KAMPALA, Feb 13 (NNN-NEW VISION) — THE race for Uganda 2011 elections is getting hotter.
NRM strongman Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire is facing mounting challenge from four new entrants, who are capitalising on his refusal to grant his constituency a district. In Gulu Municipality, RDC Walter Ochora has vowed to unseat the rather quiet legislator Alex Oceng Penytoo.
Meanwhile, parliamentary speaker Rebecca Kadaga, will have to fight hard to keep off her main challenger, Prossy Naikoba, who has been actively lobbying for votes.
In Mukono north, MP Peter Bakaluba has opted to shift to another constituency, leaving Democratic Party?s Betty Nambooze to face a similarly popular woman, Lillian Nakaweesi.
Compared to the past, where Otafiire has competed with people from the opposition like Chaapa Karuhanga and Francis Bwengye, this time, he faces serious competitors within the NRM party. They include Asaph Ntanda, an accountancy consultant; Vincent Nuwagaba, a political science graduate; Chris Gumisiriza, and Gilbert Njuneki, a management consultant.
Otaffire?s insistence on blocking the split of Bushenyi district has caused displeasure among a number of his constituents. His opponents have been using it to campaign against him, while mobilising their own support. Others accuse him of not spending enough time in the constituency.
Ntanda, for instance, has used his NGO, Hope After Parents, to support widows and orphans. The NGO has also trained about 500 girls in skills like tailoring and knitting.
Ntanda has also been sponsoring games, especially football competitions at sub-county level. He has also used his school, Kigarama HAP Primary School to give bursaries to pupils.
David Ngoga, a media consultant in Kampala, said the issues that will affect the pattern of voting will be whether Ruhinda gets a district status, the road network, especially the Ishaka-Rukungiri road and lack of power.
However, Otafiire?s supporters say they will vote for him, despite what they perceive as his arrogance. They particularly like him for delivering the national cake to his people. He religiously attends fundraisings and contributes or pledges generously.
He was influential in extending electricity and safe water to some of the sub-counties. Many of the constituents consider him to be close to President Yoweri Museveni which, they say, can earn them some favours from the President. — NNN-NEW VISION
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