THE FUTURE OF ELECTRIC CARS IN UGANDA ;GOVT SHOULD SIGN OFFTAKE AGREEMENTS WITH LOCAL VEHICLE PRODUCERS

BY MOSES SSERWANGA

Controversial UK Prime  Minister Boris Johnson is  expected to unveil a green 10-point plan in which he proposes a ban on  the sale of new petrol and diesel cars.

In effect once the ban is okayed it  will bring forward the current 2040 prohibition on the sale of gas and diesel cars to 2035, or earlier.  This is after  Johnson promised a self-styled green industrial revolution to meet a law calling for net-zero emissions by 2050, and has  set a target to create 2million green jobs by 2030.

He is seeking to balance car industry concerns with climate goals. And the UK Prime Minister is not alone in championing the green -mobility automotive industry revolution .

Already, global carmaker giants like, Nissan,  BMW, Volvo among others – have made it public that the future for electric cars is now- with electric motors- the kind that is used to drive the Kiira Motors – Kayoola EVS -the fully electric buses that are currently offering shuttle services for the staff of  Uganda  Civil Aviation Authority (UCCA)  .

Geely, Volvo’s Chinese owner, has been quietly pushing ahead with electric car development for more than a decade the same time -span  which has taken Uganda’s automotive industry captain -Kiira Motors Corporation (KMC) to finally put their green mobility products on the road for public use .

It is no longer a secret that in the next 10 years the -multibillion US dollars -global automotive industry is going to be  drastically transformed with electric vehicles taking center stage as governments around the world embrace environmentally friendly means of mobility especially in the urban centers to reduce wide spread carbon emission pollution that causes the death of million of people every year  .

Uganda should not be left behind in the race to greening mobility . Government partnering with private sector players should rally behind Uganda’s budding  indigenous Motor Vehicle Industry and harness its great potential  for national economic and social transformation.

Some sceptics have questioned government’s decision to ban the importation of  fully built buses- arguing that Uganda has no capacity nor the required human resource to produce buses on a large scale . These were the same fellows who mocked  KMC some 8 years ago  that the company had no chance of putting a moving vehicle on the road.

They have been proved wrong . KMC has not only produce several moving vehicles but electric ones thus reducing the gap in terms of technology development and advancement with other global industry players . The  company has also signed on  a celebrated global automotive engineering and business executive , entrepreneur and author,  Mr. Edward T. Hightower as the company’s Automotive Industry Advisor.  Hightower,  who has worked for global carmaker giants Ford, BMW, and GM, will provide technical advice, expertise, coach and mentor the Kiira Motors Corporation team to define, develop and implement the most appropriate strategy to identify and address Regional and African Continental Market Opportunities; Commercial and Product Strategies; Supply Chain Localization; and Investor Attraction and Sounding.

This places  Uganda -close to the global carmaker giants- that are now positioning themselves to cash in on electric and or fuel efficient vehicles that are designed to mitigate  the unprecedented pollution levels in our urban centers where people drive  second hand vehicles with -end- of life technologies averaging  16 years old. .

And KMC- apart from being the country’s car maker flagship -is not alone in Uganda’s nascent automotive industry space.  The industry has some established aftermarket parts manufacturers participating in domestic value addition and these include Uganda batteries Ltd – the local market leader in auxiliary battery production, Nile Batteries Ltd, Nice House of Plastics , GM Tumpeco, Henkel, Electric Controls  and switch Gear ltd among others.

There are also local jua-kali companies that are engaged in  assembly and remanufacturing of buses and truck bodies  such as Rubaga Bus Boy Builders, Kamoga Body Builders, Master Coach Builders ,  Godfrey Namunye body modification workshop.

Other vehicle assembly activities  in Uganda  include assembly at the Armored Vehicle Manufacturing and Assembly facility in Magamaga ,-Jinja, MetuZhongtong  Industries in Namanve Industrial Park,  and Bakayira Diesel Garage in Katwe.  These local companies need to be supported to increase their skills and production levels .

 KMC is a government owned company which has demonstrated that it can produce vehicles which are now being driven on Ugandan roads. It is imperative therefore , that  government  nurtures its baby by offering Kiira Motors  and other actors -offtake agreements to produce buses and other utility vehicles (both electric and fuel efficient combustion engine ones) locally.

By supporting the local car manufacturing industry government will inherently be facilitating  an unprecedented opportunity- to promote value addition to Uganda’s mineral and other natural resources. This will lead  to import substitution and export promotion of vehicles, parts, components and systems because Uganda is already endowed with wealth of  minerals, which can be used for vehicle parts manufacturing.

