Aspirants in new districts run final campaign lap

Voters in the four newly created districts will on August 29 head to the polls to elect their women representatives in Parliament and district chairpersons, about six months after the general election.
The districts where elections will take place include Omoro, which was carved out of Gulu District, Kagadi and Kakumiro carved out of Kibaale District and Rubanda carved out of Kabale District. The districts became operational on July 1.

Other districts to be operational by July 1, 2017, are: Namisindwa; Pakwach; Butebo; Rukiga; Kyotera and Bunyangabu. The districts for July 1, 2018, include Nabilatuk; Bugweri; Kasanda; Kwania; Kapelebyong; Kikuube and the districts for July 1, 2019, are Obongi, Kazo, Rwampara, Kitagwenda, Kalenga, Madi Okollo and Kalaki.

Elected officials (both women representatives and LC5 chairpersons) were given an option to continue representing the parent district or opt for the new district. For those who opted for the new districts, elections will be held in the parent district such as Kibaale.
Electoral Commission has earmarked about Shs1.7 billion for the elections in the four districts.

Mr Paul Bukenya, the Electoral Commission deputy spokesperson, in an interview said the commission is prepared to hold the polls. He said all the materials needed for the polling day are ready and will be delivered prior to voting day.

The current campaign exercise which will culminate in a vote on August 29 has largely been shadowed by other events despite the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) and leading Opposition parties fronting candidates.

Numbers matter and those involved are looking to boost their influence both in the House and in the now 116 districts across the country. For the Opposition parties whose activities are often constrained by meagre resources, the numbers in Parliament are also crucial because finances parties get from government are based on their strength in the House.

With more than 280 MPs, NRM enjoys an overwhelming majority in Parliament. Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) currently has 36 MPs, Democratic Party (DP) 14 and Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC) six MPs. The numbers for all are likely to change but not significantly as courts dispose of petitions. More than 118 parliamentary election petitions were filed in different courts across the country. More than 40 have been disposed of so far.

Campaigns
In his capacity as NRM chairperson, President Museveni joined the campaign trail this week starting with Omoro District to support the NRM candidates. Ms Catherine Lamwaka, the NRM candidate, is tussling it out with Ms Prossy Alanyo (FDC), Ms Grace Pamela Lanyero (DP) and Marie Lapolo Shaka (UPC).

In the race is a bevy of Independents, including Ms Betty Lalam, Ms Santa Okot, Ms Christine Atimango, Ms Rose Nyapolo, Ms Alice Aneno Oroma and Ms Alice Latigo Akello.

Opposition leader Kizza Besigye and senior FDC leaders, including the party secretary general Nathan Nandala Mafabi, FDC deputy president for western region Patrick Baguma and party secretary for mobilisation Ingrid Turinawe camped for more than two days from August 14 in the districts of Kibaale and Kagadi canvassing support for the FDC candidates.

Ms Turinawe is optimistic that FDC will win in all the areas where the party has fronted candidates.

“Our candidates are doing well and the people on ground have shunned NRM. NRM is ready to rig but they are not ready to win. They have the resources and capacity to buy off voters,” she says.

She claims the ruling party is involved in “intimidation and bribery” of voters, a concern echoed by DP vice president Fred Mukasa Mbidde this week. Mr Mbidde particularly accused a police commander in Gulu District of harassing their candidate.

However, NRM electoral commission chairperson Tanga Odoi says their party has a better game plan.

“We are better organised and we shall win in all those constituents. The only doubt we have is the percentage because there are some independents who were NRM now running,” Dr Tanga says.

Weak Opposition
The Opposition has in the past put up a strong force against the ruling NRM when they presented a joint candidate in bye-elections. This can be seen in the 2014 Amuru District Woman MP by-election when the Opposition rallied behind FDC’s Lucy Akello who beat NRM’s Jane Frances Amongin Okili.

Also during the Luweero District Woman MP by-election in 2014, a joint Opposition fielded Brenda Nabukenya of the Democratic Party as their candidate. She won, defeating NRM’s Rebecca Nalwanga.

However, like in the recently concluded general election, NRM has already taken a number of positions in the new districts unopposed because the Opposition parties failed to field a candidate(s).

In Kakumiro District, for instance, NRM has without a fight already clinched the Kakumiro male older persons councillor, the female older persons councillor, the district female youth councillor, the Kakumiro district male PWD councillor, Kakumiro District female PWD councillor and district female older persons councillor.

In Kagadi District, NRM has already taken the posts of male youth councillor, male PWD councillor, female PWD councillor, male older persons councillor and in Rubanda District the female PWD councillor.
To the ruling party’s credit, NRM has fielded candidates in all the positions the Electoral Commission advertised.

The time line
July 22 to August 27: Campaign period
August 21 to 26: Issuance of voter location slips
August24 to 25: Training of polling officials, tally clerks and candidate’s agents
August 26: Polling day for special interest groups
August 29: Polling day for district chairperson and Woman MP

The contenders

OMORO DISTRICT WOMAN MP
Candidates name Party
Alice Akello Latigo Independent
Prossy Alanyo Owiny FDC
Alice Aneno Oroma Independent
Grace Atim Independent
Christine O. Atimango Independent
Betty Lalam Kilama Independent
Catherine Lamwaka NRM
Grace Lanyero Pamella DP
Mariea Shaka Lapolo UPC
Rose Nyapolo Independent
Okot Santa Independent

OMORO DISTRICT CHAIRPERSON
Candidates name Party
Robert Mugabe PPP
Stephen Odong Latek NRM
Peter Douglas Okello Independent
Godfrey Oryem Independent
Simon Akecha Toolit FDC

KAKUMIRO DISTRICT chair
Candidates name Party
Joseph Sentayi Senkusu NRM
Gerald Ssemanda Apuuli Independent

KAGADI DISTRICT WOMAN MP
Candidates name Party
Janepher K. Mbabazi NRM
Margret Naziiwa FDC

KAGADI DISTRICT CHAIRPERSON
Candidates name Party
Peter Byahangirwe FDC
Stephen M. Byaruhanga NRM
Yosia B. Ndibwami Independent

Kibaale District Woman MP
Candidates name Party
Lilian Kabaliisa Independent
Noeline B. Kisembo NRM
Proscovia Kunihira FDC

RUBANDA DISTRICT WOMAN MP
Candidates name Party
Prossy M. Akampulira NRM
Hildah Kabarungi Independent
Vastine Katushabe FDC

RUBANDA DISTRICT CHAIR
Candidates name Party
Stephen K. Ampeire Independent
Nelson Habasa Independent
Keneth B. Jogo NRM
Joseph Ruhangariyo FDC