Gerald Karuhanga, the former Ntungamo Municipality Member of Parliament and spokesperson for the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) party was on Thursday nominated as an independent candidate for the same seat in next year’s General Election .
Karuhanga, who joined ANT in January 2024 and currently serves as its spokesperson, explained that his decision to run independently was influenced by consultations with the electorate .
“They[electorate ] reached out to me to run as an independent for purposes of uniting and appreciating the dynamics and complexities of our place—to move this place beyond the current and previous chaos,” Karuhanga remarked
The former ANT official emphasized that his candidacy aims to bring cohesion and progress to Ntungamo Municipality, reflecting the concerns and aspirations of its residents.
“If elected, I will prioritize improving access to electricity, clean water, education, health services, and better roads,” he added, highlighting the key development issues that have long affected the municipality.
The Ntungamo Municipality race is already shaping up to be competitive. Other candidates include Beyendeza Edward (Independent), Yona Musinguzi (NRM), and Rubahamya Magambo (NUP), each promising to bring heavy on earth .
Karuhanga’s campaign is expected to center on unity, development, and addressing the pressing needs of Ntungamo residents.
Drawing on his experience and leadership skills, Karuhanga has expressed confidence in his ability to serve the municipality effectively.
Who is Gerald Karuhanga?
He is trained lawyer from Makerere University and hails from the powerful Jacob Kafureka in Itojo Sub-County, in Ntungamo District, South Western Uganda.
Karuhanga is known to have nursed political ambitions from an early age while still at St. Mukasa Preparatory Seminary.
He attended Kitunga Boarding School, St. Mukasa Preparatory Seminary before joining Kitabi Seminary in Bushenyi.
While at Kitabi for his O’Level Education , Karuhanga sought the position of deputy head prefect. For unknown reasons, Karuhanga shifted to St Mary’s College,Kisubi (SMACK) in Entebbe after leaving Kitabi.
Sources say he participated in Kitabi’s only one strike in the school’s history when they attacked the neighbouring St Cecilia Girls school.
He passed with flying colours thus winning a slot at Makerere School of law.
He swiftly joined the university politics . He was elected guild president on the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) ticket. At one time, in 2006, he led students in a strike protesting the re-arrest of rebel Peoples’ Redemption Army suspects at the High Court.
They had been earlier granted bail only to be apprehended by the infamous Black Mamba operatives .
The strike operation was coordinated by veteran politician (Rtd) Col. Kizza Besigye and former Army Commander and currently ANT presidential candidate (Rtd) Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu and Karuhanga.
On that day, the two former UPDF army officers, rushed from their homes and were stationed at Kisekka market by 6am.
Karuhanga was to lead over 1,000 Makerere students to the city centre but mainly in downtown areas of Kisekka and Nakivubo.
According to the plan, Besigye was to inform his supporters in town especially in Kisekka to prepare for a battle with police for re-arresting PRA!
So, quickly, the students, led by Karuhanga mingled with traders in downtown. At exactly, 9am, Besigye blew the whistle, a sign flagging off the war.
Tyres were burnt, shops destroyed, stones pelted at police and CPS besieged! It took a huge force from Kakiri barracks to settle the dust sparked by Besigye.
The following day, Uganda’s independent paper Daily Monitor ran a cover story, saying Makerere Students Wanted PRA suspects released!
Karuhanga had fused an education institution into the violent political systems of the time.