Inside FDC, NRM battle for Sheema Municipality seat

Supporters welcome the FDC candidate in the Sheema Municipality election, Ms Virginia Plan Mugyenyi, at Kabwohe Playgrounds on Sunday. PHOTO BY FELIX AINEBYOONA

SHEEMA-As opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) relishes the victory secured last month in the Rukungiri Woman MP by-election, the party leaders have also set eyes on winning the newly created municipalities of Ibanda, Bugiri, Nebbi, Apac, Kotido and Sheema.

Reeling from the defeat in Rukungiri, the ruling NRM party too is determined not to lose any of the six MP seats. Voting will take place on July 19. Though there are five candidates on Independent ticket in Sheema Municipality MP race, FDC’s Virginia Plan Mugyenyi and NRM’s Elioda Tumwesigye appear to be of more interest to voters.

Dr Tumwesigye, who is Sheema North MP and Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, beat seven people to the NRM flag on June 7.
Ms Mugyenyi is wife to Dr Ponsiano Mugyenyi, who has contested six consecutive times since 2005, losing to Lt Col (Rtd) Bright Rwamirama in the race for Isingiro North MP seat.

The Independents are Dr Meshach Katusiime, Mr Ambrose Mwesigye, Mr Jonas Tumwine, Mr Raymond Akankwasa and Mr Ben Ruyombya. Nominations were held on June 8.

Top FDC leaders have already hit the ground to campaign for Ms Mugyenyi. At Kabwohe Playgrounds last Sunday, they drew a mammoth crowd and urged the voters to back Ms Mugyenyi as a demonstration that they want change from NRM leadership they have time and again accused of failing to alleviate social economic problems of the citizenly over the years.

FDC party president Patrick Amuriat Oboi said under NRM stewardship, social services have collapsed and that electing the ruling party candidate cannot be a solution.

“We have poor social services in all regions, including Ankole. We have some of the worst roads in Sheema District; I have seen all of them. The education system in the country died longtime ago, so you people of Sheema are supposed to show Museveni that in the last 32 years, he has not improved your livelihood and poverty has eaten the whole country, including Ankole. The health system has crumbled, and you are the people to save the country,” said Eng Amuriat.

The FDC vice chairperson for eastern region, Ms Salaam Musumba, vice chairperson western region Roland Kaginda, party secretary general Nathan Nandala Mafabi, secretary for mobilisation Ingrid Turinawe and Buhweju MP Francis Mwijukye were other party stalwarts that campaigned for Ms Mugyenyi. Former presidential candidate Kizza Besigye, Eng Amuriat said, was in UK on official party duties.

The NRM camp in the district is divided largely because of candidature of Dr Tumwesigye, who is also the district party chairman. Though in contesting for another MP seat, Dr Tumwesigye has not contravened any law, some have described him as ‘selfish’ and say it is ‘morally wrong.’
Mr Akankwatsa and Mr Tumwine, who contested against Dr Tumwesigye in the NRM primaries, have not heeded the call to back the party candidate and are running as Independents.
The district party vice chairman, Eng Yorokam Katwiremu, on Tuesday said they are still trying to resolve the internal contradictions.

“NRM fronting a seating MP for the same position is a bit of a challenge to us but there is no law that stops him from contesting…. It is true some people may be disappointed by the minister standing but we want to appeal to the people of Sheema to put that aside and we support our party,’’ Eng Katwiremu said.

He added: “We are still engaging them (Independents) because being nominated does not mean that they will run until the end. You know we are a week just after the elections and healing is a process. Healing of minds and hearts takes a matter of time, so we shall do our best to reconcile.”

Eng Katwiremu said they expect to win the seat because Sheema has been NRM stronghold.
The district returning officer, Ms Deborah Asiimwe, said candidates are supposed to present their manifestos to the voters, avoid sectarian campaigns and not campaign beyond 6pm.