Hot! Battle for Kasese Woman MP seat heats up

By Nathan Ngobi and Simon Turibamwe

Following the abrupt announcement by Kasese Woman and former Leader of Opposition (LoP) Winfred Kiiza that she was opting out of elective politics, several women contestants have since thrown in their hats.

The Second Opinion has profiled some of the ladies gunning for the seat.

So far 10 women from the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) have shown interest, with only three frontrunners, of who one will eventually qualify as the party flag bearer. 

So, far the three NRM top contenders will join three others from the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and one from the Democratic Party (DP) to gun for the seat that has been held by Winnie Kizza for 15 years.

The NRM trio include Marylyn Kabugho, Sarah Ithungu Masereka Baleke and Norah Ithungu Matsande.

According to sources, Marylyn Kabugho will reportedly ride on her religious dispensation, the Catholic faith.

Close follower, NRM’s Ithungu Masereka Baleke, comes from the rich family of the former Kasese district vice chairperson Betty Masereka and her husband Richard Masereka, the first Mukonzo to visit The Vatican in Rome.

Mr. Masereka is also prominent for hosting then youthful Rwenzururu King Charles Wesley Mumbere when he denounced rebellion and came out of the bush in 1982, during the Obote II regime.

Another NRM candidate is Norah Ithungu Matsande, a peasant farmer in Mubuku irrigation scheme. Matsande is a daughter to an Anglican Church clergyman, prominent for championing young mothers’ rights.

Meanwhile, the FDC race is so far led by Florence Kabugho, a veteran radio journalist veteran who reportedly used her position as a radio presenter to preach development to the people in the Rwenzori region.

“Voters are prepared to shower Florence (Kabugho) with votes because she is the only educated Mukonzo who refused to work in Kampala and decided to serve home people when she resigned her Job at UBC (then Radio Uganda) where she left her huge salary and opted to live a village life at Messiah FM,” one of her supporters said.

Another of her supporters said Ms. Kabugho had been contacted by a section of FDC adherents to contest for the flag against Winfred Kiiiza in 2016 but that she declined, saying she wanted to stay close and serve King Mumbere ‘better’ for the benefit of development in the Rwenzururu region. She has held different positions in the kingdom including being the Deputy Spokesperson, Minister for Gender and, until the arrest of King Mumbere was the Protocol minister. 

Kabugho’s fight for restoration of Rwenzururu Kingdom in early 2000s and her loyalty to the Kingdom, almost claimed her life in 2016 when the palace was bombed. This is expected to earn her votes.

Another FDC lady is Ruth Kabugho, a renowned born-again street preacher in Kasese town. She is currently a councilor representing Nyamwamba division in the District Council and she is ranked among the best debaters whose contributions are on record.

The oldest opposition party, the Democratic Party, DP, has paraded youthful candidate Bernadette Kansiime Omulibanda, currently working as a Logistics Officer with the Kasese Catholic Diocese. She is also the Cashier for the Catholic-owned Kasese Guide Radio known as Omusondolya FM.