Some of the minerals include iron ore for automotive steel; silica sand for glass; rare earth elements for glass glazing, catalytic converters, batteries, & electronics; graphite for brake pads; oil for plastics; cobalt & lithium for batteries; kaolin, marble and vermiculite for paint; tungsten, columbite, tantalite, chromite and titanium for metal alloys; copper for auto electric conductors and motors  interalia .

We should note however, that as KMC champions the new home grown -green mobility technologies in EAC and Africa -which are key to reducing pollution -there are too expensive to work without subsidization from government . Bottom-line , we should get rid of the  dangerous and dirty  millions of used cars that are dumped in  our country every other year .

The writer is a Media and Communications Consultant /Trainer

and Advocate of the High Court of Uganda

msserwanga@gmail.com

 

KIIRA MOTORS HIRES AMERICAN EDWARD T HIGHTOWER AS THEIR AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY ADVISOR

 As Uganda’s automotive flagship, Kiira Motors Corporation (KMC) readies for the global- car market entry , it has signed on  a celebrated global automotive engineering and business executive , entrepreneur and author,  Mr. Edward T. Hightower as the company’s Automotive Industry Advisor.

The American automotive industry expert ,acclaimed  for his crusade “trade with Africa –manufacturing in Africa”, Mr. Hightower is the  Managing Director of Motoring Ventures LLC, an investment, growth, strategy, and operations advisory firm focused on driving value plus impact in automotive and manufacturing businesses around the world. He also serves on the boards of directors of Tempel Steel – a global manufacturer of precision components for electric motors; and HEVO Power – a designer, developer, and manufacturer of wireless charging systems for electric vehicles.

Addressing the media in Uganda from his Michigan base in the USA -via a zoom press conference on Friday  , a visibly excited -Mr. Hightower said that he made the decision to work with Uganda’s pioneer car manufacture because he believed there is a big local market for the automotive industry in Uganda and Africa ,the right government policy and legal framework -including direct support of President Yoweri Museveni and the right skills set at KMC which is focused and committed to deliver world class products.

“I will use my experience and vast networks to help KMC forge the right technical partnerships,  leverage  the local resources (minerals) to develop and produce a whole range of vehicle components  and work on the company’s product strategy and planning ,” he explained.

He added: “There are many opportunities for Kiira Motors to work out public and private partnerships that will help the company to participate in the automotive global markets.”

In a press release issued by the management of Kiira Motors, it was stated that Mr. Hightower comes with a wealth of automotive industry expertise and experience having served in several new-product design and engineering, strategy, brand marketing, and senior executive roles between Ford, BMW, and GM.

“He led GM’s $15 billion global crossovers business as the Executive Chief Engineer and Vehicle Line Executive, where he led the team that planned and developed the Cadillac XT5, GMC Acadia, Chevrolet Traverse and Blazer, Buick Enclave, Holden Acadia, and other platform variants. These vehicles are sold in over 150 markets around the world. ,” the statement reveals .

Hightower, also served as Chief Engineer for Ford’s full-size SUVs – Excursion, Expedition and Navigator, and BMW’s Brand Manager for the 5, 6, & 7 Series models in the U.S. Mr. Hightower authored the book Motoring Africa: Sustainable Automotive Industrialization – published in 2018, based on his industry experiences in China, India, South Korea, Mexico and Brazil.

According to the  statement , Mr. Hightower will provide technical advice, expertise, coach and mentor the Kiira Motors Corporation Team to define, develop and implement the most appropriate strategy to identify and address Regional and African Continental Market Opportunities; Commercial and Product Strategies; Supply Chain Localization; and Investor Attraction and Sounding.

“The Automotive Industry Advisor will work closely with the Kiira Motors Corporation Team to build capacity in the 4+1 key pillars of People, Product, Plant, and Mobility Infrastructure, plus Policy with the ultimate goal of growing KMC into a sustainably profitable business and create new opportunities while building the indigenous Motor Vehicle Industry in Uganda,”

Hightower’s appointment ,comes at a time when industrialisation is one of the government’s top priorities to transform Uganda into a middle-income economy through import substitution and export-oriented production to enhance household incomes and improve the quality of life of all Ugandans.

This economic strategy is conceptualised around harnessing Uganda’s demographic dividend, the second youngest nation in the world. Streamlined skilling and up -skilling of the youth coupled with opening domestic and regional markets to guarantee demand is key to deepening value addition, and supporting the mineral-led industrialisation agenda for import substitution and export promotion.

