Six days to the ballot casting day for Kawempe North by-election, candidates have changed tactics from the mainstream rallies to intensified ‘kakuyege’ (house-to-house) campaigning in the last minute canvassing for votes.
NRM candidate Hajat Faridah Nambi was in Mpererwe ward meeting youths and women and selling his manifesto to them. They variously asked her to prioritise upgrading of the pot-holed Mpereerwe-Kiteezi road. In her signature promise, she said this will be a walkover since she does not have to kneel before the powers that are to get what she wants. She ended the day at councillor Moses Nkeera’s home at Mpereerwe.
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And NUP’s Erias Luyimbaazi Nalukoola was in Kyebando where he began with a house-to-house movement appealing to voters to entrust him with their votes. Nalukoola was accompanied by a number of opposition MPs including Gorretti Namugga (Mawogola South), Francis Kanyike (Bukoto East), Francis Zaake (Mityana Municipality), David Kalwanga Lukyamuzi (Busujju), Wakayima Musoke (Nansana Municipality), Geoffrey Lutaaya (Kakuuto), Aisha Kabanda (Woman Butambala), Medard Lubega Sseggona (Busiro East), NUP lawyer George Musisi, and Kyengera Mayor Mathias Walukagga.
However, in the Kiberenge zone, a physical battle almost erupted between supporters of candidate Muhammad Luwemba Lusswa and those of Nalukoola when the teams collided into each other. At Kyebando market, Nalukoola staged a rally during which he promised to push for their human rights as a lawyer.
In the midst of this, supporters of the FDC Katonga group have appealed to the opposition to agitate for stay of the Kawempe North by-election pending return of normalcy and a secure situation for all players. The president of the faction Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago said high level talks are in full gear and that they would come out with a final stand on Friday.
This comes at a time when the internal minister was on Thursday slated to give an account of the melee created by security agents since the kick off of the election process. In a related situation, the chairman of the Electoral Commission, Justice Simon Byabakama on Tuesday held a meeting with security heads to establish steps they are taking to address the insecurity at Kawempe.
In the meeting, Kampala Metropolitan Police commander CP Richard Ecega and Director of Operations Frank Mwesigwa promised to streamline what had gone amiss.
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Meanwhile, the Anglican Church Archbishop Dr. Stephen Samuel Kazimba Mugalu condemned acts of violence going on in the Kawempe North by-election, which left many incarcerated and others hospitalised.
He delivered his message during a prayer at parliament ahead of the beginning of the month of lent, and stressed that this is a period of reconciliation and returning to God, and that such acts are uncalled for.