Do-or-die fights expected among NRM leaders

As NRM holds its primaries ahead of the 2016 polls, old rivalries will be renewed while new ones will be created.

The contest will most likely breed independents and depending on how it is handled, the number could even be bigger than the heavily discredited 2010 NRM polls.

The 2010 polls were a subject of an inquiry headed by Wakiso Woman MP Rosemary Seninde.

Already, heads have started to roll, for example in Kayunga District where three senior NRM party members, including junior Lands minister Idah Nantaba have decided to run as independents.

The others are Mr Moses Ndugga and Ms Rosemary Nakalawa, who were aspiring for the Kayunga District LC5 seat and Mr Amos Lugoloobi, who is aspiring to retain the Ntenjeru North MP seat. The quartet opposes the manner in which the NRM polls in Kayunga were handled.

After being defeated by businessman Moses Karangwa in the race for district NRM chairperson, Ms Nantaba said she would not take part any further in the NRM primaries but would stand as an independent candidate.

In Budaka District, Sarah Kataike, the minister of State for Luweero Triangle and the Budaka Woman MP, had to be rescued by police from a mob that wanted to lynch her after the district elections in which she lost.

Like the 2010 NRM polls which had a number of hot spots, such as Rujumbura County where Information minister Jim Muhwezi tussled it out with former minister Alex Kamugisha, the 2015 primaries promise another tough contest even as NRM has tried to mitigate them through a number of changes in its rules and secretariat personnel. We take a look at the hot spots;

Mawokota North
The Mawokota North NRM flag bearer post has already sent ripples within the party circles even before the primaries are held.

It started with Mr Tanga Odoi, the chairman of the NRM electoral commission, accusing Ms Amelia Kyambadde, the former NRM national treasurer, of influence peddling and using her position to promote illegalities through intimidation of her opponents.

But Ms Kyambadde, now minister of Trade and Industry, shot back, accusing Mr Odoi of destroying NRM from within and fuelling intrigue in the ruling party.
Ms Kyambadde was said to have attempted to block Ms Grace Kansiime Mwesigwa, her rival candidate for the Mawokota North NRM flag bearer position, from picking nomination forms.

Ms Kansiime accuses Ms Kyambadde of, among other things, failing to fulfil her promises to the electorate.

Ms Kyambadde, however, boasts of what she calls her visible contribution to the constituency.

To clinch the seat, Ms Kyambadde defeated Mr Peter Claver Mutuluza who has since not been so active on the political scene.

Kamuli District Woman MP
Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga has not had it easy given that within her ruling party, she has had formidable competition in Ms Deborah Mwesigwa Mugerwa, a former senior enforcement supervisor at the Uganda Revenue Authority.

Ms Mugerwa wants to end Kadaga’s parliamentary reign which dates back as far as 1989.

While she recently lost the post of vice-chairperson of NRM Women’s League for Nawansaso parish in Kitayunjwa Sub-county, Kamuli, to Irene Kyavula, Ms Mwesigwa seems undeterred in her pursuit of the district woman MP seat.

Attempts by some people in Kamuli to bring Ms Kadaga as a sole candidate ended in futility despite getting support from people like Ms Salaamu Musumba, the Forum for Democratic Change vice chairperson eastern region. Ms Musumba joined NRM youth in backing Ms Kadaga, saying the Speaker is the “gem of the region”.

Ms Mugerwa argues that her opponent has outlived the good will of the people of district and that the Speaker is too busy and has no time to deliver programmes to Kamuli people.

Mugerwa argues that the Speaker, who has been in Parliament since 1989, needs to go for other constituencies since she has been on affirmative action for long.

Ms Kadaga on the other hand argues that her opponent is sponsored by powerful forces within the NRM party structures. She, for example, alleged in a recording that Ms Mwesigwa has been planted by former prime minister Amama Mbabazi.

Mityana District Woman MP
The NRM flag bearer contest for Mityana District Woman MP threatens to be as interesting and challenging when the incumbent Sylvia Ssinabulya Namabidde, takes on former police spokesperson Judith Nabakooba.

Namabidde will be looking to capitalise on her experience in the House while the youthful Nabakooba has presented herself as a candidate with new ideas.

Who clinches the vote will also be critical given that NRM enjoys support in the rural district judging by the previous polls.

Busiro South
The entrance of former Kampala mayoral contestant has raised stakes on the DP dominated Busiro South constituency, and those who have always challenged the status quo will give Peter Sematimba a run for his money.

The businessman who owns a radio station is said to have pitched camp in the constituency and has been canvassing for votes to push him to the House.

Seen as an outsider, Sematimba, who has been engaged in Kampala politics where he was Rubaga Division mayor before trying the Lord Mayor post, will face off with Steven Danstan Busuulwa, a radio presenter.

Others are Mr Haruna Jjumba and Mr Allan Muyinda who have previously contested in the area.

While Sematimba seems to have more resources than his counterparts in the NRM race, another hurdle stands in the way of the self-proclaimed pastor: His religion.

