Religion, Mengo politics drive Rubaga Parliament contests

In Rubaga South, the political fight is building between two rib-tickling contenders who need no introduction - the incumbent John Ken Lukyamuzi running under his Conservative Party and comedian and former CBS radio presenter Kato Lubwama who is running as an Independent.

NRM has presented the candidature of Ms Faridah Mpiima Mayanja, who in the 2011 elections, was resoundingly defeated by Mr Lukyamuzi.

It’s a congested race with eight other candidates, including Francis Xavier Katabalwa (Democratic Party) Siraje Nsambu (Jeema), Francis Xavier Ssempiira, (Independent), Charles Kenneth Male, (Independent), Michael Oscar Kayemba, (Independent), James Wasajja (Independent), and Ronald Kiiza (Independent).

In Rubaga North, the contest is between former presidential candidate, Ms Beti Kamya, sponsored by her Uganda Federal Alliance party and incumbent MP, Mr Moses Kasibante who is contesting as an Independent.

An articulate politician, Ms Kamya represented this constituency for one term (2006–2010) on the Forum for Democratic Change ticket.
Others are NRM’s Brian Kusingura Tindyebwa, FDC’s Vincent Musoke, DP’s George William Kawooya and two Independent candidates that include Humphrey Mutebi and Francis Kizito.

What makes Rubaga special?

A very traditional place, Rubaga North and South are both home to the seat of Buganda Kingdom and whoever intends to vie for the two constituencies cannot distance him or herself from the monarchical politics.

For one to win over any of the two constituencies, they must get a nod from Mengo and probably have to be in the good books of the Kabaka.

Rubaga too is the nerve centre for both the Catholic and Protestant churches with the mother cathedrals of Rubaga and Namirembe respectively whose leaders command immense respect among the people there.

Rubaga South is an Opposition stronghold. It was previously occupied by Democratic Party’s Damiano Lubega until Mr Lukyamuzi defeated him in 2001.

The CP has since made the constituency their own with Mr Lukyamuzi as an almost permanent MP.

He briefly handed over the seat to his daughter in 2005 when he was thrown out of Parliament on the strength of a controversial ruling by the IGG that he had failed to declare his wealth as required under the Leadership Code Act.

He was, however, voted back in 2011 having successfully challenged his ejection.
Rubaga North on the other hand has been in and out of the hands of both the NRM and the Opposition.

The constituency was previously occupied by Wasswa Lule before NRM’s Sam Kayongo took it and later FDC’s Kamya.

As already indicated, religion is of considerable import here with Rubaga South occupied by Catholic MPs and Rubaga North purely for Anglicans.

Who is who and what are their chances?

The fact that Mr Lukyamuzi is the incumbent gives him more than a fighting chance over the rest of the candidates. He has been tried and tested and is quite popular albeit controversial character.

Mr Lukyamuzi is well known to all and sundry as “John Ken the Man”.

He is well grounded and most people in his constituency are carried away by his humorous antics on most rallies he addresses”, said Maria Nakuya, a resident of Kabuusu.

All his opponents agree that at 15 years in office, Mr Lukyamuzi has served long enough and must give them the opportunity to represent the people of Rubaga North.

“The incumbent has served longest and he has disappointed us. He is using the mouthpiece of radios and the media to reach out to the people in the constituency yet they want service delivery. The work of an MP should not be to only oppose government but also to lobby for his constituents and not to fight with everyone,” said Mr Humphrey Mutebi, an Independent candidate.

Mr Lubwama, his major challenger, says the young generation that forms the majority population in Rubaga need a youthful leader who will advance their cause and fight unemployment.

“We are in the digital generation yet Mr Lukyamuzi is still under analogue in whatever he does or communicates. People want action and not empty promises,” said Mr Lubwama.

Mr Lukyamuzi, however, defends his overstay in Parliament, saying he has been the Conservative Party’s favourite candidate and he could not defy his party.

“The interests of CP are embedded in John Ken and they still want me in Parliament,” he says.

Among the reasons he is seeking another term is because he says he wants to see fundamental change in the country ushered in by FDC presidential candidate, Kizza Besigye. This, he says, will be his last term in Parliament.

That said, Mr Lukyamuzi has been keen on the key issue of federalism (federo) for Buganda, a renowned environment activist and a human rights defender and this gives him recognition value at a level way above his rivals.

Being keen on Buganda and Mengo issues will win him more votes from Buganda and Mengo sympathisers.

He is also a staunch Catholic who does not miss Sunday mass at Rubaga Cathedral. He is an eloquent speaker and was regularly rated amongst the best MPs in Parliament.

“He has represented us so well in Parliament and demonstrated each time we are being harassed.

There was a time KCCA was evicting people who were operating on railway slippers and indeed he stood with us. Let’s give him the last chance,” said Mr Saidi Lugoba, a constituent, said.

