Inside NRM, FDC camps as Rukungiri campaigns heat up

Rukungiri- A week to the Rukungiri Woman MP by-election, both FDC and NRM big shots have pitched camp in the district in a last-minute push for votes.

Maj Gen (Rtd) Mugisha Muntu, the former FDC president, who threatened to quit the party after losing the presidency to Mr Patrick Amuriat in January, is now campaigning for the party flag bearer, Ms Betty Muzanira, alongside secretary for mobilisation Ingrid Turinawe and Rukungiri Municipality MP Roland Kaginda, who plotted his defeat.

“In FDC, we have conflicts based on principle, we have a mechanism to resolve every conflict and I want to tell you that there is no conflict (among us) and we are determined to win this by-election,” says Mr Kaginda.

Other FDC members on the team traversing villages in the district are Mr Martin Byomuhangi, the former contestant for the district chairperson seat, Mr Aloysious Byamukama, the political assistant to Mr Fred Turyamuhweza, the Rujumbura County MP, and Mr Arthur Turyijuka the party's senior mobilizer in western region.

Power Ten (P10) groups, formed to protect FDC votes at polling stations during the 2016 presidential election, have been revived. Ms Muzanira and her team move in about three vehicles accompanied by volunteer motorcyclists. They campaign in one sub-county every day.

Ms Muzanira is showered with gifts, including money by supporters.
“There is a lot of money in the NRM camp but for us, we are surviving by the grace of God. Our supporters are feeding us and giving us fuel; we wake up in the morning and look at each other’s faces but before we leave, someone will have given us money for a day, and where we go we find people ready to feed us, this is God’s glory. The party, too, gives us some money,” says Ms Muzanira.

Dr Besigye, who graced Ms Muzanira’s nomination on May 2, will join the campaign team tomorrow while the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Ms Winnie Kizza, and other opposition leaders will arrive at the weekend, according to Mr Kaginda.

In the NRM camp, President Museveni, who donated about Shs5 billion in cash and items to more than 100 groups across the district on April 15, is expected to campaign for the party flag bearer, Ms Winfred Masiko, on May 28 ahead of the May 31 polling day.

However, there are contradictions in the NRM camp, according to the former Security minister, Lt Gen Henry Tumukunde.
Four of the six candidates in the race subscribe to NRM (one official candidate and three independents). Gen Tumukunde, who hails from Buyanja Sub-county, says indiscipline, poor planning and greed among the party leaders may cost NRM victory.

“When a party has a tightly contested election and in an area like Rukungiri, you should have every party member committed to winning it and, therefore, independents should not be a question,” Gen Tumukunde says.

NRM camp
He says having four NRM candidates in an election shows indiscipline. He is dissuading some to pull out. Indeed Ms Elizabeth Rwakitonera (Independent), who he met on Saturday, announced on Tuesday that she had pulled out of the race.
However, the district party chairman, Maj Gen (rtd) Jim Muhwezi, says divisions in the party are a thing of the past.

“We had serious divisions that developed during party primaries but we sat down as a party and resolved them. Our focus is now on winning this election and I am sure we are winning,” says Gen Muhwezi.

Ms Peace Rugambwa of Boona Bagaigahare Nyekundaire Group and Gen Tumukunde are conducting parallel mobilisation for the party candidate. Ms Masiko has been moving with Gen Muhwezi, campaigning in one sub-county per day.

Their rallies have been graced by State minister for Housing Chris Baryomunsi, State minister for Planning David Bahati, Ntungamo Woman MP Beatrice Rwakimari and Kisoro Woman MP Rose Kabagyenyi. Former Makerere University Chancellor Mondo Kagonyera, and former Health minister Alex Kamugisha are also campaigning for Ms Masiko.