Awori, Kajura Return as NRM Elderly battle for MP Seats

By SOPs

Chances for septuagenarian and octogenarian politicians to return to Parliament have brightened following the creation of five parliamentary slots meant to cater for interests of the elderly.

Already, in the ruling party, the battle for the seats of the in their 70s and 80s has taken shape, with fresh details suggesting that former ministers and MPs who served under the Museveni era are largely involved in lobbying for the 5 seats.

Notable among these is former ICT minister Aggrey Awori Siryoyi who is rumored to be eyeing the post of elderly representing the Eastern region. Others in the race include Capt. John Emilly Otekat, former minister Gabriel Opio, Col. Steven Basaliza, former minister Okumu Ringa and former minister Henry Muganwa Kajura.

In this detail, Second Opinion Operatives [SOPs] brings you ‘who is who’.

Col. (rtd) Steven Basaliza

Col. (rtd) Steven Basaliza is a professional teacher, economist, human rights expert and lawyer, and his background and relationship with the current establishment dates back to the days of Uganda National Liberation Front (UNLF), where he served under Museveni’s military outfit Front for National Salvation (FRONASA) that participated in the Tanzanian-led war that ousted Iddi Amin’s government in April 1979.

Referred to by close pals as Omudumiizi, Col. Basaliza, reportedly in his late 60s, is also a founding member of the Uganda Patriotic Movement (UPM), a political party formed by Yoweri Museveni to contest for presidency in the 1980 elections. He then participated in the National Resistance Army/Movement (NRA/NRM) five-year struggle, and, on capture of power carried out various assignments including at the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) Anti-Smuggling Unit (ASU), then commanded by Brig. Andrew Lutaaya.

He has also worked with officers like Deputy Government Spokesperson Col. Shaban Bantariza and Uganda’s Defence Attaché to the European Union (EU) Brig. Moses Rwakitarate. He then worked under the office of the Chief of Political Commissar for many years after which he joined elective politics in 2001. However, when parties were restored, in consultation with CiC Museveni Col. Basaliza opted to return to the forces while his other retired colleagues like Maj Gen Jim Muhwezi, Maj Gen Kahinda Otafiire, Lt. Col Bright Rwamirama, Maj. James Kinobe, Charles Byaruhanga, among others, chose to retire and concentrate on politics.

On rejoiniong the army, Col. Basaliza was sent to the Senior Staff Command College-Kimaka in the 2nd intake and upon was deployed to AMISOM under UGABAG 1, alongside officers like Force Commander Maj Gen Levi Karuhanga and then Brig Peter Elwelu.

On return after the tour of duty in Somalia, Col. Basaliza was appointed UPDF Chief of Pensions and Gratuity, where his last assignment was documentation of the ex-service men’s pension, gratuity and ex-gratia for all former combatants right from KAR, Uganda Army, UNLA and NRA/UPDF.

“His findings was to advise the CiC on what to do for veterans. The resultant action was the formation of the Ministry for Veteran Affairs by the CiC. Since that time, the issue of veterans has been handled and there are not many complaints for non-payment. These are people who fought but had been ignored. Most of the veterans are now old people. So, we need to give them priority” a source said.

Basaliza was later posted to the Uganda Human Rights Commission where he served for one term, and was later appointed board member of the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC).

Now that many of the Tooro big boys were removed from top jobs, the last being Brig. Ronnie Barya, it is time for Col. Basaliza to be fished from political oblivion and return as MP representing the elderly for Western region,” a source said.

The source added: “The delegates from Rwenzori region are demanding that he returns to represent the Western elders.”

Henry Kajura

The last that was heard about Henry Kajura was when money lenders were baying for his home after he reportedly failed to pay them.

A former MP for Bugahya County in Hoima and also a long serving minister/deputy premier, Henry Muganwa Kajura, now 86, has been around the Uganda political scene following his days at the Bank of Uganda.

He was one of those who funded the NRA guerrilla war but he is currently economically struggling and  a political comeback as an MP representing the elderly can provide remedy for him. In fact it is being reported that he too is being considered for the elderly seat [western].

Aggrey Awori

A journalist by profession who worked at UTV [now UBC] in the 60s and early 70s, Aggrey Awori was MP for Samia Bugwe North, in 2001, and all along things were moving smoothly for him as a member of opposition UPC.

However, the former leader of an anti-Museveni rebel group called Force Obote Back Again [FOBA] seems to have angered his ancestors when he joined Museveni’s ruling party, the NRM.

Before joining NRM Awori, now in his 80s, had contested for the presidency in the 2006 elections and lost. He later re-joined the 8th Parliament, and on defecting to the NRM was immediately named Minister for ICT.

In the 2011 elections he was defeated by (current EAC State Minister) Julius Maganda and that marked the beginning of his journey to ‘political and economic oblivion’.

But sources now say, that the creation of affirmative action seats for the elderly can help Awori rediscover his political mojo. This, however, may be curtailed by reports of flailing heath.

Capt. John Emil Otekat

Flight Captain John Emilly Otekat is a former MP for Serere, who is reportedly facing hard times. Sources however indicate Otekat has a chance to reclaim his position at the political high table, if he is chosen to represent the elderly in the Eastern region.

It is said that Otekat, now reportedly in his 70s, is currently a board member of an organisatiion in Entebbe and that sometimes he also volunteers at the Parliamentary SACCO.

Patrick Okumu Ringa

A former State Minister for Public Service, Patrick Okumu Ringa represented Padyere County in Nebbi. Previously the loaded owner of Afro Motors, a car dealership/franchise holder of Peugeot in Uganda, Okumu Ringa reportedly fell on hard times.

“If the qualification to become MP was about footing long distances, Okumu Ringa, despite his advanced age, would walk a whole 1000 miles to return to Parliament,” a source chided the former tycoon

Close pals in NRM say that when there was a by-election in Nebbi some time back, the former minister banked his hopes on the many boreholes he had dug for the people in the constituency but this never worked out. The boreholes were vandalized!

However, now NRM sources suggest that he has a chance to represent elders in the North, if he outlasts Mama Elizabeth Likimani Ayume, wife of the former Speaker of Parliament Francis Ayume [RIP].