Youth MP elections leave losers bitter as bullets rock the west

KAMPALA. Youth MP elections closed yesterday with losers seething with bitterness and winners engulfed in uncertainty of another battle in the court rooms lying ahead.
The election of the western Uganda youth MP became the centre of national focus with former Internal Security Organisation chief Lt Gen (Rtd) Henry Tumukunde injured moments after his son Amanya Tumukunde was defeated by junior agriculture minister Lt Col (Rtd) Bright Rwamirama’s son Mwine Mpaka.

As action transpired in Fort portal Town, Gen Tumukunde’s brother Arthur Kiiza paid Daily Monitor an impromptu visit to protest on behalf of Mr Amanya what he called an unfair election. He blamed the tension that built up around the poll on a simmering conflict between police chief, Gen Kale Kayihura and Tumukunde, that reduced the race of three into a contest of military generals and powerful families.

Influence
Mr Kiiza said, “We outrightly reject the results, this was not a free and fair election. The political relationship between Tumukunde and Kale Kayihura has been bad and this is the climax; state organs have been unleashed against our candidate. If the matter is not investigated and resolved peacefully, the chaos will continue. We are studying the evidence and will most likely go to court.”
Voting that started at 4pm on Monday went on up to 12.30am before vote counting and tallying that stretched to 3am amidst heavy security deployment.

Mr Mwine Mpaka (NRM) polled 660 votes against Amanya’s (Independent) 463 while Fortunate Nuwasasira (Independent) polled 10 out of 1,135 valid votes cast. Mr Mpaka was declared winner at 3am by Mr Vally Kanzira, the district returning officer Kabarole.
In central region, Ms Sarah Babirye, a former female youth Councillor in Mukono district (2001 -2006 ), who contested for the central youth MP in 2011 and lost to Mr Patrick Nakabaale, won this time round. The 29-year-old is a graduate of Public Administration from Makerere University and has been a member of the district youth council in Nakaseke District.

Ms Babirye (NRM) was elected to represent the Youths in the 24 districts that make up the central region with 323 votes against Arthur Katongole, an independent candidate who garnered 298 votes. The third candidate in the race Thomas Kayanja only got four votes.
She was announced winner by the regional Electoral Commission officer Nambutu Leticia at 1.30 am in the morning amid tight security from both the Uganda Police Force and the Army.

Petition
However, Mr Katongole, who is the first runner up in the race indicated he is considering going to court to contest the results since the Uganda National Students Association Delegates were denied chance to vote their candidate.
“It is unfortunate that the election was marred with chaos, threatening of my supporters and election malpractice. I am taking into account the fact that almost all the voters were threatened to leave the place while the Uganda National Students Association (UNSA) delegates who were 48 were barred from voting,” Katongole said.

When contacted, Ms Babirye thanked youth who entrusted her with five years of leadership and promised to front their agenda in parliament.
“It is the right time youth need more attention if government is to cater for their increasing demands. My agenda will be society based and will ensure I return to consult from my electorate,” Babirye said.

In the north, Mr Oscar Omony, a son to UPDF chief of logistics and engineering, Brig Charles Otema Awany, won the hotly contested bid to represent the cluster of 30 districts under the northern umbrella including Karamoja, Lango, West Nile and Acholi. A total of 983 youth delegates from 30 districts within northern Uganda participated in the election. Mr Omony garnered 533 votes while his closest rival Mr Abdul got 449 votes and FDC’s Innocent Ayo garnered only one vote.

“I want to assure the youth of northern Uganda that I will fight for projects allocated to the youth for employment opportunities with no laziness. A number of projects such as the youth Livelihood (project) have not benefited youth because the funds are embezzled,” Mr Omony said.
Meanwhile, the EC yesterday confirmed the national youth female MP elections to replace Ms Monicah Amoding, the Kumi woman MP-elect, will take place between March 6 and March 7 in Hoima district.

Four of the current youth MPs, Ms Evelyn Anite (North), Monicah Amoding (national female), Gerald Karuhanga (west), Peter Ogwang (east) are bouncing back except Patrick Nakabale who lost his bid to return to the House.
Youth MPs ordinarily serve one term since the age cap catches up with them leaving competition for the directly elected constituencies the only open window. Ms Anite won the Koboko municipality seat, Mr Karuhanga beat incumbent Yona Musinguzi to scoop the Ntungamo municipality seat while Amoding will represent Kumi women and Ogwang, Usuk county in Katakwi. Nakabale lost the Busiro north seat.

The winners

Mwine Mpaka:
A son to Maj. Rwamirama, Mpaka started school at Kampala Parents School before he went for ‘O’ and ‘A’ Vienna International School. He later joined Nkozi University. He started his political career as a Youth chairman for Masha Sub County in Isingiro, a post he holds up to now. Mwine Mpaka last year also went through the NRM primaries controversially after his closest challenger Davis Akampurira from Kabale, alleged that there was massive rigging.

Oscar Omony:
Omony acquired his primary education at Negri Primary School in Gulu district and Kaboja Junior boarding Primary School before joining St Mary’s College Kisubi for O’level and later Makerere College School where he studied his A’level.

The 30 year old later joined University of Pune in India where he pursued a Bachelor Degree in Commerce (Bcom) from 2005 to 2008. From University of Pune, Mr Omony served as the President of Uganda Student Association at the University.
He also worked as a Revenue officer at Kampala City Council Authority before joining his father’s Hotel Acholi Inn Laoo Ltd where he worked as the Finance Director.

Compiled by: Ivan Okuda, Sadat Mbogo, Yona Ahabwe, Felix Basiime, Scovia Atuhaire and Francis Tusiime, Julius Ocungi

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