Tight security in Ssembabule as gunshots rock Butebo

Some residents of Buyanja County in Kibaale accuse the registrar of taking sides by not stopping Mr Kasaija from handing over the money.
However, Mr Kasaija said: “This does not flout any guidelines of the NRM because the money had been pledged by my friend and I was only delivering the pledge.”
In various places in the western region, joint campaigns have flopped due to various reasons.

In Kibaale, the campaigns failed to take off after the incumbent district chairman, Mr George Namyaka, failed to show up on the first day of campaigns on Saturday.

The other candidates who had started joint campaigns have also had disagreements and have abandoned them. The Woman MP aspirants, Ms Juliet Kabonesa and Ms Robinah Nabanjja, failed to agree on the first day and have since decided to hold separate rallies.

Joint campaigns flop
The same scenario prevails in Kabarole where rallies for Woman MP and the Fort Portal Municipality seats were held separately after hostilities among the supporters forced the NRM registrar to separate the candidates.

Other candidates in Kibaale have disagreed over their campaign schedules. Mr Edward Muhimbo, a contestant for Bugangaizi West MP seat, claimed that there are irregularities in the electoral process ahead of the August 30 primaries.
“The registers are being stuffed with ghost voters. This is an irregularity that may lead us to having unfair polls,” Mr Muhimbo said.

“The office (NRM Registrar) is favouring incumbents which is unfair and requires redress,” the candidates unanimously resolved.

Kasese; cocktail of issues
In Kasese District, land, culture and market issues have characterised the campaigns.
In 2007 there were clashes between the pastoralists (the Basongora) and the cultivators in most of the areas neighbouring the Queen Elizabeth National Park where 13 people died. This issue is resurfacing in the campaigns.
The incumbent district chairman, the Rev. Can. Julius Kithaghenda, who is seeking re-election, is fronting the issue of the cultural institution, Obusinga bwa Rwenzururu.

The Rev. Can. Kithaghenda said: “When we came to the office, the district was divided between the pro and anti-Obusinga but we have brought them together and the cultural institution was recognised by the President”.

Border trade with DRC is a big issue in Kasese District and one of the LCV chairman aspirants, Lt.Col. Mawa Muhindo, has promised that he will use his powers as a district chairman, if elected, to stop the Uganda Revenue Authority personnel from impounding traders’ merchandise along the highways.

“I will ask them to leave this district a trade free area so that our people can earn income from their labour. I will say mtoke hapa msitusumbuwe (meaning leave us free, go away).”

Reported by Isa Aliga, Mudangha Kolyanga, Felix Basiime, Joseph Mugisa, Ronald Tumusiime, Thembo Kahungu Misairi & Francis Mugerwa