Catholics seem to have a much bigger say on who represents that constituency and the NRM voters might not be any different.

Kassanda South
ICT junior minister George William Nyombi Thembo has been representing Kassanda since 2001 and he is not about to give up the constituency.

But he faces a serious challenger in former Kampala police spokesperson Simeo Nsubuga.

Mr Nsubuga, who quit a UN job in South Sudan to return to Uganda and prepare ground for his candidature, believes he is the man for the job.

Mr Nyombi has previously accused Mr Nsubuga of dressing his ambitions in what he calls “lies, treachery, tribalism and cheap populist loud mouthing”.

But the determined Nsubuga is undeterred in his quest to dislodge him and the tough contest as the NRM polls looms to separate the two.

Another contestant in Herbert Tumusiime will be looking to capitalise from the duo’s rivalry.

Entebbe Municipality
NRM lost its grip on Entebbe Municipality in 2006 and has since been working hard to gain control of the municipality.

An opportunity presents itself with the absence of an incumbent in the area after area MP Mohammed Kawuma completes his promised two terms.

The NRM primaries have drawn about seven candidates who want to have the ruling party’s flag to compete against the DP candidate(s).

These include Ms Patience Mubangizi, a presidential adviser on environmental matters, Maj (Rtd) Julius Rubamhibya, former Rwampara MP Amon Muzoora Reeves and former Nkumba University guild president Madina Zalwango.

Others include Charles Kirumira, a former flight engineer, Peace Salamuka, Rose Tumusiime, an LC IV councillor, Fabrice Rulinda, a businessman, and musician Wakaima Lwanga Musisi.

Already the battle for the flag has seen Mr Rulinda pull out of the race despite paying the hefty nomination fees.

He quit after levelling accusations of rigging at Ms Mubangizi who was NRM flag bearer in 2011. Rulinda accuses Mubangizi of secretly registering members and issuing yellow cards, contrary to the party constitution.

Mr Rulinda plans to run as an independent, which if he pursues to the end will hurt the NRM hopes to clinch the seat.

In the run up to the 2011 polls, NRM conducted its primaries which Ms Mubangizi won, but those she contested with challenged her victory citing irregularities in the exercise.

Mr Muzoora, Mr Kirumira, Ms Sumaya Nakanwagi and Mr Christopher Ssebuliba, who Ms Mubangizi had contested with in the primaries, challenged her election in court, but their petition was dismissed.

They then contested as independents but put up dismal performance. How this particular one will turn out is a matter to watch.

Kyadondo East
The NRM flag for Kyadondo East will be a close call between former area MP Ssitenda Ssebalu and Stella Njuba, a daughter to the late Sam Njuba, a former area MP and Opposition FDC chair.

Mr Ssebalu has in the past had it easy to clinch the NRM flag only to lose to his new competitor’s late father and his political successor in the general election. But Ms Njuba seems to have brought the battle home to him.

Lwemiyaga county

The late entry of the incumbent Theodore Ssekikubo in the Lwemiyaga County NRM polls has added steam to the exercise which has previously been stiffly competed for.

The contest has already started, for example Mr Ssekikubo recently petitioned the NRM electoral commission over what he called massive electoral malpractices witnessed in the party’s parish and sub-county elections.

Mr Ssekikubo, who said he was one of the people denied a chance to vote, pointed out massive rigging and deletion of voters’ names from the registers, among other things, before asking the NRM EC to nullify the results of these elections and to hold fresh ones. He even demanded the arrest of the NRM registrar.

In 2010, NRM elections in the area were marred by violent clashes among NRM supporters. On one side was Mr Ssekikubo and on the other Sam Kutesa, the Foreign Affairs minister.
The clashes left two people, including a detective with the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence, shot and several others wounded.

Mr Ssekikubo, who recently normalised relations with the leadership of NRM, faces competition from four people, including Patrick Nkalubo, Deo Musoke, David Patrick Sabiiti and Andrew Nankunda.

In Sembabule District, clinching the NRM ticket gives any contender more than 90 per cent chance of being elected in the national polls, and so the party ticket is viciously fought for.

Since 2006, the contest for the flag has been a do-or-die between the incumbent, Ms Anifa Bangirana Kawooya [pictured], and Ms Joy Kafula Kabatsi and this is not about to change, judging at least by the events preceding the poll.

Ms Kabatsi, the former head of legal department at State House, opened the lid by petitioning the NRM electoral commission, seeking a cancellation of the nomination of Ms Kawooya over alleged lack of academic qualifications.

In her letter to NRM electoral commission chairperson Tanga Odoi, Ms Kabatsi claimed Ms Kawooya obtained a “U” grade at O-Level and she did not qualify to get the East African Certificate of Education as she claims. While the National Council for Higher Education cleared Ms Kawooya, it looks like it won’t be over until it is over.

It is not clear how the matter will be resolved this time when the two face off with three others, including Doreen Kagabi, Diana Nuwenyine and Scovia Tumushabe.