Tight security in Ssembabule as gunshots rock Butebo

Anti-riot police have deployed in Ssembabule as the district threatens to become the most violent in the ongoing National Resistance Movement (NRM) primary campaigns.

Daily Monitor reporters say there is increased deployment of police following a series of clashes mainly involving Lwemiyaga MP Theodore Ssekikubo. Mr Ssekikubo has clashed at least twice with police and accuses sections of the security service of working with his main political rival in the district, Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Kutesa.

Rumble in Ssembabule
The first clash was on August 2 when a bodyguard to Mr Ssekikubo allegedly shot at Mr Habib Nsamba, said to be an intelligence officer. There have been repeated violent clashes since.

The southern regional police commander, Mr Fred Sekiwere, said police are closely watching the events to avoid clashes among the NRM candidates.

“I have also instructed all the officers in charge of police posts in Ssembabule to be on the look-out and ensure peaceful campaigns ahead of the NRM primary elections slated for August 30,’’ Mr Sekiwere said. At every campaign rally, at least 20 police officers are supposed to guard a candidate.

In Pallisa District, police fired in the air after supporters of Butebo MP and Health Minister Stephen Mallinga and those of his main rival, Mr Richard Oseku, clashed at Kakoro Sub-country headquarters.

Clashes in Pallisa
Whereas the two candidates were meant to hold joint meetings, the rally turned chaotic after supporters of Mr Oseku tried to shout down Mr Mallinga when it was time for him to address the rally.

“We are tired of Mallinga. He should not even talk to us. Let him go away. We don’t want to see him here. What is he talking about? Mr Mallinga should also leave politics for the young generation to take political positions,” Mr Moses Okiria, a supporter of Mr Oseku, shouted.

Supporters of Mr Mallinga unhappy with the attack on their leader, created a fracas that was only quelled after police fired in the air.

Kabarole;Sub-county quest
In Kabarole District debate shifted to issues of creation of more administrative units with residents telling incumbent Woman MP Margaret Muhanga that only the creation of more sub-counties and parishes would ensure they benefit from the government and get better social services.

The issue of creating more administrative units started with districts but has now trickled down to parishes, town councils and sub-counties. Kabarole chairman Michael Mugisa was told by residents of Kigoro Parish in Hakibaale Sub-county that they want a parish.

“I have no problem with the creation of more administrative units provided you demand for them and they are viable,” Mr Mugisa said on August 20.

Isoke abandons rallies
In Kibaale District, a candidate aspiring for the Buyanja County parliamentary seat, Mr Baguma Isoke, has abandoned joint campaigns over allegations of campaign irregularities.

Trouble started when the area MP Matia Kasaija, who is also the Internal Affairs state minister, handed over Shs500,000 to Kezimbira Catholic Church in Mugarama Sub-county as a fulfilment of a pledge that was made by his close ally, Ms Emily Kugonza.

“I cannot continue with the joint campaigns because it is fraught with irregularities of bribery which is contrary to the NRM election guidelines,” Mr Baguma said.

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