If you think the 18 Ugandan politicians who went to Ghana on October 21 did so solely to search for democratic solutions to Uganda’s problems, you are mistaken. The politicians drawn from all parties with representation in Parliament, including the ruling NRM, also took to a popular pastime – chatting up Ghanaian women.

His colleague, whose party is headquartered at Najjanankumbi, rushed to the restaurant and informed the rest of the crew. He pleaded with them to fundraise for the man who had imprisoned himself in his room, but they were too ashamed to help. In the end, the organisers pleaded with the woman and she accepted $50 which they offered her.


Dr. Mushemeza eyes Amama Mbabazi’s job

Associate Professor Elijah Dickens Mushemeza is a courageous man. How else do you describe a man who decides to challenge the all-powerful Security Minister, Amama Mbabazi, to the post of NRM Secretary General?

Dr. Mushemeza might be not as well-known as Mbabazi at national level, but his CV is nevertheless fairly impressive. He is a former Member of Parliament and Constituent Assembly Delegate representing Sheema County South. He was Chief Administrator of the Movement’s National Referendum Committee in 2000, as well as Administrator, National Taskforce of President Museveni’s campaign in 2001.

A very ambitious man, Mushemeza contested for the post of Deputy Secretary General of the NRM at the last delegates’ conference, but lost to current holder, Dorothy Hyuha.  Political Gossip overheard Mushemeza telling friends that unlike 2005 when he was not adequately prepared, this time he is ready for the long haul.

During that delegates’ conference, Mushemeza was heard explaining his defeat, there appeared to be consensus that the position should go to a woman, and so he was riding against the tide from then on. Besides, with Mbabazi who hails from Western Uganda already elected Secretary General, there was no way the delegates were going to pick another westerner to be his deputy.


NRM men fight in Kitagwenda

A bitter political fight has erupted between NRM politicians over the Kitagwenda parliamentary seat in Kamwenge District. The Chairman of the NRM Youth League, Abasi Agaba, wants to unseat the incumbent MP, Nulu Byamukama, setting the perfect stage for a storm.

Agaba’s ratings in the area have gone up, especially after the NRM Chairman, Yoweri Museveni, attended his wedding recently. At the wedding, Museveni fulfilled two pledges. He ordered the Ministry of Education to begin constructing a secondary school in one of the sub-counties and Shs 600 million has already been wired to the district. He also asked MTN to extend its services to Kichwamba, an area reeling from Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebel activities of the late 1990s.

The MTN mast, we hear, has now gone up. People in this remote area think Abasi Agaba is closer to Museveni than Nulu Byamukama and as a result, they are gearing up to elect someone who can bring more goodies. But Byamukama is not resting. In retaliation, the MP who owns Kamwenge FM has banned not only Agaba but also any positive story about him on his radio.

Recently, Agaba donated Shs1.2 million to Ntala Sub-county during a fundraising function– Shs 400,000 in cash, and a cheque of Shs 800,000. Byamukama donated Shs 200,000 but his radio reported that Agaba had issued a fake cheque. Agaba got annoyed and told the beneficiary to run announcements to the effect that his cheque was not fake. Failure to do so, he warned, he would block the cheque. They complied and he released the money.

There is a battle of FM radios for political gains in this region. Kibaale MP, Frank Tumwebaze, has Rwenzori FM which gives a voice to those not welcome on Byamukama’s radio. Sources from the parliamentary canteen now tell us that Byamukama recently picked a quarrel with Tumwebaze for allowing his radio to promote his opponents.

The quarrel became serious after Tumwebaze told Byamukama that Agaba Abasi is a person of more substance who deserves to be a legislator. He said Byamukama would do well as an LC-111 chairperson or councilor. Byamukama reportedly told Tumwebaze, a Munyankore, that he will gang up with Bakiga in Kibaale to oust him.


Muwanga Kivumbi starts campaigning

Those who know DP’s Muwanga Kivumbi will tell you that when he sets out to do something, he doesn’t rest until he has accomplished it, at whatever cost. He came to prominence in 2004 when he led a countrywide campaign to oppose efforts to amend the Constitution to remove presidential term limits.

Though it was not successful, the campaign brought out the dare devil in him. That is why we think Butambala MP, Lubega Ibrahim Kaddunabi, should be very afraid now that Kivumbi has decided to go for his seat. For the last three months, he has been moving from one corner of the constituency to another–– donating hoes, addressing duwas and attending burials. He told Political Gossip that he has set aside weekends to be in the constituency.

The Democratic Party has also asked Moses Kasibante, who nearly won the seat during the last elections, to leave it to Muwanga this time. Kasibante, we hear, might invade Lubaga North, now that the incumbent, Beti Olive Kamya, does not see eye to eye with some of her FDC supporters. The seat previously belonged to the DP and one party strategist told us they want to repossess it.

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