Kings will hold sway as NRM stumbles in Rwenzori

Rwenzururu King Wesley Mumbere and his wife. Photo by Felix Basiime

By FELIX BASIIME

Posted Monday, August 17 2015 at 01:00

[http://www.monitor.co.ug/SpecialReports/Elections/Kings-will-hold-sway-as-NRM-stumbles-in-Rwenzori/-/859108/2835058/-/j4nf98z/-/index.html]

KASESE/KABAROLE.

The far southwestern Rwenzori sub-region that covers Kasese, Kyegegwa, Kyenjojo, Kamwenge, Kabarole, Ntoroko and Bundibugyo districts is known to be a predominantly NRM area.

During the 1996 elections President Museveni was given 97 percent of the votes cast here. He took 87 percent of the votes cast in 2001.

Obusinga (Bakonzo cultural institution) may no longer be a big issue in the politics of Rwenzori, especially in Kasese, but unresolved cultural issues and ethnic conflicts will play part in the 2016 elections.

Political analysts in the region say that because the government has down-played the conflicts here, the Opposition may occupy that space.

Government in 1993 restored traditional institutions, which institutions have been used by the sitting government to gain political capital. In some areas it has worked but not in others.

Mr Mwambutsya Ndebesa, a university don, last year told this paper that culture is being used as a mobilising tool and to exercise control over resources.

In Kasese, the cultural institution despite being in place for over 30 years, had to wait until October 2009 to be recognised after a lot of haggling.

Prior to this, the Obusinga was a big issue which influenced how the elections played out in 2001 and 2006 with the Opposition having a field day. This was after the Opposition politicians made the issues a main plank of the their campaign, winning the hearts of many Bakonjo as a result.

“It started in the CA where a provision was put in the Constitution recognising the cultural institutions to those who so wish” says Chief Prince Christopher Kibanzanga. “Prior to this, the elders over 30 years wanted to revive the cultural institution but some local politicians, especially of the ruling NRM party resisted the move”

Due to this resistance, two groups emerged; those opposed to the Obusinga and those for Obusinga.

“The Opposition asked government: why deny the Bakonjo their cultural rights when other areas had their cultural institutions recognised quickly but NRM continued resisting and so the Opposition became the spokesperson of the issue” says Kibanzanga.

In 2006, the Forum for Democratic Change won three parliamentary seats against two for NRM but after the recognition of Obusinga, the FDC shared the seats with the NRM. The NRM grabbed the Busongora South seat from FDC and also won the new constituency of Kasese Municipality.

“After the 2009 recognition of the Obusinga, the issue of Obusinga and politics relaxed a bit as NRM entered the palace” says Kibanzanga.

Asked how he sees the race to 2016 shaping up in the sub-region, Kibanzanga said, “The Opposition and the NRM may again share the six seats, Opposition in Kasese has grown weaker due to poor mobilisation.

“There are certain issues that the NRM has not handled well like the Rwenzori attacks (of July 5, 2014) which the Opposition may jump on and take the day.”

“Kasese is almost the only area where money doesn’t work in politics, it will be a two horse race between the FDC and the NRM in 2016,” says Mzee Tom Mboijana, an opinion leader in Fort Portal.

“The Obusinga won’t be an issue again in the politics of Kasese ahead of 2016 unless some propaganda is generated against the institution to confuse the people,” reasons Ms Rehema Muhindo an opinion leader in Kasese.

Ms Muhinda is confident that Mr Museveni “still takes it”, noting that former PM Amama“Mbabazi has been in the system for long, in fact for him he has more questions to answer than anyone else.”

“Mbabazi coming won’t make any big difference in this region, he is a new entrant, he has never been in this region looking for votes so the contention will mainly be with Museveni against Besigye or Muntu” reasons Mboijana.

Miles away in Tooro, cultural issues remain a talking point.

Recently President Museveni was in Kyenjojo and Kabarole districts. Among the groups he met were the warring factions in Tooro Kingdom. The King Oyo side and the Prince Kijanangoma side.

He advised the parties to settle disputes amicably and withdraw court cases against either side. He also advised the parties to set up an arbitration committee. The committee was set up, consisting mainly of religious leaders.

However, the Kijanangoma side still contend that if their issues are not well addressed, they will vote for any Opposition leader.

Their concerns are mainly around land in Tooro kingdom where they allege that people are forced to pay rent on the land that government paid for to the kingdom. They also complain about summary land evictions.

NRM primaries factor
Since the NRM electoral body announced new regulations, some aspirants have grown a cold feet and this may see more independent candidates or rebels emerge.

Already, three MP aspirants in Burahya County of Kabarole District have opted out of the NRM party primary elections.

They vowed not to participate in the NRM primaries reasoning that the party is not being fair to its members.

Mr Paul Katisa, the NRM flag bearer for People with Disabilities in Kabarole, has also vowed not to participate in the NRM party primary elections because of what he termed unfairness in the party.

“The party is giving the incumbents a lot of money and yet people who are going to compete have no money,” Katisa said.

Katisa also accused NRM for hiking the registration fee for intending candidates to Shs2 million which denies others the opportunty to participate in the elections.

Mr Patrick Bamanyisa Black who also wants to contest on the Burahya constituency said that he can’t waste money in party elections because they are always not free and fair.

“The incumbents rig elections with impunity and it is much better to participate as an independent candidate,” Bamanyisa reasoned.

Mr Derogations Mugisa, also an aspirant on MP Burahya reasoned that he has decided to opt out of the NRM party primary elections and stand as an independent because people are denied a chance of standing as independents after losing party election, under the new regulations.

The ruling party, therefore, goes into its primaries with mixed fortunes lying ahead as 2016 looms ever closer.