“H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the President of the Republic of Uganda is an ardent champion of building the indigenous Motor Vehicle Industry. With H.E’s Visionary leadership,the Government recognises that building the indigenous Motor Vehicle Industry has great potential to contribute towards the desired economic and social transformation. It provides an unprecedented opportunity for promoting value addition to Uganda’s mineral and other natural resources with the view of import substitution and export promotion of vehicles, parts, components and systems,”

 Government  has since approved a roadmap and allocated resources for the establishment of the Kiira Vehicle Plant on 100 Acres of land at the Jinja Industrial and Business Park with the  Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation ,providing policy guidance and oversight to the nascent Motor Vehicle Industry.

Once completed next year ,the Kiira Vehicle Plant  start-up facility will produce up to 22 vehicles (Buses & Trucks including pickups) a day and  5,000 vehicles a year. Construction of the Kiira Vehicle Plant started  in February 2019 and is being , undertaken by the UPDF Engineering Brigade through the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC).

The progress of the construction work now stands at  60% as of September 2020. Through technology transfer with China and utilizing production facilities at the Luweero Industries in Nakasongola, Kiira Motors , Africa’s pioneer –green mobility champion has built  the Kayoola EVS, fully electric city buses  with  premium zero-emissions covering a distance of  300km on a single charge . The buses  are now offering shuttle services to Uganda Civil Aviation Authority staff between Kampala and Entebbe. “ The Kayoola EVS speaks to improved public transport, operational and fuel efficiency within our cities coupled with enhanced environmental stewardship,” Managers at KMC stated .

The officials said that the Kiira Vehicle Plant investment is expected to create over 14,000 jobs and catalyze investment by small and medium enterprises in the manufacture of vehicle parts, components and autonomy systems (brake pads, seats, bolts and nuts, bumpers, vehicle electronics, navigation system, digital mobility solutions such as ticketing and cashless payments management, among others).

It is also projected to increase demand for the utilization of Uganda’s mineral resources such as iron ore for automotive steel; silica sand for glass; rare earth elements for glass glazing, catalytic converters, batteries and electronics; graphite for brake pads; oil for plastics; cobalt & lithium for batteries; kaolin, marble and vermiculite for paint; tungsten, columbite, tantalite, chromite and titanium for metal alloys; copper for auto electric conductors and motors, among others.

The writer is a media and development communications consultant and Advocate of the High Court of Uganda

msserwanga@gmail.com

KIIRA MOTORS IS A LEGACY PROJECT THAT SHOULD BE PEOPLE CENTERED SAYS, ERB CHAIRMAN DR. MUTENYO

 

BY MOSES SSERWANGA  

Dr.  Isaac Mutenyo the Chairman of Engineers Registration Board, (ERB) has said that Kiira Motors is a national legacy project that should be people centered . He called upon the UPDF Engineering Brigade through the National Enterprise Corporation ,(NEC) who are constructing the Kiira Vehicle Plant at the Jinja Industrial and Business Park, to “guard jealously “ what will be a national treasure once completed mid next year .

The start up facility which is projected to produce 22 vehicles per day and 5,000 a year is at 60% completion and it is on course to be ready for vehicles production next year if government releases all the required funds to set up the production line , “ Eng. Brian Buhanda the  General Manager NEC stated. The construction works are being supervised by the Makerere  University based ,Technology Consult that was represented by Eng. Peter Mugumya.

Dr. Mutenyo made the remarks when he led a- 13 man delegation of ERB including members of their secretariat who had a tour of the Kiira Vehicle Plant site on Saturday midmorning .

“ Let Kiira Motors involve the people especially the local communities in ensuring the project serves the public interest.  Corporate Social  Responsibility (CSR) is key for the people and the KMC leadership  should ensure that health and safety measures are observed on site at all times. We don’t want to hear an incident here this facility is very important for the economic growth and development of Uganda,”  Dr. Mutenyo who was received at the site by the KMC Executive Chairman, Prof. Sandy Stevens Tickodri-Togboa and the KMC CEO , Mr. Paul Isaac Musasizi, stressed.

CSR  is a management concept whereby companies integrate social and environmental concerns in their business operations and interactions with their stakeholders.

The ERB Chairman pledged that his board will be KMC brand ambassadors and said they will work with the company’s management to register a team of engineers who are churning out electric vehicles in Uganda and championing green mobility technologies on the African continent .

