New faces, old guard battle for NRM flag in Kampala divisions

As the country goes to polls today to elect district LC5 chairpersons  and LC5 councillors and Kampala Lord Mayor in the NRM primaries, candidates for the Kampala city divisions are racing against time to win the hearts of voters. The NRM primaries for all the five Kampala city divisions will be held on Monday.
Across the country, many new faces have come up to battle it out with the old guard.
In Kampala City, the battle is in all the five divisions and on the Lord Mayor position. The divisions are Central, Rubaga, Makindye, Kawempe and Nakawa.

The successful candidates will then face off with candidates from other political parties in the 2021 General Election.
Kampala has been an Opposition stronghold for a long time. For instance in the last General Election (2016), both the positions of the Lord Mayor and all the five divisions were won by Opposition candidates.
But the NRM director for communication and media, Mr Emmanuel Dombo, says the political trend in the city has changed.

“First of all we have since debunked lies peddled by the Opposition that there are no services in Kampala. Government has significantly improved infrastructure, created working spaces and economically empowered the youth and women. We are confident that the successful flag bearers will explain these achievements to Kampala voters to enable the party win the city’s political slots,” he says.

Race for Lord Mayor
For Kampala Lord Mayor, two contestants are seeking the NRM flag to represent the party in the 2021 General Election.
They are Mr Daniel Kazibwe, alias Ragga Dee, and Mr Ssebaana Kizito, a relative of deceased former Kampala lord mayor Ssebaana Kizito. In 2015, Mr Kazibwe was elected Lord Mayor during the NRM primaries but lost to Mr Erias Lukwago of the Opposition during the 2016 General Election.

However, Mr Kazibwe says a lot has since changed in the past four years, saying he has been on ground empowering women and youth through entrepreneurial projects.
“Since 2017, I have been helping out the youth and women in the city through the Operation Wealth Creation programme and I can confidently say majority have benefited,” he says.

Mr Ssebaana says he represents the voice of the youth, who are the majority, and believes he will win the race.
“I would like to show the party that the youth too are competent to hold big party positions and I am sure I will win this mayoral race because I have a message of peace, unity and economic empowerment, which resonate well with most of the voters in Kampala,” he says.

Kampala Central
In Kampala Central Division, the battle for the party flag is between the area NRM chairperson, Mr Salim Uhuru, and Mr Patrick Mugisa.
Mr Uhuru, who recently lost the bid to represent Kampala region in the NRM’s Central Executive Committee (CEC), has been pursuing the dream to become Kampala Central Division mayor for a long time.
He was a councillor representing Kisenyi I Parish in Kampala Central Division council for two terms. In 2015, he lost to Mr Muhammad Nsegumire during the primaries for the NRM flag in the division’s mayoral race.

Mr Uhuru couldn’t be reached for a comment yesterday. But Mr Mugisa told Daily Monitor that he is prepared or the big battle in the NRM primaries.
“This position [of Kampala Central Mayor] is not a job, that’s what most leaders forget. It is a chance to offer a service to the people,” he said.

Nakawa Division
The Nakawa Division mayoral contest has attracted at least four candidates competing for the NRM party flag.
These are Mr Bruhan Mugisha Byaruhanga, the current deputy speaker at KCCA and also a councillor representing Kyambogo University; and Mr Moses Mubiru, a councillor representing Mbuya II Parish who also is the Nakawa Division speaker. Others are Mr Adam Kibuka and Mr James Buteera Kayonga.

Mr Byaruhanga says his focus is on education, healthcare and garbage collection in the division, which need urgent intervention.
Mr Mubiru seeks to reduce unemployment by using the structures he has built for the last five years as a councillor. Mr Kibuka and Mr Kayonga could not be reached for a comment.

Kawempe Division
Three candidates are seeking the NRM party flag. These are Hajj Juma Wasswa, Mr Johnson Ssekandi and Mr Ronald Lugandakulya.
Mr Ssekandi says he wants to neutralise the Opposition in Kawempe Division and popularise NRM through the party structures, which he has built.

“Our people have missed out on many opportunities because the area is an Opposition stronghold. Once I get the NRM flag, I will lobby from government to equip our medical facilities with drugs,” he says.
Hajj Wasswa says: “I have represented Bwaise III at the division for a very long time on the NRM ticket and I have a wealth of experience in leadership. The party flag will ground me and prepare me for the general elections.”
The winner in the NRM primaries will face candidates from other political parties to give the current mayor, Mr Emmanuel Sserunjogi, a run for his money in the 2021 General Election. 

Makindye Division
In Makindye Division, former division deputy mayor (2011-2016) Eros Munaaba will be battling for the NRM flag with Mr Bob Muhumuza. But the duo could not be reached to explain their plans for the division. 

Rubaga Division
The two candidates seeking to carry the NRM flag are Mr Wilson Kabugo and Mr Mahad Shafiq Kaweesa. The winner will face off with FDC’s Joyce Nabbosa Ssebugwawo, who is also the current mayor, and candidates from other political parties.