By Monday Akol Amazima
In 2016 the FDC blue wave swept across the district of Kasese with all the parliamentary seats falling to the main opposition party then. Save for the mayoral seat for Kasese municipality that was retained by NRM’s Godfrey Kabyanga (now state minister for ICT) all local council positions equally fell to FDC.
This was at the height of the fall out between Kasese and NRM.
This election did not even spare the Bunyiswa strong man Dr Crispus Kiyonga that had dominated the politics of Kasese.
Dr Kiyonga had represented Bukonzo West Constituency since 1989 that it was said as long as Museveni is in power, he will never loose in elections.
However in 2021 Busongora county constituencies of South and North including Kasese municipality were all reclaimed by NRM from FDC after a serious fight and vigorous campaign.
This was partly attributed to the divisions in FDC and FDC failure to have a strong presidential candidate that would help consolidate the party’s fortunes countrywide.
With the opposition at national level seemingly disunited and FDC that had a strong presence in Kasese falling into pieces, the question is, will NRM use this opportunity to reclaim the two constituencies of Bukonzo?
For starters, in the good old days of President Yoweri Museveni and NRM, the man from Rwakitura enjoyed almost a fanatical following that whoever was perceived to be working for him would easily win elections. This was the case in 1996 and partly 2001.
In Bukonzo East, since the re-introduction of multiparty politics in 2006, the constituency has been represented by the opposition, starting with Kalibogha Apprunali who was an opposition leaning independent, FDC’s Yokasi Bihande, and the incumbent Herald Muhindo of FDC.
The opposition has easily won the seat due to the presence of the FDC wave in the constituency and disunity of NRM that has always had its roots from toxic NRM primaries.
With FDC’s national predicaments taking a toll on the party countrywide, it gives chance to the NRM to reclaim an area that was once its stronghold.
Dr. Monday Julius Rude successfully won the NRM primaries and flew the NRM flag in 2021.
But this was his first time before the voters and therefore lost to the incumbent Hon Herald Muhindo whom the population was hell bent on giving a second term.
But the performance of Muhindo Herald both in parliament and in the constituency has left many disappointed in his second term and therefore winning another term will be more than an uphill task.
And this is where DR Monday Julius Rude is scoring.
Ever since he lost elections, he has been on ground supporting projects for the youth and women.
He has maintained presence in the constituency through various charity activities and running community projects says Mzee Raphael Musaija of Kagando.
Dr Monday Julius Rude having risen from student leadership right from primary to university is well known in the constituency.
His unprecedented academic success in the area of medicine and inspiring many to study are some of the factors that are endearing his candidature to the elites in the constituency.
However Dr. Rude still has an uphill task of a new entrant in the politics of the Bukonzo East and boasts of connections within the corridors of power.
Edwin Kugonza Bairinga pauses a threat to Dr. Rude in the NRM primaries that his team should not take for granted.
In Bukonzo West much as Hon Katusabe Atkins is a darling to the women voters in the constituency, some observers say if he faces a new opponent other than Dr. Crispus Kiyonga, then NRM stands a chance to win the constituency back that they lost in 2016.
Katusabe Atkins has demonstrated that he can win Dr Crispus Kiyonga with ease.
The NRM ticket has attracted many aspirants and hopefuls that include; Dr Chrispus Kiyonga the former MP and Chancellor Makerere University Kampala, Hon Godfrey Kabyanga the ICT State Minister, Capson Sausi an entrepreneur in Bwera and Syakengwa Baluku Julius a lecturer at Kyambogo University.
According to Muhongya Timothy a secondary school teacher in Bwera, if the NRM flag is won by any other person save for Dr. Kiyonga then chances are high that NRM will give Hon Katusabe a run for his money.
However some observers say that Dr Kiyonga still has his support intact within the NRM structures and that the NRM support base keeps on gaining ever since the FDC started having problems at national level.
Elections in the entire Bukonzo County are likely to be very interesting come 2025/6
The author is a teacher, journalist and Pan African
