Race for 530 Parliament seats kicks off

The race for 530 seats in the 11th    Parliament started in earnest yesterday as the Electoral Commission (EC) nominated the first batch of candidates in next year’s elections.
The current 10th Parliament started in May 2016 and ends in May 2021.
 The crowded contest kicked off amid pomp as contestants thronged the 145 district centres across the country to be confirmed as candidates in the race for 11th Parliament. The two-day exercise ends today at 5pm. 

The EC postponed the nomination dates from October 13  and 14  to give room for aspirants who might have names on their academic papers not tallying with those on the National Identity Card to be able to swear deed polls in observance of Section 36 of the Registration of Persons Act, 2013.   
When the new political term starts on May 12 next year, a total of 528 MPs will be sworn in to sit in the 11th Parliament. 

The number has shot from 445 after Parliament created 83 new seats following the approval of 41 new constituencies and 10 regional cities. 
There will be 353 directly elected MPs; 145 Woman MPs; five MPs for the Youth; five MPs for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs); five MPs for Workers; five MPs for Older Persons; and 20 MPs for the Special Interest Groups (SIPs) and 10 representatives of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF). 

Unlike the past nominations, the current exercise did not have large  processions to and from the nomination centres, as the Electoral Commission had already banned them to avert the spread of Covid-19.  There were, however, some cases of processions which forced the police to swing into action. 

Running battles with police
Police got involved in running battles with supporters of Kira Municipality MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda drove to the office of the Wakiso District Registrar to get nominated. 
Police fired teargas to disperse the excited supporters, some of whom donned FDC’s blue clothes and others painted their bodies with blue substances. 
Mr Ssemujju was later arrested and driven away by the police shortly after his nomination.

In Mityana, police used teargas to disperse NUP supporters who were escorting their party candidates to the nomination venue. Despite the chaotic scenes, Mr Francis Zaake Butebi (Mityana Municipality), Ms Joyce Bagala (Woman MP) and Mr David Lukyamuzi Kalwanga (Busujju County) were later nominated.  
Democratic Party (DP) candidate Abraham Luuzi, Alliance for National Transformation candidate Janat Namuli and Mr Martin Kiiza (Independent) also got nominated to challenge Zaake.

In Kampala, some candidates organised short convoys of vehicles and boda bodas but this was after being nominated.  The ruling National Resistance Movement party Kampala Woman MP candidate, Ms Faridah Nambi, arrived at the nomination centre in Ntinda on an excavator, followed by a garbage truck.

 But before she could disembark, her rival Dr Stella Nyanzi (Forum for Democratic Change) also jumped onto excavator.  
Ms Nambi explained that she wanted to show Kampala voters that she means business and aims to keep Kampala clean. 
There was also drama in Jinja when two Independent candidates, Mr Ronnie Mulyambuzi and Mr Nelson Lufafa, both vying for Jinja North Division MP, turned up at the nomination centre claiming to have chosen one symbol. The EC allocates one symbol per candidate. 

Jinja City returning officer  Jennifer Kyobutungi advised Mr Mulyambuzi to use another symbol since nominations were held on a first-come, first-served basis.
By press time, at least three ministers who were defeated in the NRM primaries had been nominated to run as Independent candidates after unsuccessful attempts to challenge the flag bearers before the party’s election disputes tribunal.

Science and Technology Minister Elioda Tumwesigye is running against his rival Mr Dickson Kateshumba,  the NRM flag bearer Sheema Municipality. 
Defeated to the NRM flag by Ms Jennifer Muheesi, Economic Monitory minister Molly Kamukama has been nominated to run for the Kazo District Woman MP seat.

State Minister for Transport Joy Kabatsi was also nominated to run against NRM flag bearer for Lwemiyaga County Theodore Ssekikubo.  

Turned away 
State Minister for Environment Beatrice Anywar was first turned away from being nominated as NRM Candidate for Kitgum Municipality after she turned up without an attachment of a postcard photograph on the nomination papers. She was later on nominated at about 10am.  In Bukedea District, the EC turned away Ms Hellen Akol Odeke and Ms Merab Amongin who wanted to be nominated to challenge NRM flag bearer and incumbent Woman MP Ms Anita Among. 

The district registrar, Mr Raymond Kisarale, said he was effecting the ruling of High Court Judge Wilson Musalu Musene that the duo did not have the requisite academic qualification.
Ms Odeke said upon consulting with EC in Bukedea, she was cleared and wondered how the EC got ‘entangled’ in ‘political gimmicks’ while Ms Amongin called it an “injustice” to the voters. 

Compiled by Misairi Thembo Kahungu, Damali Mukhaye, Philip Wafula, Joseph Omollo, Mudangha Kolyangha, Oliver Mukaaya, Phoebe Masongole, Simon Peter Emwanu, George Emuron, Jessica Sabano, Santa Ojok, Felix Warom Okello, Scovin Iceta, Robert Elama, Cissy Makumbi, Martin Okudi, Denis Opoka, Susan Nanjala, Alfred Tumushabe, Milton Bandiho, Rajab Mukombozi, Elly Katahinga, Ronald Kabanza, Scovia Atuhaire, Felix Basiime, Enid Ninsiima, Alex Ashaba, Al-Mahdi Ssenkabirwa, Michael J Ssali, Malik Fahad, Sadat Mbogo, Joseph Kiggundu Jessica Nabukenya & Dan Wandera, Al-Mahdi Ssenkabirwa, Michael J Ssali, Malik Fahad , Sadat Mbogo, Joseph Kiggundu Jessica Nabukenya  & Dan Wandera