MAWOGOLA. Veteran politician and former Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Kuteesa has vowed that the ruling National Resistance Movement will edge out the Opposition from Mawogola County South Constituency in the January polls.
Speaking during a handover ceremony where he officially transferred the NRM district office to his successor, Gen. Phenehansi Katrima, Kuteesa,76 vowed to “uproot” the opposition, currently led by NUP’s Gorreti Namugga, from the constituency.
“Sembabule has always been an NRM stronghold. We cannot sit back and watch the opposition take control of our area,” Kuteesa said, urging members to unite behind the party’s flag bearers.
He added: “I will only campaign in Mawogola South because I want to chase opposition from that constituency.”
However, some NRM members in the district warned that Kuteesa faces a tough battle, given the persistent divisions within the district party camp which has been fanning for over two decades as chairperson . Several former NRM members have declared their intentions to run as independents after disputes during the party primaries.
Sembabule District NRM mobilizer Shafiq Matovu noted that the party’s disunity has given the opposition a leeway to expand its influence in Sembabule which predominantly NRM .
“Unless we come together as one family, the opposition will continue to gain ground,” he said.
Despite the internal cracks, other NRM leaders, including District General Secretary Mary Begumisa who doubles as a woman Member of Parliament for Sembabule, insisted that the situation is improving, claiming that several opposition supporters have already defected to the ruling party. Begumisa is standing as independent to reclaim the district woman parliamentary seat .
Another independent parliamentary candidate Denis Ddumba, who fell out with the NRM during the last elections, blamed the current political confusion on the party leadership’s failure to engage the grassroots.
“Our leaders neglected the people who vote for them, creating space for the opposition to grow,” Ddumba said.
Former NUP member Baker Byaayi Ssenyonga, who recently crossed to the NRM, expressed confidence in Kuteesa’s plan, saying that the people of Mawogola County South have “seen through the empty promises of the opposition.”
“Once a house catches fire, it’s impossible to save it, the opposition’s time in Sembabule is over,” he said with a laugh.
On his part Rtd Gen. Phenehansi Katrima, pledged to continue Kuteesa’s efforts and strengthen the party’s grassroots structures to ensure NRM dominance in the district.
“Our goal is clear, to restore unity and make Sembabule fully NRM again,” Katrima told supporters.
During the ceremony, District Chairperson Patrick Nkalubo also called on party members to throw their full support behind President Museveni in the forthcoming elections.
Sembabule, which was carved out of traditional Masaka City is part of the cattle corridor and is traditionally an NRM stronghold but the opposition NUP made some inroads during the 2021 general election where Gorreti Namugga won the Mawogola County South . The other constituencies including Lwemiyaga , Mawogola North , district woman MP ,Mawogola West are still held by NRM supporters