert locust invasion in 25 years.
OPPOSITION Democratic Party (DP) Nakaseke South legislator Paul Ssemakula Luttamaguzi’s Four years at Parliament story is very interesting!
According to him, Parliament has four categorises of MPs. One of them, is that of dealers and conmen who are ever enjoying flights and women are the pivot around which their lives rotate. He says, these are both in NRM and opposition.
Luttamaguzi fell a victim of this very group during his early days at Parliament. He tells a hilarious story of how a certain MP conned him of his first salary.
To add to his misery, another lady MP offered him a deal to abuse a certain big person in government but when he rejected it, the woman MP blackmailed Luttamaguzi telling MPs how he was demanding for sex from her.
This popular radio and tv political talkshow panelist – turned MP has talked to The News Editor (NE) Online about his experience at Parliament and how he has conquered Nakaseke, the reknown ruling NRM Mecca. Read on;
FULL INTERVIEW: NE: How is the ground? President Museveni recently criticised Nakaseke South people for electing a weak MP. Do you see yourself back in the 11th Parliament?
LUTTAMAGUZI: The ground is fine, ignore Mr. Museveni. We are delivering. About 2021, I don’t think our people can substitute their star Christiano Ronaldo.
NE: What is this quarrel boiling between you and Hon. Rose Namayanja.
LUTTAMAGUZI: Personally i dont have time to fight her. She was Nakaseke MP for three terms, once a minister and now NRM treasurer. Go and ask her, what did she do for Nakaseke? How did our people benefit from her? She has now brought her husband to stand against me in the forth coming elections.How has her foundation benefited Nakaseke. Even the road going to her husband’s home, it is me who lobbied government to work on it.
NE: Last year, you ambushed Hon. Namayanja’s function in Nakaseke and disorganized it. Are you worried that NRM want you out come 2021?
LUTTAMAGUZI : I don’t fear NRM. I floored them in 2016, they cant manage me. Namayanja organized a function at Kaddunda to launch her husband’s campaigns but when I ambushed her, she fell short of words. They thought I would not attend. They hired about 10 bodabodas to accompany him, but me i came with a forest of bodabodas. The function got to a standstill and groups of both male and female youth accompanied their MP. I received a wonderful welcome and Namayanja almost took off. She wanted her husband to contest unopposed in NRM. They must be targetting billions of Museveni money. Go and tell them, they are day dreamers. They will be humiliated.
NE: How do you assess your three years in Parliament? How far with your manifesto as the Nakaseke South MP?
LUTTAMAGUZI: Thank you. Am serving my first term in Parliament as Nakaseke South legislator. Nakaseke is the heart of NRA/M. This is where NRA rebels launched their rebel activities against then Dr. Apollo Milton’s ruling government. The NRA guerilla war swept through Nakaseke.Our parents bankrolled the guerilla war, fed the rebels, housed most of them from Obote’s wild soldiers and also, many picked arms and joined the rebels.Nakaseke became the district with most house-less orphans since their parents were slaughtered like goats during this five years’ war.As an opposition politician, it wasnt an easy task to wrestle and uproot NRM in Nakaseke and in general, Luwero triangle which is mostly reffered to as NRM’s Mecca. However i was massively elected and won Nakaseke South for opposition Democratic Party. I promised my voters to be their bold voice in Parliament, to enact pro-people laws and lobby for my constituency. My manifesto had a lot of promises. We made an agreement with my voters for them to trust me with their votes. Three years down the road, I am very happy to go to Nakaseke South and talk to our people, I am not like some politicians who blow their trumpets.
NE: Briefly, how did you convince staunch NRM people to vote DP in Nakaseke?