Prof. Tickodri-Togboa called upon government through the Ministry of Energy to deploy a national charging infrastructure to prepare for the evolving electric vehicles revolution across the world.  Mr. Musasizi said that Kiira Motors was at the forefront of developing Uganda’s nascent automotive industry for deepening value addition and create  thousands of jobs in Uganda with- the second youngest population in the world.

Mr. Musasizi  said that although it was commendable that government has embarked on the development of 22 industrial and business parks across Uganda, there is still inadequate  infrastructure  to  support  establishment  of industries  in  these  parks i.e -connection to national grid, railway sidings, roads, water, waste treatment plant and there is limited investment in infrastructure to support the shift to green automotive technology and charging infrastructure.

 

For the Kiira Vehicle Plant , Musasizi said government should expedite plans to put in place facilities for vehicle testing, vehicle homologation protocols, and automotive technology research and development centers to support the utilization of the abundant minerals and plant materials for developing a wide range of auto parts and systems in Uganda.

 

 Among other the Engineers Registration Board members present included , Eng. Dr. Florence Lubwama kiyimba, Eng. Dr. John Tumwesigye, Eng. George william Bwanga, Eng.Dr. Eleanor Wozei, Eng. Ayub Sooma and Eng. Ronald Namugera who is also the Registrar on the Board.

 

MINISTRIES AND OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES SHOULD IMPLEMTENT PRESIDENT MUSEVENI’S DIRECTIVE TO BUY BUSES FROM LOCAL PRODUCERS

 

By MOSES SSERWANGA

Many Ugandans are excited about the Ugandan made  Kayoola EVS (fully electric ) buses that have been plying the Kampala – Entebbe and Express highway routes for the last two months -while offering shuttle services to Civil Aviation Authority , (CAA).

When Kiira Motors Corporation (KMC) Uganda’s automotive industry leaders entered into a partnership with CAA to validate their production- fully electric buses many naysayers were caught with pants down -since they  deliberately don’t want to see anything positive  coming out of Uganda .

But for the staff of CAA, the locally built buses  are a marvel and a true testament that Uganda doesn’t not only have the talent but capabilities to match any other vehicles producing countries- if the right environment and resources are provided for the engineers and other value chain actors to express themselves in the nascent automotive industry .

One cannot tier to repeat themselves that all the major economies in the world are thriving on their respective automotive industries  .  Available data shows that all the top economies of the world have budding automotive industries . From America 's automobile heartbeat in Michigan (General Motors ) , China’s Shanghai General Motors, Malaysia’s Proton, Japan’ s Toyota , South Korea’s Hyundai  to  South Africa 's Honda, the automotive sector has played a leading role in the development of these countries respective economies .

All the top world biggest economies in 2019 to 2020  which include the USA, China, Japan Germany, United Kingdom, India , France and South Africa ,governments have invested heavily and continue to support their automotive industries . Governments in other relatively small economies like Vietnam, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Morocco, Algeria, Turkey are funding their car producers too.

In Asia, governments of major vehicle production countries such as China, South Korea, Malaysia, and Japan have played a virtual role to ensure that their automotive industries, do not only grow and survive the global economic turbulences due to the global-novel-Covid 19 pandemic that’s has left economies shutdown for months - but that such industries are at the center of a fast recovery program .

But in Uganda and East African it is a completely different story altogether . Despite the growing demand for vehicles in Uganda and the EAC, vehicles are predominantly imported as Fully Built Units without domestic value addition.  This is a big shame !

Studies have also shown that the Uganda Vehicle Import Value has grown from US$ 190 Million in 2005 to a whopping US$ 550 Million in 2015 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate of 11.8% representing approximately 10% of the National Gross Import Value. For the same period, vehicles were the second highest valued imported goods after petroleum products.

It is further worth noting that the vehicle market size in the EAC has grown from 158,000 in 2011 to 257,000 in 2015 and is projected to reach over 6300,000 by 2030.  Unfortunately many of the 45,560 vehicles registered by Uganda Revenue Authority in 2014, 15%  were new and  85% used with an average age of 16 years at registration. Can you imagine the total waste here ! This not to mention that the importation of end-of-life vehicle technology has resulted into low fuel efficiency and hazardous transport-based carbon emissions contributing to climate change.

And yet Kiira Motors continues to demonstrate as highlighted above that it does not only have home grown technology but it now  has the capabilities to produce vehicles locally starting with buses both fully electric and combustion engine ones which are fuel efficient and environmental friendly . Already , mainstream media has reported that Kiira Motors can for now produce 8 buses a month at their Nakasongola base and this will be scaled up to at least 22 buses a day - once the construction of the  Kiira Vehicles Plant is completed by the UPDF mid next year.