But some worry that Mr Lukyamuzi has created a family empire around the constituency that must be dismantled for a change.

He is also accused of, at times, going silent in the 9th Parliament, prompting talk that he might have been compromised by government.

However, he dismisses these claims, saying he faced a number of personal challenges, including the attack on his daughter by her late boyfriend.

He also needed time to concentrate on his studies for a law degree.

His immediate competitor, Mr Lubwama, is fairly well known. A stage actor, comedian, music composer and singer as well as play director of some note.

He first hoped to contest on the DP ticket only to back off, saying they were not willing to work with him.

Mr Lubwama’s loyalty to both Mengo and Buganda is unquestionable. He hopes to rally support around this.

Political watchers, however, point out that he has absolutely no experience in politics. Mr Lubwama cannot also express himself well in English.

Mr Lukaymuzi makes the point that with such a hinderance, Mr Lubwama cannot ably represent the views of the people of Rubaga.

Mr Katabalwa, the DP candidate and a lawyer by profession, holds the DP flag which puts him at an advantage over Mr Lubwama.

Mr Lubwama uses the media to promote his candidature but Mr Katabalwa believes the same media will “break him since he cannot express himself”.

Mr Katabalwa presents an impressive manifesto for the people of Rubaga South that includes fighting colonial laws that have seen people being evicted from their land and work place, promises to find solutions to the floods in the five parishes and finding solutions to unemployment.

Ms Mpiima, on the other hand says the people of Rubaga have for a long time been represented by an Opposition candidate to their disadvantage.

“We know Rubaga is an Opposition stronghold but the people of Rubaga say they have been lied to for a long time and they have not benefited from government projects. I want to bridge the gap between Rubaga people and the government,” says the lady who came second in the 2011 election.

Mr Mutebi, the youngest of the candidates and a grandchild to Sir Apollo Kaggwa (a noted former regent and prime minister of Buganda Kingdom), says he understands the problems of Rubaga more since he was born and raised here unlike some of his competitors.

He wants to guarantee the security of tenants on land, advocate for a participatory education system, and address the increasing crime rates among the youth by finding them jobs and getting them scholarships.

RUBAGA NORTH

In Rubaga North, the battle is joined between Ms Kamya who is seeking to recapture a seat she occupied before she retired to hit the presidential campaign trail in 2011.

The constituency is currently occupied by Mr Kasibante. Following the 2011 elections, the former journalist with the help of Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and other Opposition sympathisers went to court, challenging NRM candidate Singh Katongole’s disputed win.

Mr Katongole, who had been declared winner through a disputed re-counting process, was ejected by court, allowing Mr Kasibante to take his place in Parliament.

Ms Kamya emerged fifth out of the eight candidates in the 2011 presidential elections, managing just 52,782 votes.

She now says rejoining Parliament will give her the opportunity to champion her call for a federal system of governance.

“The reason I am back is because we need to change some laws which govern this country. The federo battle must be fought in Parliament as a national issue not as a Buganda issue,” she says.
Ms Kamya and Kasibante are tried and tested politicians. Both have Mengo issues at heart and are Protestants.

She is, however, criticised for her inconsistency when she left FDC to form her own party, the UFA and turned against Dr Besigye who enjoys overwhelming support in Kampala.

Mr Kasibante has stood with Lord Mayor Lukwago and Dr Besigye through their most trying times in the face of sustained and vicious political persecution by the State. He will partly lean on their backing for the constituency since they are grounded in Kampala.

Ms Kamya is at a slight disadvantage given that she has been linked to the ruling NRM and is believed to be in good stead with the President.

These are attributes which do not necessarily serve one well in the hotbed that is Rubaga.
Mr Kasibante is a pro-people politician who has been at the forefront of fights against unwarranted evictions in Nakulabye and Kasubi markets.

But Mr Kawooya, the DP candidate, argues that his colleagues have no stake in Rubaga North since they originate from other constituencies.
“Kasibante failed in Butambala and came here meaning his heart is not here,” he says.

Kawooya has served as the Gombolola chief of Rubaga and the Masiki village chairperson.
“I have experience, skills, a track record, I am well educated, I am a very good negotiator and I am a fighter for the rights of people. I am the best candidate,” he boasts.

Scores
According to the Electoral Commission results, Lukyamuzi won Rubaga South in 2011 with 66 per cent (39,408 votes). He was followed by NRM’s Faridah Mpiima Mayanja who got 13,969, and DP’s Vincent Paul Mayanja, 2,964. The other three candidates in the race altogether garnered 3,335 votes.
Kasibante polled 24,054 votes (45.36 per cent of the vote); against Katongole’s 18,595 votes (35.07per cent of the vote). The other six candidates shared the remaining 19.37 per cent.

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