LUTTAMAGUZI: Not every one in Nakaseke is Pro-NRM. In fact, thousands are against this government. However, they needed a strong commander like me. When I presented my self, they definitely rallied behind me. Secondly, NRM government forgot the NRA guerilla war sweat of Nakaseke people. We were not rewarded. We don’t have good facilitated hospitals, no good schools, roads are impassable, our famers and cattle keepers are not getting any hand of help from a government they ushered in and our veterans are crying. There is no district with land grabbing cases like Nakaseke. Our people are homeless, their land was forcefully taken and their MPs were mute. We had to do something. I packaged myself well , swore to fight and stop the land grabbing mafias. Am happy voters listened and also bought my message. We worked together, looked for votes together, they funded my campaigns and on voting day, they protected our votes and our win. In fact Hon. Syda Bumba (Former minister and Nakaseke North MP) had plotted to use her influence to rig my votes in favour of one Sekabira saying, they can’t allow DP to win in NRM’s Mecca but Nakaseke South people vowed to roast her alive if she had dared. We were more vigilant and when it comes to vote protection, am superb because I got first class training in that field.
NE: Have you said you were trained to protect votes?
LUTTAMAGUZI: Yes sir. Many of you don’t know this. I was trained by Israelites. Worked with them in UN. Was trained about how to trust people, when do you laugh, security issues, what and where to eat, your movements etc. I went to polls with knowledge on how to study people and watch their movements. Syda Bumba and her team under estimated me.
NE: Who did you contest with?
LUTTAMAGUZI: The incumbent was Mbuga Ssempala. In the race, we also had Ssekabira (Now in People Power) and Dr. Ssengonze Damulira. All were NRM People and Bumba wanted it for Ssekabira. I blocked her games and since then whenever we meet, she salutes me because Bumba knows am a Gen. in vote protection. Am not an easy man.
NE: Back to your manifesto Hon. what have you done for Nakaseke South in the three years as their MP?
LUTTAMAGUZI: There is a road called Kisuule – Nakaseke – Kapeeka. It branches from Bombo – Gulu road and goes to Gen. Saleh’s Namunkekeera Industrial Park. It is one of the most busy roads but has been in a sorry state for decades. No one had ever talked about it. As the area MP I have lobbied for its construction. I approached minister of Finance, I talked to Gen.Salim Saleh and am happy to tell you that our negotiations are postive. The Contract was awarded to the Angola Contractor to work on the roadPayments have already been made to work on the road from Namunkekeera to Kituma. Can you imagine this Kisuule road has been all along on the 2006 presidential pleges and nothing has been done. Together with the district leaders, we have talked to the authorities to see it constructed. In my manifesto, I promised if voted, I will lobby for the construction of this very road. Everything is going on well. By 2021, we will have good results.
NE: And in the Parliament?
LUTTAMAGUZI: You go to the Hansard and The Parliamentary score-card. I saw them recently writing about me as one of the most active MPs in the House. I have been raising matters of National importance like land grabbing. If it wasn’t my voice in Parliament about land grabbing in Nakaseke, am sure 90% of our People would be homeless now. Villages like Balaatira, Senda, Nzingu, Kabogwe, Bendegere, Bamusuuta, Bukusu, Lwetunga, Nambeya, Kimegeredde, Nakaseeta, Ssakabusolo, Kibowa, Butakuli, Nabbiika and many other villages where land grabbers were chasing away our people with the help of army men. I fought and failed them.
NE: Is it because you are too vocal against land grabbing, that the Leader of Oposition appointed you Shadow Cabinet minister in charge of Land?
LUTTAMAGUZI: That is true and I want to thank Rt. Hon Betty Aol. Recently people from Mbarara approached me for help, someone was grabbing their land. Land grabbing is now country wide.
NE: You led Nakaseke People before Justice Catherine Bamugemereire land inquiry.
LUTTAMAGUZI: Yes and I want to thank Justice Bamugemereire for her efforts towards saving Nakaseke people from land grabbers. She has been to many villages like Kyererezi, Lwanda and Kasiga in Kapeeka Subcounty. A certain highly connected lady called Doreen Toberonda chased away people and many were killed. All that has been put to a stop.Justice Bamugemereire was even in Ngoma and worked on many land complaints there. I have been applauded for my great achievements in three years as the area MP.
