The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) and the leading opposition party, the National Unity Platform (NUP), have intensified their mobilization efforts ahead of the highly anticipated Kalangala District Woman Member of Parliament by-election, with both camps issuing passionate calls for internal unity.
The political temperature in the island district escalated following a high-profile defection that has handed the ruling party early momentum. The NRM camp officially welcomed the former Kalangala District Speaker, Mr Richard Katumba, who crossed over from the NUP.
Speaking during a welcoming ceremony at the Kalangala District NRM headquarters on June 9, the NRM Vice Chairperson for Buganda Region, Mr. Haruna Kasolo, officially received Mr. Katumba and immediately tasked him with dismantling the opposition’s grassroots structures.
“You are now a general. So, I task you to bring those that you left on the other side to this side, and also lead the mobilization efforts among the opposition side for our candidate,” Mr. Kasolo said.
However, Mr. Kasolo warned local party leaders against double standards, cautioning them against conducting clandestine mobilization for personal gain.
“You deceive us that you are working, yet you are secretly selling us to our enemies, and thereafter you begin demanding for a reward, speaking of how you worked tirelessly and have not been helped,” Mr. Kasolo warned.
Expressing absolute confidence in the NRM flagbearer, Ms. Aidah Nabayiga, Mr. Kasolo stated that she remains the best candidate to represent the unique interests of the islanders. He took a swipe at the opposition, suggesting they were fielding outsiders.
“We want to see that this time NRM wins with 90 percent because it is not proper to impose someone from Luweero on the people of Kalangala, yet that person does not know the cultures and norms of the place,” he added.
The NRM National Mobilizer, Ms. Rosemary Sseninde, attributed the party’s previous losses in Kalangala to internal bickering and intrigue, urging members to bury the hatchet.
“We have leaders and members that voted for the opposition last time, and it is these issues that we have come to rectify,” Ms. Sseninde noted.
To secure victory, former ambassador James Kinobe revealed that the NRM has adopted a decentralized, village-based campaign strategy aimed at maximizing voter turnout and protecting their votes.
“The 60 leaders in every village are to mobilize at least ten people and encourage them to go to polling stations and make sure they vote,” Mr. Kinobe explained, adding that vote-protection teams have been formed to monitor results from polling stations up to the district tally center.
Meanwhile, the NUP is pulling out all the stops to retain the seat, rallying its supporters to guard their political territory. Speaking during a planning meeting at the home of the late MP Hellen Nakimuli on Tuesday, NUP National Mobilizer Mr. Habib Buwembo urged party members to remain cohesive.
“Many of our leaders are beginning to come from different areas to join the Kalangala team in seeking support for our candidate. The people of Kalangala gave us this term, so we should keep it. I urge all to be united and work towards victory,” Mr. Buwembo said.
The Kalangala District Woman MP seat fell vacant following the death of Ms. Nakimuli in April, who passed away after undergoing surgery at Alexandria Medical Centre in Kampala.
According to the Electoral Commission roadmap, nominations for candidates open today, June 10, and close on June 11. Official campaigns will run from June 12 to June 22, ahead of the polling day on June 24.
The district features a complex geographical terrain, with 42,452 registered voters expected to cast their ballots across 155 polling stations scattered across 64 habitable islands.
During the previous general election, Ms. Nakimuli narrowly defeated NRM’s Nabayiga, polling 10,609 votes against Nabayiga’s 9,245. However, NRM enters the by-election on a strong footing, having won both the Bujumba and Kyamuswa County parliamentary seats, the LC5 chairperson seat, and commanding a majority of 18 out of 24 district councilors.