Meanwhile, there was a reported physical confrontation at Seeta as convoys of Rev. Bakaluba and Nambooze crossed as the former proceeded to his campaign venue at Nantabulirwa, with his supporters accusing Nambooze’s team of plucking posters off his car.
In the countdown to the forthcoming general elections, new faces have shown up to try their luck at unseating sitting legislators, and among these are one-time parliamentarians who have exhibited themselves as set to retake their cherished positions in the august house.
Prominent among the ‘re-loaded’ aspirants include former Defence and Agriculture Minister Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempijja who wants to regain the Kalungu East parliamentary seat in the next parliament, Mukono LC V Chairman, Rev. Peter Bakaluba Mukasa who was once ejected through a court verdict out of (then) Mukono North constituency by then DP’s Betty Nambooze Bakireke and procurement specialist and educationist Isaac Ssozi Mulindwa who wants to retake his Lugazi Municipality seat.
Ssempijja lost the 10th parliament Kalungu East seat to NUP’s Francis Katabaazi, who himself recently lost the flag to Yusuf Kiruluuta Nkerettanyi, and the three are battling with Irene Mwebe and Deogratius Katongole.
Rev. Peter Bakaluba Mukasa was in centre stage in a District Service Commission (DSC) wrangle when he, for over three years, declined to bless with Stella Kiondo as its chairperson and, despite the latter having won a court verdict, Bakaluba maintained his stand claiming that Kiodo had a tainted image of being corrupt from the previous DSC term.
It took the involvement of high caliber citizens like the former AIGP Fred Yiga and the Transport and Works Minister, Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala to sort out the stalemate which had pitted the district for three and a half years.
Bakaluba is running as an independent candidate after having lost the NUP ticket for the district chairmanship to former Mukono South MP and pioneer Mukono Municipality Mayor, Johnson Muyanja Ssenyonga, allegedly at the instigation of fellow NUP housemate Betty Nambooze.
The most unfortunate bit is the fact that even as we talk now, the DSC is not functioning, following Bakaluba’s decision to call it off, saying he was overwhelmed by the reports from the public that the commission was selling jobs at a range of sh5-30m.
The chairperson’s decision attracted the State House Anti-Corruption Unit which swung into action, leading to the arrest of a number of people including, Eng. Godfrey Kibuuka Kisuule, Mukono District Council Speaker, Betty Hope Nakasi, among others.
To date, three people including Mukono South parliamentary candidate, Mubarak Ssekikubo, Mugerwa Ssaku and Dr. Saad Wattaba were charged with soliciting a bribe from a job seeker and conspiracy to defraud.
Ssaku and Wattaba were released on court bond but SSekikubo, who is the Nakisunga sub-county chairperson was remanded to Kauga Prison. According to the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, investigations into the matter are still ongoing.
In Lugazi Municipality, NRM’s Isaac Ssozi Mulindwa who was trounced by incumbent Stephen Sserubula of the NUP, is tussling it out with, in addition to Sserubula, four others among them Ssenteza Richard who is standing for the fifth time, and after changing his name from Bogere Ssenkaaba for personal reasons.
Meanwhile, there was a reported physical confrontation at Seeta as convoys of Rev. Bakaluba and Nambooze crossed as the former proceeded to his campaign venue at Nantabulirwa, with his supporters accusing Nambooze’s team of plucking posters off his car.
Minister Magyezi Appreciates Mukono Municipality for Excelling in GKMA Project
