Tough race for Kayunga  Woman MP as five eye seat

In 2011 for instance, Ms Nantaba beat her closest rival, Ms Naiga Ssekabira with a margin of about 11,000 votes while the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) candidate, Ms Harriet Nakwedde, came third with a margin of 22,000 votes.

In 2016, when Ms Nantaba sought re-election as an Independent candidate, she trounced the NRM flag bearer, Ms Juliet Nalunga. Ms Nantaba polled 86,057 votes while Ms Nalunga polled 13,184 votes.

However, all this seems to have changed with the 40-year-old Ms Nantaba now facing a tough race to get her third term in Parliament.

The MP, who in 2011 contested on the NRM ticket, is seeking re-election in the 2021 General Election as an independent candidate after opting out of the NRM party primaries, accusing the party leaders of abetting vote rigging.
“I cannot subject myself to an election that I know will not be free and fair,” Ms Nantaba said recently.

Ms Nantaba’s long-time political rival Mr Moses Karangwa, is now the district NRM chairperson. The two politicians, who were once good friends, now do not see eye to eye.

Ms Nantaba is facing stiff competition from Ms Agatha Nalubwama, the NRM party flag bearer; Ms Harriet Nakwedde, the National Unity Platform (NUP) flag bearer and Ms Lydia Wabuza, the DP flag bearer.

Others in the race are Ms Margaret Nabirye and Ms Jackline Birungi Kobusingye, who is the daughter of Mr Karangwa. Both are contesting as independents.

Ms Nantaba’s woos
According to Mr Dan Kisitu, a political analyst and elder in Kayunga District, Ms Nantaba will have to fight hard to retain her position since she shunned the NRM party primary elections and has not been in touch with the voters since her election in 2016.

“Ms Nantaba’s choice to shun NRM primaries gave Ms Nalubwama the  chance to shine and win in the party primaries as it is the former’s (Nantaba) supporters who voted for her against Ms Birungi,” Mr Kisitu said.

“Ms Nalubwama appeals to both the youth and older electorates and is very beautiful and an eloquent speaker like Ms Nantaba. So although it was Nantaba’s supporters who voted for her, some if not many, will still vote for her,” he said.

Youthful Nalubwama is daughter of the late Misusera Lubwama, who was Kabaka’s chief (Mugerere) in charge of Bugerere County. Hailing from a powerful family might play well to her advantage.

Ms Nantaba is also accused by a section of voters of abandoning them soon after they elected her in 2016.  But Ms Nantaba says she was doing so as a security precaution.
“I was advised to stay at home because my life was in danger after I escaped being assassinated on my way to Kampala in 2018,” Ms Nantaba told residents in Ndeeba Village during a funeral recently.

Another aspirant that is giving Ms Nantaba sleepless nights is Ms Nakwedde, who in 2011 contested against her but lost miserably.

Being consistent and remaining within the district is one thing that has given Ms Nakwedde support among the voters.
A teacher by profession, the youthful Nakwedde, who is the FDC district chairperson and the Kayunga Town council district councillor, has also won the hearts of the Opposition supporters in the area.

“It is the people of Kayunga who are funding my campaigns because they know when I go to Parliament, I will be their voice,” Ms Nakwedde says.

The other aspirant, Ms Birungi, a 26-year-old and newcomer in politics, has gained support among the electorate because of her father’s (Karangwa) good mobilisation skills.

Since 2016, Mr Karangwa has managed to persuade some of Ms Nantaba’s campaigners to his side and although she lost in the recent NRM primaries, she will contest as an independent.

Ms Birungi has extended assistance to the voters. She claims her victory was stolen.

 Ms Nabirye, who is a medical worker and member of NUP, says she will contest as an Independent candidate after she was denied the party flag.
 However, Ms Nantaba’s supporters say she will retain her seat despite the seemingly tough race.

“Ms Nantaba has stood with the people of Kayunga who were being evicted from their land. She is the only loud voice in Parliament for the people of Kayunga,” Ms Doreen Nakisekka, one of Nantaba’s supporters, says.
Voters believe the MP has been vocal in fighting land grabbers.

Additionally, her (Nantaba) mysterious disappearance from Parliament on the day legislators voted on the presidential age limit has earned her some support given that most of the residents opposed the Bill.

All the other legislators from the district supported the removal of the age limit from the Constitution despite being told by the electorate not to support it.

Factors that will determine the vote
Kayunga District being a hotbed for land wrangles and illegal land evictions, the electorate would vote for a politician who would save them from eviction or one who will solve their land problems.
While Ms Nantaba has been vocal in fighting land grabbers, some voters think she uses the land issue as a bait to get votes.

Ms Nantaba in 2018 protested a move by State Minister for Lands Persis Namuganza, to mobilise residents in Bbaale County, Kayunga District, who were facing eviction on public land, to acquire freehold titles.

Ms Nantaba then accused Ms Namuganza of meddling in land affairs in her district. The political interference in the project, affected its implementation and has since not been concluded although the process was supposed to be finalised by 2019.

However, Ms Nantaba says Ms Namuganza had no business interfering in the matter since she (Nantaba) had already started on the process of ensuring that residents facing eviction from their land acquire land titles.

Additionally, a big section of the electorate in the district think Mr Karangwa and his political rival, Ms Nantaba, whose bickering have created two political camps, should quit Kayunga politics and leave new politicians to shine.

“If both Ms Nantaba and Mr Karangwa quit Kayunga politics, the current political wrangles in the district that have led to fights, will cease,” Mr James Bukulu, an elder in Kayunga Town weighed in.

But Mr Karangwa, who is also the Kayunga District NRM chairman, says he is not about to quit Kayunga politics because he wants to witness a developed Kayunga where he has made contribution.

On the other hand, Ms Nantaba’s political allies accuse Mr Karangwa of being the masterminder of the wrangles.

What others say

Mr Joshua Wasswa, a businessman in Kayunga Town, said: “We are going to vote for an MP who has been with us through thick and thin. Some of the MPs disappear from us after electing them.”

Ms Hellen Nansubuga, a shopkeeper in Kayunga Town, said: “We are tired of political wrangles in our district. We are going to vote an MP who is not involved in the Karangwa-Nantaba wrangles”

Ms Lukiya Nakayiza, a businesswoman said: “It is upon us in this election to decide whether we want politicians who cherish development of our district or those who simply want to use us for their selfish interest or goals.”

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