Kamuli, Uganda: Police fired several rounds of teargas but failed to disperse supporters of Mathew Bazanya, forcing the postponement of LC2 elections in three parishes in Kitayunjwa Sub County, Bugabula South Constituency on Monday.
An alliance formed by incumbent MP Maurice Henry Kibalya, former MP Asuman Kiyingi, and ex-Kamuli LC5 Chairman Thomas Kategere, all natives of Kitayunjwa, appeared to target Bazanya, a new entrant into the political scene. The election clashes mirrored the wider contest between pro-Kadaga and pro-Anita Among camps within the NRM.
“We are not weakened but strengthened by the cancellation of our elections here at Namisambya Parish because our rivals have petitioned the district electoral commission that we hid electorates under the guise of a seminar,” Bazanya told the crowd. “Let us remain strong and wait for whichever date. All these are manipulations of dying horses, but power remains with you, the voters.”
Similar scenes unfolded at Namaganda and Naminage parishes. In Naminage, considered the political stronghold of MP Kibalya, police fired tear gas at Bazanya’s determined supporters to no avail. Even a heavy downpour failed to deter the chanting crowds, who sang: “Kadaga nowaife, Anita mugwira tuboole abayuda” (Kadaga is ours, let Anita take her Jews).
Following the botched exercise, Kibalya’s supporters allegedly stormed Bazanya’s “political shrine,” vandalized it, and carried it to Kibalya’s Community Hospital in a show of defiance.
Meanwhile, Minister for the Presidency Milly Babalanda, who is also an aspiring MP for Budiope West, was elected unopposed as the Women’s League Chairperson for Iringa Parish, described by organizers as a reward for her “unconditional support and promotion of women.”
If you would like your article/opinion to be published on Uganda’s most authoritative anews platform, send your submission on: [email protected]. You can also follow DailyExpress on WhatsApp for realtime updates.