Therefore, the  development of Uganda’s automotive industry has come a long way in the last decade or so . Milestones after milestones have been registered and documented by the media. In case you have forgotten , just last year , Uganda  was  assigned for the first time, a World Manufacturers Identifier (WMI) by the International Society for Automotive Engineers’ (SAE)- paving way for production of vehicles in the country.

The SAE WMI Coordinator, Mr. Kris Siddall stated that Uganda has now been officially assigned WMI codes to be used by vehicles manufacturers. This means that Uganda is internationally recognized as a car producing country .

Perhaps the same reason why President Museveni has now come out to state that the Uganda government will no-longer allow the importation of  fully built buses. While launching the 3-day National Resistance Movement (NRM) National Executive Committee (NEC) and delegates - virtual conference at State House in Entebbe, Museveni empathized the need for value addition across all productive sectors (including the automotive industry )to ensure jobs and wealth creation.

Museveni underscored the need for government to prioritize the post Covid-19 interventions to boost the economy by supporting key nine production  sectors including transport, where local industry champions like Kiira Motors Corporation Ltd  under the Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation are taking  the lead.

With Shs.400billion, President  Museveni noted, the automotive  industry can take off and any balance of payments support should go towards development of local manufacturing capacity to ensure the country is competitive in terms of import -substitution and export- promotion.

Yet the bureaucrats as usual have maintained a notable silence about these presidential directives and others are busy involved in machinations with briefcase middlemen to siphon off  public-tax payers money by importing fully built buses and deny Ugandans job opportunities and income.

These  individuals must be stopped in their tracks and the presidential directives implemented rather urgently .

SPEAKER KADAGA , NABAKOOBA, LAMWAKA DECLARED WINNERS AS RUKUTANA PULLS GUN AND FIST FIGHTS REPORTED IN SEMBABULE , JINJA , MBALE AND KAZO

 

BY MOSES SSERWANGA

The NRM returning officer for Kamuli district has declared Hon. Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga the NRM women MP flag bearer after she registered the  biggest win in the  hotly contested primaries where several senior and junior ministers were given the boot by dissatisfied-angry  voters.

 In a show of overwhelming support Kadaga polled 118,748 of the vote with her rival Mugerwa Deborah Mwesigwa receiving 7243  votes .Other  candidates  who will run on the ruling NRM party ticket  in Kamuli  district are , Kibalya Henry who got 20,158 votes for   Bugabula South , john Teira 17,808 Bugabula North, Namatovu Masitula 7,315 for the Municipality , and Martin Mugabi muzaale 36,853 for Buzaya constituency .

Kadaga thanked her supporters for the overwhelming support even when some mafia’s in government where busy maligning her name before President Museveni . “ I take this opportunity to thank all voters and campaign agents. Let's prepare for the next battle; win it; and serve our people,” a jovial Speaker said.

She added ,”One day, when I quit active politics, I would like to be remembered for three key issues: Speaking out for the underprivileged; introduction of the Certificate of Gender and Equity Compliance --- before any law is passed; and striving to end Female Genital Mutilation.”

In Mityana  , Judith Nabakooba the Minister of ICT and NG and incumbent woman MP for Mityana district floored her opponent in the NRM primaries for flag bearers – registering a 86.4% landslide that has paved the way to retain her seat in the 11^th parliament .

The triumphant Nabakooba in a message to her supporters after the huge win stated ; “ I'm truly honoured for the trust and overwhelming support I got as the nominated NRM flag bearer-woman MP,Mityana District. This is a vote of confidence-shared victory and a renewal of our commitment to improve service delivery. Onwards to the final race. Thank you all. God bless you. “

In Omoro district , Catherine  Lamwaka  will be the NRM  Party Flag bearer as the woman MP for Omoro district after  she beat her rivals , Amb. Akech Okulu and Grace Atim with a landslide. Lamwaka ‘s huge win where she beat her rivals with well over ten thousand votes means that she is  now at the halfway mark to retain her seat in the 11^th parliament  .

As  supporters of Hons  Nabakooba and Lamwaka were celebrating in Mityana and  Omoro districts  at least 10 Ministers were nursing  wounds after they  were thumped by their arch rivals . The hotly contested NRM primaries recorded huge political upsets in Sheema and Koboko municipalities with incumbents Dr. Elioda Tumwesigue and vocal State Minister for Investments Evelyn Anite trailing political novices, Dickson Kateshumbwa and Dr. Charles Ayume , respectively.

