Jacob Oulanya Faces Sam Engola As Kadaga Battles Persis Namuganza

BY PATRICK JARAMOGI

KAMPALA, Uganda|SHIFTMEDIA|Plot 10 Kyadondo, the seat for National Resistance Movement (NRM) offices was a bee-hive of activities on Monday as scores politicians vying for the top NRM party seats picked nominations forms.

By the time of flying this report “Big” six shots vying for the seat of regional Vice-Chairpersons and Second National Vice Chairperson, currently occupied by Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga had picked nomination forms.

NRM has six regional chairpersons (Kampala, Central, Western, Eastern, and Northern, Women) as well as First and second National Vice-Chairpersons. Alhajji Moses Kigongo has held the position of Second National Vice Chairperson since 2005 and he says no one can challenge him on that seat for now.

This time round the battle is set to be between Hon. Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga and the Princess, Hon. Persis Namugazanza the Minister of State for Lands and Namutumba legislator who are all fighting for the second National Vice-chairperson (Female). While addressing her campaign team at Speke Resort Munyonyo at the weekend, Kadaga accused some NRM “Corrupt” party officials of fronting her opponents.

As she arrived at Kyadondo early on Monday, Kadaga who was tightly guarded, arrived in a sleek mercedeze Benz, dressed in a yellow gomesi.  She was duly nominated by Igara West MP and Local Government Minister Hon. Raphael Magyezi, while Trade and Cooperatives Minister Amelia Kyambadde and Nakapiripirit Woman MP Anyakun Esther seconded her.

Kadaga and Namuganza’s conflicts started in 2018 at a function to launch boreholes in Namuganza’s Bukono Constituency, Namutumba District, where the minister reportedly told off Kadaga and Busoga king Gabula Nadiope to concentrate on ‘fighting jiggers in Kamuli’, which to her are a serious threat than ‘poking their noses’ into Namutumba affairs.

Kadaga along with the Kyabazinga of Busoga, William Gabula Nadiope IV had earlier gone to Bukono constituency and installed a chief without her knowledge, which to the latter was an insult.

In response, Namuganza rallied her voters in Bukono to use stones and sticks to chase away the Kyabazinga if he ever goes back to that area in her absence and warned Kadaga to back-off matters of Bukono and Namutumba district generally.

This bickering and insights have never ended, but analysts now say by Persis Namuganza deciding to take a shot at “Kadaga’s” seat will only stifle the rift further.

Engola faces off with Oulanya for Northern

The battle for the NRM Vice Chairperson northern is going be between Sam Engola and Deputy Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oulanya. Oulanya arrived in style as he picked nomination forms at Kyadondo on Monday.

Oulanya who has a background in Agricultural Economics, Rural Psychology, Rural Economy, Farm management & Co-operatives is challenging Engola so as to promote Socio-economic transformation in the Northern region.

Oulanya noted that northern Uganda is a region that was disrupted by war for more than 20 years, Northern Uganda has a huge chunk of a vulnerable poor populace that must be empowered.

“My aim is to improve their livelihoods by bringing accessible credit,” said the Deputy Speaker.

Nyakana meets Salim Uhuru for Kampala

Though many NRM die-hards had advised the pilau guru of the Uhuru fame, Salim Uhuru to stick to the seat of NRM Chairperson Kampala, he decided to face off with Godfrey Nyakana for the NRM Vice-chairperson (Region) for Kampala. Nyakaana was a former Mayor for Kampala Central Division.

Babu Vs Kiggongo

Capt Francis Babu is back at it again, to battle with historical Alhajji Moses Kigongo for the Second Vice National Chairperson. While Capt Mike Mukula is threatened by former Tororo Municipality MP and businessman, Sanjay Taana for the seat of NRM Vice-chairperson Eastern.

New entrants such as Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, the state Minister for Housing, and a one Dr. Kisembo, Uganda Media Center Deputy Executive Director Shaban Bantariza, among others have shown interest in the NRM Vice Chairperson seat for Western currently occupied by Rtd Maj. Gen. Matayao Kyaligonza. After picking nomination forms, Dr. Kisembo said it is time for the youth to take over the mantle of leadership, though Kyaligonza has continued to say he fought for the regime change, and thus, he is going nowhere.

Similarly, Hajji Abdul Naduuli is set to tussle it out with Mityana North MP and Tourism State Minister Godfrey Kiwanda Suubi Ssalongo for the NRM Vice Chairperson Central.