NE: This common talk of mafia in government, are you not worried for your life assuming also there are mafias in land deals and you are now becoming a thorn in their fresh?
LUTTAMAGUZI: A leader must be strategic. If you become fearful, you can’t serve your people. Mafias are everywhere but we have to serve our people.
NE: Have they ever attempted to bribe you out of their way?
LUTTAMAGUZI: Very much and not with small money. Some one was offering me more than UGX 600M. His problem wasn’t money, but land. He only wanted me not to defend my people. I rejected the offer. Now what these land dealers have embarked on, is to fight me out of Parliament and are vowing to front candidates against me come 2021. Let them come, they will be humiliated. They have attempted to poison me, staged accidents, etc. Never at single time will I betray my people.
NE: Apart from land, how else have the people benefited from you?
LUTAMAGUZI: From my salary, i am giving back to my voters. I bought three cars: A truck, a bus and a lorry. If you have any function, you just buy fuel, you leave other costs to me. No other MP in Nakaseke has ever bought even a wheel barrow for voters. I have lobbied and many villages have got electricity through rural electrification Agency program. Go to vllages like Nakatandaggira, Lule in Sembwa, Mulungi omu, Toggo, Seeta, and others. True the program is countrywide but it takes an active MP to tap such programs for his or her people. I have friends from Turkey, they gave me an offer of five Mosques. We are launching them very soon like one at Kakonde and Nakawa.I have built many bore holes in different villages like Nakatandaggira and Kalege town.Am now rehabilitating Kapeeka hospital using my salary and my savings. The hospital had no electricity, I paid and reconnected, the hospital beds were very old and others broken, I have repaired all of them, bought sixty new mattresses and repaired the Xray machine for Nakaseke hospital.In Semuto Healthy centre IV i bought for them new mattresses and repaired their toilets. Am planning to work on staff houses.I recently asked Speaker of Parliament to cut my salary and reconnect Nakaseke Hospital to the National water grid.Q hospital like this needs running water to operate.I pay school fees for many helpless children, have bought sewing machines for different women groups in Ssemuto, Kapeeka, Kaasangombe, etc.I have built churches and used my money to work on all feeder roads.Towns like Kigegge, Kaasangombe and others, have been approved to be connected to National Water.
NE: Did you get government clearance to do this?
LUTTAMAGUZI: When you are a leader, you become part of Government. As an MP, I fall in the Legislature arm of Government. The remaining two are Executive and Judiciary. I don’t need to wait to be in a biger office to serve my people.
NE: On a certain radio, I heard you talking about Chief justice Bart Katureebe land in Nakaseke.
LUTTAMAGUZI: Yes, I saved it. A group of men came with huge sums of money to grab it but I stood my ground and blocked them.This land is at Natiji and has a farm on it. It is a big chunk of land and he has been owning it for so many years. You are a journalist, go ask him who saved his land. He will tell you, Luttamaguzi.
NE: Hon, how have you helped farmers?
LUTTAMAGUZI: I have been giving out seeds, hundreds of spray pumps, launched a campaign for all people to work in their gardens and am known for this.
NE: How have you found this parliament?
LUTTUTTAMAGUZI: It is a place where you meet differet groups of MPs. Some are extravagant ever on flights to enjoy life, some are dealers and some of these conned me of my first salary of UGX 20M. Some love rumourmongering and blackmail. There is a lady MP who sent me to abuse a certain big person and when I refused. I told her me am not hired to abuse people.She turned against me and told a group of MPS that I was demanding for sex from her. However, there are also good MPS who are pro people.
NE: Do you have friends at Parliament?
LUTTAMAGUZI: Friends for what? Did I go to Parliament to make friends? Me am self made. I don’t want friends. They are just colleagues. I don’t have a boss at Parliament be it opposition chief whip apart from the Speaker who heads the house. No body else can direct me. Voters are my bosses. They can only advise but not direct me.