But  historicals -Generals Jim Muhwezi and Kahinda Otafiire won with commanding -solid leads in their respective races . In the  east "Maama Mbale" Connie Galiwango  beat her  rival "big sister"Lydia Wanyoto while in Mbarara municipality incumbent Michael Tusiime, lost to his opponent businessman Robert Mwesigwa Rukaari . Others losing include Fred Tumwesigye, Abraham Byandala, Simeo Nsubuga , Peter kibazanga and Molly Kamukama .

Ministers Prof. E. Kamuntu ,David Bahati, Mary Gorrette Kitutu won in  Ndorwa West and  Manafwa while fellow ministers , Mary Karoro, Adolf Mwesigye, Peter Egwang,  Mwesigwa Rukutana  , Beatrice Anywaa aka Maama Mabira /political slay queen -were fighting for their political lives while trailing in their respective races .

 Florence Nebanda won  for the woman MP in Butaleja and Namuganza for Bukono county .

In Ruhama south , Benjamin Kamukama won  while Bata Kamateneti took the ntungamo woman MP flag. In Isingiro North, Lt. Col bright Rwamirama  sailed through together with Nathan Byanyima in Bukanga North  , isngiro South Alex Bakunda, Bukanga county Steven kangwagye; Mbarara city south Mwine mpaka , Mbarara city  woman MP  Rita Atukwase and Kashari  South J.B. Tumusiime and woman MP Margaret Rwebyambu.

Rukutana takes law in his own hands , the Jinja, Kazo and Mbale fracases 

The hotly contested elections went on without major incidents across the country following heavy deployment of security forces . But defeated Mwesigwa Rukutana took the law in his own hands when he grabbed a gun from his security detail and pointed it at civilians travelling in a vehicle . He later calimed that he was defending himself from intruders .

In Jinja and Mbale rival candidates and their supporters  engaged in fist fights accusing each other of manipulating the final tally results .  By Saturday afternoon in many constituencies official results were yet to be announced .

Isolate cases of goons beating and intimidating voters were reported in some villages and police said they were investigating the reported cases .

Other Results:

 

IBANDA DISTRICT IBANDA SOUTH  Winner: Eng. John Byabagambi 2nd: John Paul Panadol    IBANDA MUNICIPALITY  Winner: Tarsis Rwaburindore  2nd : Deus Mulinde    IBANDA NORTH Winner: Guma Gumisiriza 2nd: Xavier Kyooma   IBANDA WOMAN MP Winner: Jovrine Kaliisa  2nd: Jane Bainomugisha      *KAZO DISTRICT* KAZO COUNTY  Winner: Gordon Bafaki  2nd: Dan Kimosho    KAZO WOMAN MP Winner: Jennifer Muheesi  2nd: Molly Kamukama    *KIRUHURA DISTRICT* NYABUSHOZI COUNTY  Winner: Wilson Kajwengye  2nd: Col. Fred Mwesigye    KASHONGI COUNTY  Winner: Herbert Tayebwa  2nd:  Genensio Tumuramye    KIRUHURA WOMAN MP Winner: Sheila Mwine Katsimbura  2nd: Jovanice Rwenduru    *SHEEMA DISTRICT*  SHEEMA NORTH  Winner: Naome Kibaaju  2nd: Dr. Arthur Mugisha   SHEEMA MUNICIPALITY Winner: Dicksons Kateshumbwa  2nd: Elioda Tumwesigye    SHEEMA SOUTH Winner: Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu  2nd: Eng. Yorokamu Katwiremu    SHEEMA WOMAN MP  Winner: Rosemary Nyakikongoro  2nd: Jacklet Rwabukurukuru    *MITOOMA DISTRICT* RUHINDA SOUTH  Winner: Donozio Kahonda  2nd: Arthur Kazoora    RUHINDA COUNTY Winner: Kahinda Otafiire  2nd: Robert Mbeine    RUHINDA NORTH  Winner: Thomas Tayebwa  2nd: Dr. Moses Twimukye     *MITOOMA WOMAN MP*  winner:Jovah Kamateeka 2nd Agasha Juliet Bashiisha   *BUSHENYI DISTRICT* IGARA EAST  Winner: Michael Mawanda   IGARA WEST  Winner: Mbwatekamwa Gaffa 2nd: Horace Muhanguzi    BUSHENYI - ISHAKA MUNICIPALITY  Winner: Derrick Kabuura  2nd: Marvin Baryaruha    BUSHENYI WOMAN MP Winner: Annet Mugisha  2nd: Mary Karooro Okurut

 

 

AMIN GRAND DAUGHTER SHARIFAH TABAN AMIN ELECTED KOBOKO NRM WOMAN MP FLAG BEARER

 

BY MOSES SSERWANGA

The Amin family is back in national politics after former President Iddi Amin  Dada ‘s  grand daughter- Dr Sharifah  Taban Amin was elected and declared the NRM party  Koboko  woman MP in shocking polls that have seen many incumbents thrown by the way side for non- performance , arrogance and being absentee legislators who had for long abandoned their electorates .

