Ex-ministers to battle for  West Budama South seat

The race for West Budama South Constituency in Tororo District is set, with two former ministers eyeing the seat to replace the incumbent, Mr Jacob Oboth Oboth, who is seeking election in the newly created West Budama Central.
Mr Emmanuel Otaala, the former minister of State for Primary Healthcare, is running on the National Resistance Movement (NRM) ticket.

He was declared winner in the recently concluded party primaries after he garnered 13,741 votes, trouncing his main rival, Mr Emmanuel Othieno Akika, who got 5,669 votes.

Mr Akika, who formerly served as minister of State for Water and Member of Parliament (MP) of the same constituency from 2001 to 2006, did not concede defeat and is now contesting as an Independent candidate.

Mr Franklin Owori, alias Fireworks, who is the managing director of Customs Engineering Company, is also contesting as an Independent candidate after he lost in the NRM party primaries.

Other aspirants are Ms Damali Nekesa Chombo, who has been serving as the Tororo District deputy speaker; Mr Joseph Katandi, a lecturer of Law at Islamic University in Uganda; Ms Robinnah Athieno Sule, a teacher; Mr Leonard Ofwono, a businessman and Mr  Albert Mathias Oguti, all running as independents.

Mr Otaala, who was defeated by Mr Oboth Oboth in the 2016 General Election, said the voters requested him to recontest and represent them in Parliament. 

“When I was the MP from 2006 to 2011, I accomplished all the pledges I made to the voters. That is the reason why they requested me to re-run,” he said.

He said the support he got in the NRM primaries is a signal that he will emerge winner in the coming General Election.
“We don’t have Opposition. The entire constituency is NRM and I know I will win like I have won in the NRM primaries,” he said.

Mr Otaala said he wants to extend electricity to every household and also lobby Parliament to review the Youth Livelihood Programme for the good of the young people, who now constitute the biggest percentage of the population in the country.

However, Mr Akika said the NRM party primaries that saw Mr Otaala declared winner were marred by violence and voter bribery.

“The results in the NRM party elections were ‘cooked’. The elections were also marred by malpractice, including intimidation of voters,” he said.

On the election day, Mr Otaala was arrested over allegations of bribing voters but he denied the claims, saying he was distributing appointment letters to his polling agents. 

He was later released after recording a statement at Tororo Central Police Station.
Mr Akika, an economist, said if elected, he would continue with his programme of extending piped water to every village.

“I had started that project when I was in Parliament and now if  I am re-elected I will restart it to ensure that our people have access to clean water,” he said.

Mr Akika also intends to lobby for infrastructural development such as roads, hospitals and schools.
“Some of our government-aided schools need renovation so that our children can get better education,” he said.
The constituency has a voter population of about 30,000 and it is dominated by the Jopadhola community. It was created out of West Budama County.

Other candidates speak out
Mr Owori, one of the aspirants, reiterates that the two former ministers should give way for youthful leaders.
 “As young people, we want to get rid of power brokers, who think that without them, nobody can lead the constituency.  This practice has stifled service delivery,” he said.

Mr Owori said his decision to join the race has been influenced by his desire to empower youth, and women and other residents through providing educational opportunities.

“The elders in the constituency have blessed my candidature because they want change in the leadership,” he said.
Ms Chombo, who served as female councillor representing Rubongi Sub-county and deputy speaker, said she would create employment opportunities for the youth and women.

“I’m going to lobby and support income generating projects because my people, mostly women, are living in poverty,” she said.

 Mr Katandi pledged to use his networking abilities to lobby and open up developmental opportunities.
“I understand the challenges facing our people and I have the potential to find solutions to their problems if elected,” he said.
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