The opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) party leadership in Masaka city has resorted to recycling losers in the last general elections to contest for village and parish local council positions. Following the release of the Electoral Commission’s roadmap for the elections to Villages, Wards, and the Women’s Councils, political parties also began the process of identifying candidates for the available positions.
In Masaka City, the NUP has settled for many of its candidates who unsuccessfully contested for higher local government positions in the last general elections.
Ronald Kasekende, the Chairperson of Nyendo-Mukungwe Division in Masaka City, who also heads the NUP’s vetting committee in the area, says they have found the recycled candidates to be suitable challengers for the incumbents who have outlived their terms in office.
He says that having contested in the previous general elections, the candidates gained the much-needed mobilization experience, which the party will ride on to win more positions in the lower local government administrative units.
Some of the candidates include Wilberforce Ssemanda, who contested for Nyendo-Mukungwe Division Councilor’s LC V seat, now nominated for Mulema cell Chairperson position, John Bosco Walakira who unsuccessfully contested Mulema and Bugabira ward LC 3 Councilor’s seat now nominated for Chairperson Kayirikiti C cell.
Annet Naggayi is now fronted for Kasana cell Chairperson’s seat after she previously lost in the race for Nyendo B ward Councilor to Nyendo-Mukungwe Division council, Anthony Mulumba has been nominated for Kayunga Cell after losing the Kalagala ward Councilor’s polls among others.
According to him, through their assessments, the vetting committee established that the candidates are still popular in their respective areas of residence, hence convincing them to change focus and seek leadership at the grassroots councils, which will eventually help to strengthen the party over the NRM, which has the majority of the incumbents.
Meanwhile, Joseph Kasirye, the Democratic Front-DF party Organising Secretary for Masaka City, says that in the recent past they managed to persuade many of the incumbent lower local council leaders to join the party and will become their candidates.
He says they have put a lot of emphasis on identifying candidates with a high level of integrity and good moral social standing, who can diligently serve their communities. He however expressed concern that the Electoral Commission has not deployed enough manpower to carry out voter registration, yet the exercise has a tight schedule, which may negatively impact voter participation.
Rogers Buregeya, the NRM Chairperson for Masaka City, indicates that they have also intensified mobilisation efforts towards retaining the lower local council positions for the party.
He however indicates that they are investigating reports about some of the incumbent village council Chairpersons who were not handed back the party ticket, who are currently using their offices and government programs as a campaign tool ahead of the elections.
The Electoral Commission is scheduled to conduct elections for villages and Ward local government administrative units on July 28th and August 10th respectively, about eight years after the country held the polls-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