Shortly after her surprise win , Sharifah Taban Amin one of the Museveni -doctom- young generation paid special tribute to President Yoweri Museveni saying he gave his father a chance to come back from exile without which she  would not have gone to school and become what she is today.

“ For me I have grown up and been educated by the NRM government . President Museveni gave my father and my family a chance to  come back home . He gave my father a job which enabled him to take me to good schools. That’s why I’m a strong NRM and Museveni’s supporter ,”  Dr. Sharif Taban Amin said .

A political novice so to speak, Sharif Amin said that she was going to learn on the  job and was ready for her opponents in the 2021 general elections  because “ I have been blessed by God and the people liked me naturally . “

“ I didn’t have the money yet my opponents used a lot of it . But the people of Koboko- young and old voted for me ,” She explained  vowing to work for unity among  the leaders in the district to champion the causes that are of great interest to the people especially the jobless youth .

In Fort Portal controversial incumbent Sylvia Rwabogo was shown the door when the voters elected her rival Linda Irene. Veteran media personality Margarate Muhanga survived by a whisker when she won by a narrow margin of 200 votes in Fort Portal North tourism city . In  Hoima Beatrice ‘true mummy’ defeated Harriet Businge –‘baby face’.

Minister Simon Lokodo was  beaten by Baatom Ben  Koryang in Dodoth, while Dr. C. Kiyonga bounced back in Bukonzo West after a long stay in political limbo .Ferigo Kambale will hold the NRM flag  in Kasese municipality while Frank Tumwebaze retains his Kamwenge flag.  Another veteran legislator Aston Kajara was defeated by Don Katalihwa  while minister  Col. Tom Butiime and NRM historical in Tooro  won in Mwenge Central. 

 

D-DAY :HEAVY SECURITY DEPLOYED AS VOTERS DECIDE ON NRM PARTY FLAG BEARERS

 

By MOSES SSERWANGA

There is heavy deployment of the police and army across the country especially in the 15 hotspots as NRM party members go to the polls to decide who will be their flag bearers for the  scientific 2021 general elections.

There has also been heavy spending of money by the various candidates as they woe voters in the hotly contested NRM primaries  with at least two major races in Sembabule district suspended by the Party Chairman , President Yoweri Museveni due to violence and intimidation of voters.

 Museveni -the endorsed NRM chairman and the party’s sole presidential candidate has also directed that all known NRM members/supporters  should be allowed to vote in tomorrow’s polls following complaints that in some villages- in the flagged hotspots -the NRM party voters register had been tampered with in futile efforts to rig the vote.

Now, Museveni is emphatic  that  all NRM party members whether registered or not should be given an opportunity to cast their votes by adding their names on the voters register after verification by the village committees. The exercise of registering voters will go on until the polling day , Museveni stated in a communication to all national NM branch (village) executive committees.

An estimated 2,600 candidates are vying for posts in the NRM mass party with  an estimated 1,600 candidates standing to get the direct Member of Parliament NRM flag, some  200  women contesting for the woman MP flag .  Speaker of  parliament Rebecca Kadaga got an endorsement from the Busoga Kingdom Prime Minister Joseph Muvawala who said the region can not afford not to have Kadaga in both local and national politics and that she should retain all her positions. Else where, Judith Nabakooba was predicted to get the NRM flag for the Mityana woman MP and Lydia Wanyoto was also reported to be ahead of rival in Mbale.

The flagged hotspots

Police and the   army conducted night patrols and have today morning deployed heavily in the hotspots  as voters head to the polling centers where they will vote by lining behind their preferred candidates . The hotspots include Rakai Ssembabule, Kassanda, Kazo, Bundibugyo, Sironko, Sheema, Mbale, Hoima, Koboko, Adjumani, Kashongi, Kampala, Wakiso and Hoima.

In Ssebambule where the voting has been suspended , the incumbent Lwemiya MP Theodore Ssekikuubo was battling State Minister for transport Joyce Kabatsi while President Yoweri Museveni’s relative Godfrey Aine is facing off with Shartis Musherure Nayebare, a daughter to foreign affairs Minister Sam Kutesa for the  Mawogola North constituency.