NE: How do you rate the level of debate in Parliament?
LUTTAMAGUZI: Every MP was sent for different reasons. Some were elected because they buy waragi for their people, others because they attend burials, others were sent so that they also eat, while others because they are good lobbysits and can articulate issues. It is the Speaker to determine who is a good debater, who debates sense. That is not my work.We are all equal. The only MP I don’t want is that one who concorts words against me because i refused to dance to his or her tunes. Me am incorruptible. There are so many deals at Parliament and involving both NRMs and opposition. You can’t find Luttamaguzi in such circus.
NE: What do you learn from all this?
LUTTAMAGUZI: Life is a lesson.Not every one crying is in pain. Some are just mocking and hoodwinking public. Politics is like a film with many actors.This film has stages. Some play as opposition yet they are indeed NRMs and vice versa.
NE: What did you remember about the constitutional ammendment moment to lift presidential age limit? Anything you will never forget about that incident?
LUTTAMAGUZI: There was too much tension a Parliament. I learnt that every government has goals and objectives and will do all it takes to fulfil them.I also learnt that some of our People are not trustworthy. He or she tells you, ‘We wont touch it’ yet in doors, money is exchanging hands. Many duped voters, made them to think they are with them. This was a testing time of character. In opposition, many got huge sums of money to weaken those who were against amending the constitution. These have abnormal wealth. But you find our people chanting their names ignorantly. Many people in opposition are dealers, in bed with government.
NE: Where do you fall?
LUTTAMAGUZI: Me am self made. You can’t use me. I speak my mind. Many in opposition perfect their games and at the same time perfect their wealth increment. I can’t play such politics. You tell your supporters to stay in their homes not to work yet for you are filthy rich!
NE: You have a year to end your term. How are you looking at it?
LUTTAMAGUZI: I will continue serving my people. Some voters think you can satisfy them within a shorter period of time. That is impossible. Even Jesus the son of God didn’t do everything. Others will get annoyed but I always tell them to go and get help from other leaders.
NE: A part from being an MP, what else do you?
LUTTAMAGUZI: Am a farmer. If am not in Parliament, find me in my garden. I have very big banana and coffee plantations. Leaders should be exemplary. We must pratice what we preach.
NE: Tell us about your relationship with the Speaker.
LUTTAMAGUZI: Very healthy and for your information, Rt. Hon. Kadaga is my voter. I call her my Speaker, she calls me ‘my MP. Speaker has a farm in Kapeeka for so many years now. A very hardworking, straight and selfless leader. Before I became MP, Madam Kadaga recommended me for a USAID job. I respect her so much. She gives me time in Parliament to front Nakaseke issues and on day one, she called me by name. She advises me so much.
NE: Do you buy the DP BLOC approach of one to one in 2021?
LUTTAMAGUZI: Yes I do although sometimes I don’t attend their meetings where many members are President Museveni agents.
NE: Will you support Bobi Wine for president in 2021?
LUTTAMAGUZI: He is my candidate.
NE: President Museveni says by 2021, there will be no opposition. Looking at the on going bickering in opposition, dont you think he will achieve it?
LUTTAMAGUZI: May be there will be no opposition members he deals with. Ofcourse those he is silencing not to side with Hon. Kyagulanyi, they will be no more. Already many are mute. You can’t see them on radio and tv shows. They are instead hired to fight Bobi Wine.
Luttamaguzi donating 100 spray pumps to farmers in his constituency as way of empowering themHis Majesty the Kabaka of Buganda Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II greeting Hon. Luttamaguzi at Namboole. He thanked him for financially supporting Bulemeezi County which lifted 2019 Masaza cup TrophieAward as a member of Parliament who excelled in National Intergrity and service deliveryDonating sewing machines to a group of Youth trained in vocational schools in Semuto, Nakaseke SouthGARDEN MAN: At camp Lutamaguzi in Kasangombe
