Mbwatekamwa Nominated for Mbarara City Mayoral Contest

Louis Gaffa Mbwatekamwa, the Member of Parliament for Igara West, has been nominated to run in the Mbarara City Mayoral race.

Mbwatekamwa was nominated on Wednesday after meeting all the nomination requirements is competing in the race against four other candidates: the incumbent Robert Mugabe Kakyebezi, who is the NRM party flag bearer; Mark Itogoro Nyabihemu, the flag bearer for the National Unity Platform; Stanely Katambeyi, the PFF flag bearer; and Eng. Mweteise Bitabara, who is running as an Independent. 

Mbwatekamwa, who was denied participation in the NRM party primaries, announced his return to contest as an independent candidate shortly after Kakyebezi was announced the winner by the Chairperson of the NRM electoral commission, Dr. Tanga Odoi. 

Shortly after his nomination, Mbwatekamwa said he felt on top of the world because he had waited for it for a long time. 

He said he was cheated by the NRM party after they disqualified him from contesting in the party primaries. 

He stressed that he is a staunch supporter of the NRM party, because he pays his 200,000 shilings every month to the party. 

“I pay 200,000 shillings every month to the NRM party but they deleted me from the register, it is really a shame but it is okay, we have chosen radio as my symbol, because every person in the village has a radio, so I will serve them diligently.”

He emphasized that he chose to run for mayor because he wanted to provide services to the people of Mbarara City, which he described as a filthy city.

“It is not all about money, but services let those that think there is money in Parliament go there, good enough the qualifications are almost the same.” 

He narrated that the precedent was established by opposition politicians during the 8th Parliament, when Hon. Nobert Mao ran for the District Chairperson seat and achieved remarkable success. Elias Lukwago also contested the Mayoral seat for Kampala City, while Florence Namayanja, the former representative for Bukoto East County, ran for the Mayoral seat in Masaka City. He emphasizes the importance of informing the public about these developments. 

Robert Mugabe Kakyebezi stated that he was prepared to face his opponents in the upcoming election, just as he did during the party primaries, noting that some of them had competed against him in the recent party elections. 

He urged the voters to accept the money offered but to vote wisely in the end. 

“I know that my opponents have money and are ready to bribe the voters, but that is okay let them eat the money but vote me, vote wisely.”

He stated that if elected, he is prepared to make Mbarara a model city by delivering the necessary services, starting with lobbying for the upgrade of Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital to a national hospital to reduce congestion.

Violet Atuhurira, the returning officer of the electoral commission, warned the contestants for the Mbarara mayoral seat against using vulgar language and attacking their opponents. 

She noted that the pace at which city councilors are submitting forms of interest is slow; however, she expects the numbers to increase by the time nominations close.