An Interesting profile of the race for Mawogola North shows that Shartsi Musherule, one of the contenders is daughter to Sam Kuteesa  and twin sister to the first  Son Gen. Muhoozi’s wife Charllote. Her rival is her father-in-law Sodo Aine Kaguta, younger brother to President Museveni and therefore an uncle to Muhoozi.

In Shema , Dr. Elioda Tumwesigye a veteran politician who has been MP for 20 years and minister for Science technology and Innovation , (MosTI) is in a race of his life- facing off with a political novice but who is filthy rich -Dickson Kateshumbwa aka(Kaesh)- who was recently sacked from URA by President Museveni. This particular race is  hotly contested  that police and army have had to storm hotels and lodges in Sheema and  rounded up over 50 “kanyamas” who were ferried from   Kampala by the two camps to allegedly  intimidate voters.

The army and police have now been deployed in all the villages of Sheema to ensure that no violence erupts during and after the elections.

Koboko is another hot one , with the incumbent Evelyn Anite being given a run for her money by another fresh political entrant  Dr. Charles Ayume . Already cases of violence and hooliganism have been reported in Koboko forcing the police to summon the two arch rivals to record statements .

 

But why the do or die NRM primaries

 

 Political pundits have told the trusted and topical Ugandaupdatenews.com publication that commercialization of Uganda’s politics where  an MP earns well over Ug.shs.35M a month- candidates are even selling their houses to buy votes and go to parliament . Civil society actors  monitoring the campaign financing in Uganda now believe that for one to be elected an MP they should have spent on average Ug.shs.300M.

 

In the NRM primaries some candidates are said to be spending well over Ug.shs.500m- meaning that by the time they are done with the general elections next year they would have spent in the upward of a billion shillings . In western Uganda a vote was reported to be going for as much as ug.Shs.300,000 depending on one’s burgaining power and influence in the villages .

 

And here is the math. It is estimated that an MP would have earned at least 2bn official money in salaries and allowances over a five year period when they are in parliament which is a motivating factor for candidates to invest as much as Ug.shs.500m for campaigns  and make a ‘profit’ of ug.shs.1.5bn when they are elected MPs.

 

“ That’s why candidates will do everything within their means to be elected as MPs. And when one wins the primaries they are at 70% mark to become MPs. And the voters want to have a piece of the cake too -since for some, this is the first and last time they will interact with these politicians. Many don’t return to their electorates once they are elected ,” John Bagonza a political scholar stated .

 

The same views have since been echoed  by Ugandan scholars- Ramathan Ggoobi and Prof.  Mwambutsya who noted that you cannot have free and fair elections when the majority of the voters are poor and when those who commercialise politics are rewarded with government positions .

 

Past hotly contested races  

 

So the question is then posed ;is this the first time families are contesting against each other. The answer is no. 

 

During the race to the Constituent Assembly (CA) in 1994 Prof. Adonia Tiberondwa contested against Major Amanya Mushega in Bushenyi yet their wives were blood sisters. The CA involved joint campaigns referred to as Joint Candidates Meetings. Tiberondwa was a former UPC minister and Mushega was a serving NRM minister. Although the law prohibited campaigning along party lines, Bushenyi was still strongly UPC and, naturally a contest between the then  NRM values and those of UPC often became heated.

 

The candidates would haul insults at each other on the campaign platforms to fire up the peasants then withdraw to any of their homes and share  a meal and some pleasantries as the peasants continued with the  bitter rivalry  throughout the night.

 

Another case is Bunyaruguru. where  Hon. Bart  Katurebe ( now retired Chief justice )   and Hon. Twarebireho contested against each other yet they are first cousins. During elections, Twarebireho lost his mother.  The family eulogy was given   by Bart Katurebe who went ahead to win the election .

 

In the 1980 elections in Mbale Central Constituency (now Bududa District and part of Manafwa District) two UPC diehards  who had at different times married or at least produced a child with the same woman contested for the same position . One was Abner Nangwale, a British trained chartered engineer and the other was Seth Mungati, an equally British trained chartered surveyor.

 

Floodgates to many  Independents 

 

The bitter rivalry in the NRM primaries  will  open the floodgates to many independent candidates since the losers are likely to contest the general elections as independents.  According to political commentators all this will increase the cost of elections in Uganda -even when the 2021 polls are likely to be conducted in a scientific manner to stem the spread of the global -novel- Covid-19 pandemic.

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