KALANGALA. Five candidates have successfully been cleared to vie for Kalangala District Woman Member of Parliament by-election as the Electoral Commission closed nominations on Thursday.
Independents candidate Ms Babirye Sharifa Kaala Agnes Nasuuna were the last to be nominated after three other contenders -Ms Aidah Nabayiga of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), Ms Irene Nampala of the National Unity Platform (NUP), and independent candidate Ms Helen Flavia Nagawa got nominated on Wednesday .
Kaala is NUP leaning while Nagawa is NRM , but was defeated by Nabayiga in the party primaries .
According to Ms Harriet Kashagire, the Electoral Commission Returning Officer for Central South, six aspirants had earlier picked nomination forms, but only four returned them.
She said EC has put in place all necessary measures to ensure a peaceful electoral process in Kalangala District.
“Everybody has been involved to make sure we have a peaceful election. What happens is that there are people who violate the laws and begin to tussle with security personnel,” she said.
Ms Kashagire urged candidates and their supporters to report any grievances to the Electoral Commission instead of taking matters into their own hands.
Speaking shortly after her nomination on Thursday, Ms Kaala said consultations with residents convinced her to remain in the race despite losing the party ticket to Nampala.
“I realized I am the suitable candidate to represent the people of Kalangala.-added to the consultations I made, I decided to stand as independent,” she said.
She said her priorities would include revitalising the district’s tourism and fishing sectors, which she described as key economic pillars that have declined in recent years.
“Kalangala District is one of the tourism destinations in Uganda. However, we need to uplift our image, especially in Kalangala Town Council, to attract more visitors and enable our people to earn from tourism through selling products, offering services and operating hotels,” she said.
However, Ms Kaala’s decision to contest as an independent could place her at odds with NUP top leadership .Article 5, Section 5(c) of the party constitution provides for the expulsion of members who contest against officially endorsed party candidates.
On her part Ms Nabayiga has pledged to lobby for the elevation of Kalangala Health Centre IV to general hospital and also improve the livelihoods of islanders.
“I am going to engage different government offices to ensure these challenges are addressed. Kalangala needs a district hospital so that our people do not continue spending a lot of money seeking treatment on the mainland,” she said.
Ms Nampala has promised to continue pursuing issues that her late sister, Hellen Nakimuli(former District Woman MP) had championed before her death.
“Before my sister died, she was looking forward to seeing the new fisheries regulations operationalised, ensuring that medicines are available in all health facilities and empowering women economically through organised groups,” she said.
Ms Nagawa has promised to champion better roads and health services while advocating for the welfare of boys whom she said had been neglected.
“I am here to be a voice for all the people of Kalangala. We need better roads and health facilities. I will also fight for the boy child who has been left behind as girls continue to receive empowerment opportunities,” she said.
Ms Nagawa also pledged to advocate for increased government support to fishing communities.
“We are fishermen and we need a voice that can demand our fair share of the national budget and speak for those dealing in silver fish who are no longer allowed to fish,” she added.
Meanwhile, leaders from the major political parties expressed confidence that their candidates would emerge victorious in the by-election slated for June 24 .
NRM National Mobiliser, Ms Rose Mary Sseninde said the ruling party’s dominance in local leadership structures gives it an advantage.
“The President is from NRM, Kalangala has two MPs from NRM and the district chairperson is also from NRM. We remain with just the Woman MP seat to make it 100 per cent NRM leadership. The NRM government works for the people of Kalangala,” she said.
NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya said the party selected Ms Nampala after consultations with residents who expressed a preference for her candidature.
“We sent our teams to the ground and the people of Kalangala requested us to front Irene Nampala. Although we have been given a short campaign period, we believe our message has already reached the people,” he said.
He also called for a peaceful electoral process.
“We hope to have a peaceful election period without violence and intimidation as witnessed in some previous by-elections. We want this election to be free, fair and peaceful,” he said.
The Kalangala Woman MP by-election was called following the death of former area Woman MP Hellen Nakimuli in April. Campaigns are expected to begin on June 12 to 22 .